South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 62 - STATE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Article VII - SOUTH CAROLINA ACADEMIC ENDOWMENT INCENTIVE ACT OF 1997/SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION MATCHING GIFT FUND
SOUTH CAROLINA HOPE SCHOLARSHIP
Section 62-900.85 - Purpose of the SC HOPE Scholarship Program

The South Carolina HOPE Scholarship was established under the South Carolina Education Lottery Act in 2001 and amended by Act 95 during the 2005 legislative session. Act 356 authorizes the Commission on Higher Education to promulgate regulation for administration of the SC HOPE Scholarship Program. The purpose of the SC HOPE Scholarship Program is to provide funding to first-time entering freshmen who do not qualify for the LIFE or Palmetto Fellows Scholarships.

All eligible institutions that participate in the program must verify the lawful presence of any student who receives a SC HOPE Scholarship 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).

Independent and public institutions of higher learning in this, or any other state in the U.S., outside the U.S. or abroad are prohibited from using the South Carolina HOPE Scholarship or "SC HOPE" Scholarship in programs that promote financial aid incentives or packages. Any mention of the South Carolina HOPE Scholarship or "SC HOPE" Scholarship in these financial aid packages must indicate the scholarship to be separate from the University that is offering the financial aid package, and reference the South Carolina HOPE Scholarship or "SC HOPE" Scholarship as a separate financial aid award, provided to the student by the State of South Carolina.