South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 62 - STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Article III - STUDENT AND INSTITUTION ASSISTANCE
Subarticle A - PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Section 62-330 - Policies and Procedures for Awarding the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 62-330

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

A. The institution will identify award amounts, which cannot exceed:

1. $6,700 the first/freshman year and $7,500 for the second year, third year, fourth year and fifth year (if applicable) for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship; Eligible Palmetto Fellows may prorate their award amount for the term of graduation.

2. $2,500 for the second year, third year, fourth year and fifth year (if applicable) for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement if enrolled in a eligible four-year degree program or for not more than four years of instruction if enrolled in an eligible approved five-year degree program. Eligible Palmetto Fellows may prorate their award amount for the term of graduation.

3. For mid-year initial college enrollment (i.e. a student who starts college in the spring term), a student may receive a maximum of $3,350 for the spring term. Beginning the second academic year (i.e. the fall term) a student may receive up to $7,500 for the second year, third year, fourth year and fifth academic year (if applicable) for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship; Eligible Palmetto Fellows may prorate their award amount for the term of graduation.

B. Half shall be awarded during the fall term and half during the spring term. Palmetto Fellows Scholarships and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancements are to be used only toward payment for cost-of-attendance as established by Title IV Regulations with modifications set forth in D below for the academic year the award is made at the designated independent or public institution. The maximum amount awarded shall not exceed the cost-of-attendance as established by Title IV Regulations for any academic year. During the final term of attendance, the institution may prorate the Palmetto Fellow Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement award amount, for the number of credit hours attempted for the current term of attendance, which must be the term of graduation for the student. Proration will be based on 12 credit hours.

C. Students who change their major from an ineligible degree program to an eligible degree program during the same academic year cannot be awarded the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement until the next academic year. Additionally, students who change their major from an eligible degree program to an ineligible degree program during the same academic year will retain their Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement eligibility for the remainder of the current academic year.

D. Charges for room and board are to be limited as follows:

1. Room charges shall not exceed the average cost of on-campus residential housing; and

2. Board charges shall not exceed the cost of the least expensive campus meal plan that includes 21 meals per week.

E. In determining the amount awarded for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement, all other sources of gift aid, including federal, State, private and institutional funds, must be applied to the unmet cost-of-attendance before calculating the Scholarship and Enhancement amounts and making the award. Adjustments to the financial aid package will be made to the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement in accordance with prescribed Title IV regulations in order to prevent an over-award.

F. Although a student may be named a Palmetto Fellow, the student may not receive a monetary award, if the award when combined with all other sources of gift aid would cause the student to receive financial assistance in excess of the student's cost-of-attendance as defined by Title IV regulations and the guidelines contained herein.

G. Eligible two-year and four-year independent and public institutions will notify students of their award along with the terms and conditions.

H. Effective Fall 2008, Section 59-101-430(A), Chapter 101, Title 59 of the 1976 Code states that unlawful aliens are prohibited from attending South Carolina Public institutions of higher learning. This does apply to students who are currently enrolled, as well as new enrollees. In accordance of this law, institutions must institute a process that verifies an individual's lawful presence in the United States. This process must verify any alien's immigration status with the federal government. Students receiving the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement must be verified. Any student that is not verified and documented by the institution will not receive the Scholarship.

I. All eligible independent and public institutions that participate in the program must verify the lawful presence in the US of any student who receives a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement prior to awarding the Scholarship to the student. When verifying the lawful presence of an individual, institutional personnel shall not attempt to independently verify the immigration status of any alien, but shall verify any alien's immigration status with the federal government pursuant to 8 USC Section 1373(c).

J. The institution must retain annual paper or electronic documentation for each award to include at a minimum:

1. Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) or affidavit documenting that the student is not in default or does not owe a refund on any state or federal financial aid

2. Affidavit documenting that the student has never been convicted of any felonies and has not been convicted of any second or subsequent alcohol/drug-related misdemeanor offense within the past academic year as stated under "Initial Eligibility" and "Duration and Renewal of Awards" Sections

3. Award notification

4. Institutional disbursements to student

5. Verification student is not in default and does not owe a refund or repayment

6. Student's residency status and citizenship status

7. Enrollment status and degree-seeking status

8. Verification of cumulative GPA and annual credit hours for renewal purposes

9. Verification from the institutional Disability Services Provider of student's disability and approval of reduced course-load requirement (if appropriate)

10. Military mobilization orders (if appropriate)

11. Verification student met fourteen credit hour requirement at the end of the first year of college enrollment for the 2007-08 freshman class and thereafter (Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement purposes only)

12. Verification from academic department of enrollment in a declared major in an eligible degree program (Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement purposes only).

13. Verification from the institution that lawful presence in the US, and has been verified.

K. It is the institution's responsibility to ensure that only eligible students receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement.

L. The student shall be required to provide a state recognized unique identifier in order for the institution to award, disburse, and/or transfer the student's state scholarship and/or grant to an eligible institution.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina 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.

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