Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) To
receive a Benacquisto Scholarship award, a student shall meet requirements set
in Sections 1009.40 (except Section 1009.40(4)), 1009.41 and 1009.893, Florida
Statutes (F.S.), and the requirements set forth in this rule.
(2)
(a) If
the student is a Florida resident, he/she must earn a standard diploma from a
Florida high school or its equivalent pursuant to Sections
1003.4281,
1003.4282, or
1003.435, F.S., or complete a
home education program according to Section
1002.41, F.S. The student who
earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida high school may be eligible if
the student is living with a parent who is on military or public service
assignment outside of the State of Florida, pursuant to Section
1009.893(4)(a)1.b., F.S.;
(b) If
the student is not a Florida resident, he/she must have enrolled in a
baccalaureate degree program and have received an initial award, in the 2018-19
through 2021-22 years and must have earned a high school diploma which is
comparable to a standard Florida high school diploma or its equivalency or
complete a home education program in another state, and physically reside in
Florida on or near the eligible postsecondary institution's campus where
enrolled.
(3) General
Eligibility Requirements.
(a) Not have
previously received a recognized baccalaureate degree;
(b) Be initially enrolled at an eligible
Florida postsecondary institution in a baccalaureate degree program for the
fall term immediately following high school graduation;
(c) Be enrolled at an eligible Florida
postsecondary institution for a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours per term or
the equivalent in quarter hours; and,
(d) Meet the qualifications of a National
Merit® Scholar as defined in subsection (4) of
this rule.
(4) A National
Merit® Scholar is defined as a National
Merit® Finalist who receives a National
Merit® $2, 500. Scholarship, a
Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship®, or a
College-sponsored Merit Scholarship®.
(5) Eligible institutions are public state
universities, Florida colleges and independent institutions that offer
baccalaureate degree programs and are regionally accredited. Regional
accreditors are identified by the United States Department of
Education.
(6) Award amounts.
(a) Florida resident. An eligible student who
is a Florida resident attending a Florida public postsecondary institution will
receive an award equal to the on-campus institutional cost of attendance as
reported by the Board of Governors of the State University System, less the sum
of the student's Bright Futures Scholarship and the National
Merit® Scholarship. An eligible student who
attends a Florida independent postsecondary institution will receive an award
equal to the highest on-campus institutional cost of attendance as reported by
the Board of Governors of the State University System, less the sum of the
student's Bright Futures Scholarship and the National
Merit® Scholarship.
(b) Non-Florida resident. An eligible student
who is not a Florida resident receives an award equal to the institutional cost
of attendance for a resident of this state minus the student's National
Merit® Scholarship. An eligible non-Florida
resident student who attends a Florida independent postsecondary institution
will receive an award equal to the highest on-campus institutional cost of
attendance as reported by the Board of Governors of the State University
System, less the sum of the student's Bright Futures Scholarship and the
National Merit® Scholarship.
(7) A student who receives a Benacquisto
Scholarship shall be known as a Benacquisto Scholar.
(8) Renewal requirements. Eligibility for
renewal is determined at the end of the second semester, third quarter or the
equivalent of each academic year. To receive a Benacquisto Scholarship renewal
award, a Benacquisto Scholar shall meet both the grade point average and credit
hour requirements set in Section
1009.893(6),
F.S. The student is no longer eligible to continue to receive the scholarship
if these requirements are not met.
(a) The
cumulative grade point average shall be calculated by the institution where the
student is enrolled as degree-seeking. The cumulative grade point average shall
be computed to two (2) decimals and shall not be rounded.
(b) A Benacquisto Scholar must earn all
credits for the hours in which he or she is enrolled each term as of the
institution's regular drop/add period. If a Benacquisto Scholar fails to earn
the required hours during any term within the academic year, the student will
not meet the hour requirement to renew the scholarship. A student who has fewer
than twelve (12) total hours remaining to complete the first baccalaureate
degree may receive funding for one term.
(c) Eligibility for a reinstated award shall
be established if the Benacquisto Scholar did not receive scholarship funding
for the last academic year during which he or she was eligible after receiving
initial funding. The Benacquisto Scholar must submit Form FFAA-3, Florida
Financial Aid Reinstatement/Restoration Application, as incorporated by
reference in Rule 6A-20.027, F.A.C., by May 30 of
the year the student is seeking funding.
(9) Appeals. For the purpose of eligibility,
in accordance with Section 1009.40(1)(b)4., F.S., a Benacquisto Scholar who
does not earn the required renewal grade point average or the hours for renewed
status may still be renewed if granted an exception from the academic
requirements. A Benacquisto Scholar must submit an institution appeal at the
institution where the student did not meet the renewal requirements for renewed
status and provide documentation as required by the institution within thirty
(30) days of the ineligibility notice or institutional deadline, whichever is
later.
(10) Institutional
responsibilities.
(a) Participating
postsecondary institutions shall comply with Rules
6A-20.002 and
6A-20.0021, F.A.C.;
and,
(b) Verify, prior to
disbursement each term, each recipient's graduation from a Florida or eligible
non-Florida high school, or the equivalent, Florida residency, or, for a
non-Florida resident, the student's physical address, degree-seeking status,
National Merit® or status, and receipt of a
qualifying award as defined in subsection (4) of this rule.
(c) If eligible to become a college sponsor,
all eligible state universities shall become college sponsors of the National
Merit Scholarship®
Program.
Rulemaking Authority
1001.02(1),
1009.893(14)
FS. Law Implemented 1009.40,
1009.893
FS.
New 4-1-15, Amended 8-24-16,
5-3-22.
