New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 5 - POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
Chapter 7 - TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
Part 37 - NEW MEXICO OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Section 5.7.37.8 - STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
Universal Citation: 5 NM Admin Code 5.7.37.8
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. A scholarship may be awarded to a qualified student who:
(1) has not earned a bachelor's, master's
degree or doctoral degree at the time the scholarship is awarded;
(2) is enrolled in at least six credit hours
per spring or fall semester and no more than eighteen credit hours per fall or
spring semester; except that the credit-hour minimums do not apply to a student
in the last semester before graduation and if a qualified student enrolls in
more than eighteen credit hours any tuition charges which exceed tuition
charged for the maximum of eighteen credit hours shall not be funded by the
scholarship;
(3) is enrolled in at
least three and no more than nine credit hours per summer semester; provided
that a student is not required to attend a summer semester to maintain
eligibility; and
(4) maintains a
cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
(5) has established and maintained New Mexico
residency as defined in
5.7.18.9 NMAC, is eligible for a
nondiscrimination waiver as defined in Subsection K of
5.7.18.10 NMAC or is an active
member of the New Mexico National Guard. All residency requirements for recent
graduate learners must be met upon completion of high school, graduation or
receipt of a high school equivalency credential recognized by the state of New
Mexico;
(6) has been determined to
be a qualified student; and
(7) has
met requirements in Paragraphs (1) through (6) of Subsection A of
5.7.37.8 NMAC or students with
exceptional mitigating circumstances as determined by the institution's lead
financial aid officer; students who are incapable of meeting the requirements
specified in Paragraphs (1) through (6) of Subsection A of
5.7.37.8 NMAC due to a documented
exceptional mitigating circumstance do not forfeit eligibility for the
opportunity scholarship; however, the following requirements shall apply:
(a) the student shall provide documents
certifying the nature of the students exceptional mitigating circumstance to
the institution's lead financial aid officer at the post-secondary educational
institution at which the student is enrolling or will enroll; the institution's
lead financial aid officer shall exercise professional judgment to determine
whether the exceptional mitigating circumstance is beyond the student's control
and precludes the student from meeting the requirements specified in Paragraphs
(1) through (6) of Subsection A of
5.7.37.8 NMAC;
(b) if, in the professional judgment of the
institution's lead financial aid officer, the student's exceptional mitigating
circumstance is recognized as a valid reason for the student's inability to
meet the requirements specified in Paragraphs (1) through (6) of Subsection A
of 5.7.37.8 NMAC the student's initial
or continuing eligibility for the opportunity scholarship shall be suspended or
deferred unless and until such time that the student is capable of meeting the
requirements of Paragraphs (1) through (6) Subsection A of
5.7.37.8 NMAC.
B. Other provisions regarding eligibility.
(1) Students with disabilities or
their legal guardian who are requesting a reduction of the credit hour
requirement shall obtain a referral from the student services division of the
public post-secondary educational institution or tribal college where the
student is enrolled that oversees students with special needs. Referrals and
any sufficient documentation shall be received no later than 30 days after the
student's enrollment begin date for their first semester or the semester for
which they are seeking a change in credit hours. The documentation may be
reused for the subsequent semesters unless the student is requesting to
decrease their approved credit hours. In this case updated documentation shall
be required prior to the start of the semester for which the student is
enrolling.
(2) Students are
encouraged, but are not required, to complete a free application for student
aid (FAFSA) for scholarship eligibility.
(3) If a recent graduate learner enrolls in
no more than 12 credit hours during the 16 months following high school
graduation or receipt of a high school equivalency credential the student may
qualify for opportunity scholarship funding for tuition and fees. If a recent
graduate learner enrolls in 12 or more credit hours beyond 16 months after
graduation or receipt of a high school equivalency credential the student shall
not receive the opportunity scholarship for tuition for a period of two years
following the end of the semester when eligibility was lost. A recent graduate
learner who loses eligibility for the opportunity scholarship or legislative
lottery scholarship pursuant to 5.7.37.14 NMAC or 5.7.20.14 NMAC and has not
been approved for a probationary semester may petition for reinstatement
pursuant to
5.7.37.10 NMAC.
C. Upon satisfaction of the eligibility requirements, the scholarship shall be awarded to a returning student learner during the second continuous semester of enrollment. A student's continuing eligibility shall be determined on a semester basis. Recent graduate learners may receive awards within 16 months of graduation as provided in Paragraph 3 of Subsection B of 5.7.37.8 NMAC.
D. An opportunity scholarship award may be re-awarded to a student who:
(1) maintains a
minimum of a 2.5 cumulative grade point average or higher on a 4.0 scale; a
student has the right to request use of the student's cumulative grade point
average earned at all New Mexico public post-secondary educational institutions
and tribal colleges; and
(2)
maintains continuous enrollment and meets the credit hour criteria as provided
in Paragraphs (2) through (3) of Subsection A of
5.7.37.8 NMAC.
E. The following conditions apply for students transferring the scholarship:
(1)
a transfer transcript is required;
(2) student transfers shall defer to the
receiving institution to determine eligibility; and
(3) a qualified student who transfers shall
continue to be eligible at the receiving institution after receipt of the
student's transfer transcript containing eligibility confirmation.
F. Previously completed dual credit courses shall not count toward the credit hour cap.
G. In no case shall eligibility to receive the scholarship extend beyond 90 attempted credit hours for completion of an associate degree or 160 attempted credit hours for completion of a bachelor's degree.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New Mexico may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
