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| Public Act 096-1299 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning education.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Community College Transfer Grant Program Act. | ||||
Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act: | ||||
"Commission" means the Illinois Student Assistance | ||||
Commission.
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"Grant" means the amount of financial assistance awarded | ||||
under this Act. | ||||
"Institution of higher education" means a public or private | ||||
not-for-profit institution that is an "institution of higher | ||||
learning" as defined in the Higher Education Student Assistance | ||||
Act and that offers baccalaureate degrees. | ||||
"Student" means an undergraduate student who is entitled to | ||||
in-state tuition charges. | ||||
Section 10. Community College Transfer Grant Program | ||||
created; adoption of rules. There is created the Community | ||||
College Transfer Grant Program to provide financial assistance | ||||
to eligible students, subject to appropriation, for the costs | ||||
of attending a public or private institution of higher | ||||
education in this State. Funds must be paid to institutions of | ||||
higher education on behalf of students who have been awarded | ||
financial assistance pursuant to Section 15 of this Act. The | ||
Commission shall adopt rules for the implementation of the | ||
provisions of this Act and the disbursement of funds consistent | ||
therewith and appropriate to the administration of the program. | ||
Section 15. Eligibility criteria.
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(a) Under the Community College Transfer Grant Program, | ||
grants must be made on behalf of students who are residents of | ||
this State and who meet all of the following qualifications: | ||
(1) Have received an associate's degree at a public | ||
community college located in this State. | ||
(2) Have enrolled in an institution of higher education | ||
located in this State by the fall semester following the | ||
award of the associate's degree. | ||
(3) Have applied for financial aid, including | ||
completing and submitting a free application for federal | ||
student aid.
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(4) Have financial need, defined as an Expected Family | ||
Contribution (EFC) of no more than $9,000 as calculated by | ||
the federal government using the family's financial | ||
information reported on the Free Application for Federal | ||
Student Aid (FAFSA) form. | ||
Only students who maintained a cumulative grade point | ||
average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent while | ||
enrolled in an associate's degree program at a public community | ||
college located in this State are eligible to receive a grant | ||
under this Act. | ||
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the | ||
contrary, the Commission shall consider an applicant eligible | ||
for a grant under this Section if the Commission finds that the | ||
applicant is (i) a United States citizen or eligible | ||
non-citizen and (ii) a resident of this State. | ||
(c) Eligibility for a grant under the Community College | ||
Transfer Grant Program is limited to 2 academic years or 60 | ||
credit hours and must be used only for undergraduate collegiate | ||
work. | ||
To remain eligible for a grant under this program, a | ||
student must continue to demonstrate financial need, as defined | ||
in this Section, maintain a cumulative grade point average of | ||
at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, and make | ||
satisfactory academic progress towards a degree. | ||
Section 20. Amount of award. The amount of the grant under | ||
this Act for an eligible student is subject to appropriation | ||
and is fixed at $1,000 per year. Students pursuing | ||
undergraduate collegiate work in engineering, mathematics, | ||
nursing, teaching, or science are eligible for an additional | ||
$1,000 grant. | ||
Section 25. State financial aid eligibility. Tuition | ||
assistance received by a student under the Community College | ||
Transfer Grant Program must not be reduced by the receipt of | ||
other financial aid from any source by the student. However, a | ||
student may not receive a grant pursuant to this Act that, when | ||
added to other financial aid received by that student, would | ||
enable the student to receive total assistance in excess of the | ||
estimated cost to the student of attending the institution in | ||
which he or she is enrolled.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, | ||
2010.
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