New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 5 - POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Chapter 7 - TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
Part 20 - LEGISLATIVE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Section 5.7.20.9 - DURATION OF SCHOLARSHIP

A. Upon qualification, the student's initial scholarship shall begin with the second semester of enrollment at a public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college. Thereafter, each scholarship is for a period of one semester subject to revocation for failure to maintain eligibility. The scholarship may be renewed on a semester basis until the award recipient has received three program semesters of awards at a community college or seven program semesters of awards at a research institution, comprehensive institution, or tribal college, or until the student graduates with a bachelor's degree from an eligible institution, whichever is sooner.

B. An award recipient may use the award at an eligible two-year public post-secondary educational institution until the student receives three program semesters of scholarship awards or an associate's degree and can continue to use the award at an eligible New Mexico four-year public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college if the student transfers to a four-year public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college without a break in attendance or the semester following receipt of the associate's degree. In no case shall a student receive more than seven program semesters of the award with the exception of students with disabilities.

C. A student may transfer from a four-year public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college to a two-year public post-secondary educational institution, but in no case shall a student receive more than three program semesters of awards at the two-year institution (including those awarded at the prior public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college) or until the student graduates with an associate's degree, whichever is sooner.

D. A student who has been previously eligible may request a leave of absence for cooperative education, military obligations, participation in a study abroad program through the home institution, or other exceptional mitigating circumstances.

E. The student's institutional lead financial aid officer may approve a leave of absence for a period of up to one year if in the lead financial aid officer's professional judgment the student has provided sufficient documentation to justify the leave of absence. Subsequent requests for an additional leave of absence by a student may be considered by the institution's lead financial aid officer in increments not to exceed one year.

F. The lead financial aid officer shall, in turn, ensure that the student does not receive program awards in excess of those prescribed in Subsections A and B of 5.7.20.9 NMAC and shall exclude the semesters of "non-enrollment" from the determination of eligible award semesters.

G. A student completing a department approved public service program may reduce their course load for the semester of their service or training and maintain eligibility for the scholarship. These students will not be eligible for scholarship benefits for the semester in which they are enrolled part time and will need to maintain all other eligibility criteria in subsequent semesters. The part-time semester will not count against their total number of semesters in which the student may receive the scholarship.

H. If a student becomes ineligible for a different state scholarship that is designated for one hundred percent tuition, but satisfies the first semester eligibility requirements and thereafter is eligible for the legislative lottery scholarship, the student may begin receiving the legislative lottery scholarship for the remaining number of semesters of enrollment, not to exceed those prescribed in Subsections A and B of 5.7.20.9 NMAC.