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 62-335 - Duration and Renewal of Awards

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 62-335

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

A. The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement where applicable shall be initially awarded for one academic year. The institution shall adjust the amount of the Scholarship and Enhancement awards during the academic year in the event of a change in the student's eligibility.

B. Students selected as Palmetto Fellows must enter an eligible two-year or four-year independent or public institution no later than the fall term one year immediately following high school graduation. Students must be continuously enrolled at an eligible two-year or four-year institution. Students with a break in continuous full-time enrollment at a two-year or four-year institution will forfeit the scholarship.

C. A Palmetto Fellows Scholarship may be renewed annually for no more than a total of two terms towards a one-year certificate or diploma program, or four terms (based on the date of initial college enrollment) toward the first associate degree or two-year diploma program, or eight terms (based on the date of initial college enrollment) toward the first bachelor's degree or a program of study that is structured so as not to require a bachelor's degree and leads to a graduate degree or for no more than a total of ten terms (based on the date of initial college enrollment) toward the first approved five-year bachelor's degree. The Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement may not be awarded for no more than a total of six terms (based on the date of initial college enrollment) toward the first bachelor's degree or a program of study that is structured so as not to require a bachelor's degree and leads to a graduate degree or for no more than a total of eight terms (based on the date of initial college enrollment) toward the first approved five-year bachelor's degree. Students who have already been awarded their first bachelor or graduate degree are not eligible to receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement. 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 (see section 62-330.B).

D. The institution is responsible for obtaining institutional certification of each recipient's cumulative grade point average and annual credit hours for the purposes of determining eligibility for award renewal. For the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement, the institution must also obtain verification from the academic department of enrollment in a declared major in an eligible degree program.

E. By the end of the spring term each academic year, the institution must notify all Palmetto Fellows who have not met the continued eligibility requirements for the next academic year. The notification should include information regarding the student's ability to attend summer school in order to meet the continued eligibility requirements.

F. The eligible two-year or four-year independent or public institution is responsible for reporting to the Commission on Higher Education credit hours earned at the home institution only. Transfer credit hours cannot be reported by the home institution.

G. In order to retain eligibility for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship after the initial year, the student must meet the following continued eligibility requirements:

1. Enroll and be continuously enrolled at an eligible two-year or four-year public or independent institution as a full-time, degree-seeking student at the time of Scholarship disbursement;

2. Earn at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the home institution for graduation purposes by the end of each academic year;

3. Earn a minimum of thirty credit hours for graduation purposes by the end of each academic year. Exempted credit hours (such as AP, CLEP, etc.), credit hours earned before high school graduation, and credit hours earned the summer term immediately following high school graduation cannot be used to meet the annual credit hour requirement;

4. Certify each academic year that he/she has not defaulted and does not owe a refund or repayment on any federal or state financial aid. If a student has an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) or its equivalent on file, the ISIR information will be used to verify default status or refund/repayment owed. Students who have not completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must have an affidavit on file to verify that he/she is not in default and does not owe a refund or repayment on any federal or state financial aid, including the state grants/scholarships, Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins or Stafford Loan; and

5. Certify each academic year that he/she has never been adjudicated delinquent, convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies and any second or subsequent alcohol/drug-related misdemeanor offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States by submitting a signed affidavit to the home institution. However, a high school or college student who has been adjudicated delinquent, convicted, or pled guilty or nolo contendere of a second or subsequent alcohol or drug-related misdemeanor offense is only ineligible for the next academic year of enrollment at an eligible independent or public institution after the date of the adjudication, conviction or plea. If the adjudication, conviction or plea occurs during the academic year after the student has already submitted a signed affidavit to the institution, the student will continue to be eligible for the remainder of the academic year. However, the student will be ineligible for the Scholarship for the following academic year of enrollment. If a student completes a pretrial intervention program and his/her record is subsequently expunged, the charge will not affect Scholarship eligibility.

H. In order to retain eligibility for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement, a student must:

1. Be a Palmetto Fellow at the time the Scholarship Enhancement is disbursed;

2. Be enrolled and continuously enrolled at an eligible four-year public or independent institution as a full-time, degree-seeking student in a declared major in an eligible degree program;

3. Be making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of his/her declared major;

4. Be enrolled in the second year, third year, fourth year or fifth year (if enrolled in a Commission approved five-year bachelor's degree) at an eligible four-year independent or public institution; and

5. Successfully complete at least fourteen credit hours of instruction in mathematics or life and physical science or a combination of both at the end of the first year for the 2007 freshman class and thereafter. For the purpose of meeting the fourteen credit hour requirement at the end of the student's first year, exempted credit hours (AP, CLEP, IB, etc), credit hours earned while in high school (dual enrollment), and credit hours earned during the summer session immediately prior to the student's date of initial college enrollment may be used. However, remedial coursework and continuing education coursework cannot be used to meet the fourteen credit hour requirement. Palmetto Fellows who were already enrolled in at least their second year in the 2007-2008 academic year only are not required to meet the fourteen credit hour requirement at the end of their first/freshman year.

I. Any student who attempts to obtain or obtains a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship or Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement through means of a willfully false statement or failure to reveal any material fact, condition, or circumstances affecting eligibility will be subject to applicable civil or criminal penalties, including loss of the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement.

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