Ala. Admin. Code r. 300-4-13-.03

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 02, November 27, 2024

Section 300-4-13-.03 - Definition Of Terms

(1) ACADEMIC TERM. A portion of an academic year, such as a semester or quarter, during which an educational institution holds classes (i.e., Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer).

(2) ADULT LEARNER. A person who is 25 years or older returning to college.

(3) ALABAMA RESIDENT. A person who has been classified as an instate resident by an authorized institution and has established residency within the state of Alabama for at least a 12-month period prior to the beginning of the term for which financial assistance is requested and is in the State of Alabama for other than a temporary purpose.

(4) APPROVED INSTITUTION. A state-supported institution of higher education or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education that satisfies all of the following:

(a) Is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges or the Council on Occupational Education,

(b) Is eligible to receive Title IV federal student aid program funds, and

(c) Maintains its primary headquarters in Alabama.

(5) AUTHORIZED INSTITUTION. An approved institution that files a signed and dated (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program Institutional Agreement with the Commission to comply with all rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program set forth by the Commission.

(6) COMMISSION. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE).

(7) CONTINUOUS ENROLLMENT. When an adult learner is making academic progress toward degree completion without a stop-out in enrollment of more than one consecutive semester or quarter (i.e., Fall/Winter to Spring, Spring to Summer/Fall, or Summer to Fall).

(8) CREDITS (SEMESTER CREDIT AND QUARTER CREDIT). A semester credit is 1.5 times that of a quarter credit.

(9) ELIGIBLE PROGRAM. An eligible program that is a nonsectarian, secular educational program aligned with Alabama's high demand workforce needs promulgated by the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways.

(10) ELIGIBLE STUDENT. A person who completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is in pursuit of one's first associate or baccalaureate degree, satisfies the criteria set out in the Act 2023-539, and is found to be eligible by rules adopted by the Commission.

(11) FULL-TIME STUDENT. A full-time student is defined as an eligible student who is carrying a full-time academic workload measured in terms of course work or other required activities, including courses, work experience, research, or special studies which the institution requires of the student to be considered as being engaged in full-time study, which amounts to the equivalent of a minimum of twelve (12) semester hours or eighteen (18)quarter hours per academic term; or the student is charged the tuition and fees for full-time study by the institution. For purposes of this program, no more than one course [with a maximum of four (4) semester credit hours] per academic term for courses in religion or theology shall be considered when calculating a student's full-time status.

(12) GRANT. A financial award by the State of Alabama to defray the cost of tuition and mandatory fees to an eligible adult learner who is currently enrolled in an authorized institution.

(13) PART-TIME STUDENT. An eligible student who is carrying a part-time academic workload measured in terms of course work or other required activities, including courses, work experience, research, or special studies which the institution requires of the student to be considered as being engaged in part-time study, which amounts to the equivalent of a minimum of six (6) semester hours or nine (9) quarter hours per academic term; or the student is charged the tuition and fees for part-time study by the institution. Any student enrolled for less than the equivalent of six (6) semester hours or nine (9) quarter hours is ineligible for a (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program payment. For purposes of this program, no more than one course (with a maximum of four (4) semester credit hours per academic term for courses in religion and theology) shall be considered when calculating a student's part-time status.

(14) PROGRAM. The (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program created by the Act 2023-539 and administered by the Commission that provides grant award payments to institutions for eligible adult learners for college degree completion.

(15) PRORATION OF FUNDS. Should funds appropriated to the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program be insufficient to provide such recipients with a full grant payment for any term(s) during an academic year, each eligible student shall receive a pro rata grant share of the available funds.

(16) (RE) ENGAGE ALABAMA GRANT PROGRAM FORMS. Institutions will be required to submit the following documents:

(a) (Re) Engage Alabama Grant Program Institutional Agreement - the document is to be signed by the President of the institution.

(b) (Re) Engage Alabama Grant Program Application - the document is to be completed and submitted by each student seeking (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program funds per academic term.

(c) (Re) Engage Alabama Grant Program Award List - the document is to be completed and submitted by the financial aid office representative acknowledging certification of all applicants per academic term.

(d) (Re) Engage Alabama Grant Program Refund Form - the document is to be completed by the financial aid office representative for any checks or refunds to be returned per academic term.

(17) REFUNDS. If a student withdraws or becomes ineligible for the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program during the academic term of the award year, the institution will not award the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program funds to the student. If a student withdraws from the college or reduces one's course-load after receiving (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program funds, but before the end of the academic term and is not entitled to a refund in accordance with the institution's refund policy, the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program will not require the institution to refund the institution's (Re)Engage account any portion of the grant award which was utilized by the student for the period of actual attendance. However, if the grant award exceeds the amount of the educational cost to the student, the institution must return the overpayment difference to the institution's (Re)Engage account for potential future redistribution to another eligible student. The institution must maintain documentation of the student's records, listing (a) the date the student withdrew, (b) the net institutional charges to the student for the period of the student's attendance, (c) the amount of the student's grant award, and (d) the amount of refund due to the (Re)Engage Program.

(18) RENEWAL OF GRANT. A student grant recipient who maintains eligibility and continuous enrollment as defined may receive the award the next academic term or until such time as the student receives an associate or baccalaureate degree. Each term's renewed award amount is determined by the number of hours enrolled and must be reflected in the certified (Re)Engage Award List. Therefore, the student must complete an application for each term.

(19) STOP-OUT. A student who was not enrolled or attended a postsecondary education institution for least two (2) years (24 consecutive months) prior to current enrollment.

(20) TRANSFER STUDENT. Each (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program award is made on the basis of the student applicant attending the postsecondary educational institution listed on the student's application form. A student grant recipient who elects to transfer from the original awarding institution to another educational institution will automatically become ineligible for the grant as the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program award is not transferable from one educational institution to another.

(21) UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT. An eligible student with the completion of at least 36 credit hours for an associate degree or at least 72 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree of a college degree program that is connected with workforce development needs and aligned with Alabama's high demand occupations list promulgated by the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways; and at an approved institution and has not earned an associate or baccalaureate degree. Students who have previously earned an associate or baccalaureate degree, even though they may be enrolled in an undergraduate course of study, are not eligible for a (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program grant.

(22) YEAR. An academic year that shall be divided into Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer terms. The term does not mean calendar or fiscal year.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 300-4-13-.03

Adopted by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XLII, Issue No. 03, December 29, 2023, eff. 2/12/2024.

Author: Artcola Pettway, Stephanie C. Dolan

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 16-5-1; Alabama Act 2023-539.