SUBPART C. MAINTAINING ELIGIBILITY

§5041. Maintaining eligibility; Honors, Performance, Opportunity

            To maintain continued state payment of any amount pursuant to an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award once enrolled in college a student shall meet all of the following:

            (1)(a) If pursuing an academic undergraduate degree, make steady academic progress toward a degree as defined by the administering agency, earning not less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing in each academic year or the required number of hours needed to complete the undergraduate degree during that semester or quarter.

            (b) If pursuing skill or occupational training, make steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency toward completion of the requirements of the program in which enrolled, earning not less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing or the required number of hours needed to complete the program's requirements.

            (c) If at any time a student fails to maintain the cumulative grade point average required for continuation in the program or, as of the end of any semester or term during the academic year, fails to make steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency, such student shall become ineligible for further payments. Payments limited to those provided in R.S. 17:5002(B), regardless of whether the originally granted award was an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award, may be reinstated upon attainment of the grade point average required by this Section for a student to maintain continued state payments once enrolled in college and the standards for steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency, provided that the student has maintained other continuation requirements and the period of ineligibility did not persist for more than two years from the date of loss of eligibility. If this two-year period is interrupted due to a student's active duty service in the United States Armed Forces, the two-year period shall be extended for a length of time equal to the student's active duty service, not to exceed four years, unless the student reenlists in the United States Armed Forces and maintains continuous active duty, in which case the period shall be extended for a length of time equal to the student's active duty service; or unless the student is granted an exception for cause by the administering agency.

            (2)(a) If pursuing an academic undergraduate degree, maintain continuous enrollment for not less than two semesters or three quarters in each successive academic year, unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency.

            (b) If pursuing skill or occupational training, maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time student unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency.

            (3) For students qualifying for an Opportunity Award, have a cumulative grade point average of the following as evaluated at the end of each academic year:

            (a) At least 2.30 calculated on a 4.00 scale after completion of twenty-four hours of credit.

            (b) At least 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale after completion of forty-eight hours of credit.

            (4)(a) For students qualifying to receive a Performance or an Honors Award, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale at the end of each academic year.

            (b) However, if at any time an otherwise eligible student receiving a Performance Award or an Honors Award in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter fails to have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale at the end of any academic year but has and continues to maintain a cumulative grade point average at least equal to that required by Paragraph (3) of this Subsection for continued participation by a recipient of an Opportunity Award, the student receiving a Performance Award or an Honors Award shall remain eligible for state payments but only in the amount provided for in R.S. 17:5002(B) for a recipient of an Opportunity Award. The provisions of this Subparagraph shall apply to all students who receive state payments pursuant to a Performance Award or an Honors Award, including all such students from the beginning of the program.

            (5) Have no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations and, if the student has been in the United States Armed Forces and has separated from such service, has received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions.

            Acts 2015, No. 227, §1; Acts 2017, No. 44, §1, eff. June 3, 2017.