South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 62 - STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Article III - STUDENT AND INSTITUTION ASSISTANCE
Subarticle C - SOUTH CAROLINA NEED-BASED GRANTS PROGRAM
Section 62-470 - Policies and Procedures for Awarding Need-based Grants

A. The Need-based Grants Program for the public institutions will be campus-administered. Grant funds will supplement the student financial aid awards administered by the participating public colleges and universities.

B. The participating institution will make awards in amounts to be defined in accordance with the Need-based Grants Program regulation and criteria, but not to exceed $1,750 per eligible part-time student and $3,500 per eligible full-time student per academic year, based on the institution's allocated funds for Need-based Grants and other financial aid awarded to individual applicants. However, the Commission, due to inflation increases or other relevant factors, may periodically adjust the maximum award for the Need-based Grants Program. An eligible student may receive a Need-based Grant for up to three terms of the academic year, not to exceed 100 percent of the annual award amount, assuming continued eligibility. No more than fifty percent of the annual award amount shall be disbursed in any given term.

C. Need-based Grants are to be used only towards payment for the cost-of-attendance as defined by Title IV Regulations as modified by D below for the academic year for which the award is made at the designated institution. The maximum amount awarded shall not exceed the cost-of-attendance as defined in Title IV Regulations for any year.

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

E. In determining the amount awarded for the Need-based Grant, all other sources of gift aid, including Federal, State, private and institutional funds, must be applied to the total cost-of-attendance before calculating the unmet need and awarding the grant. The Need-based Grant shall be awarded only after all other sources of gift aid have been exhausted. Adjustments to the financial aid package will be made to the Need-based Grant in accordance with prescribed Title IV Regulations in order to prevent an over-award.

F. Institutions must give first priority and award the maximum allowable Need-based Grant ($3,500 if full-time or $1,750 if part-time) to students who are in the custody of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS). However, institutions should not award the maximum amount if, by doing so, this causes the student to exceed the unmet need according to Title IV Regulations. Students who may be eligible under this provision are responsible for contacting the institution and providing official verification to the institution that he/she is in custody of DSS. Acceptable verification shall include a letter from DSS.

G. Participating institutions will notify students of their Need-based Grant along with the terms and conditions of the award.

H. The student shall be required to provide a nationally 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.

I. Annual allocations of funds to the public institutions will be determined by the Commission on Higher Education using a methodology consistent with Section 59-142-40, South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, as amended. Unused funds, which cannot be awarded by an institution, must be returned to the Commission on Higher Education, which may redirect the funds to institutions where unmet need exists.

J. Effective Fall 2008, Section 59-101-430(A), Chapter 101, Title 59 of the 1976 Code states that unlawful aliens are prohibited from attending SC 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. Students receiving the SC Need-based Grant must be verified. Any student who is not verified and documented by the institution will not receive the Grant.

K. All eligible independent and public institutions that participate in the program must verify the lawful presence of any student who receives a SC Need-based Grant prior to awarding the Grant 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).

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

M. It is the institution's responsibility to ensure that only eligible students receive a Need-based Grant.