Alabama § 16-33D-6 - Awards; Renewal; Funding.

§ 16-33D-6. Awards; Renewal; Funding.

(a) The program shall be used to provide grant award payments for eligible adult learners up to the maximum award amount of three thousand dollars ($3,000) for universities and one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) for community colleges per academic semester for a full-time student. Proportional awards shall be given for students taking six to 11 hours and students enrolled in less common academic terms, such as quarters, Summer terms, and intersessions.

(b)(1) Each grant shall be renewable for the number of terms normally required by the institution for the course of study in which the adult learner is enrolled as long as the student is continuously enrolled until the student receives either of the following:

a. His or her first associate degree or baccalaureate degree.

b. His or her first baccalaureate degree following a two-year stop-out period after receiving his or her first associate degree without previously receiving a grant award.

(2) The commission shall grant a renewal upon verification that the student remains an eligible student.

(c) Grant award payments shall be distributed directly to the approved institution on behalf of the student during the applicable year.

(d) The requirements of this chapter are contingent upon available funding for the program.

(e) The commission shall determine the necessary procedures for awarding grant award payments if the number of eligible applicants and recipients exceeds available funding.

(f) Any funds appropriated to the program shall be nonreverting.

(g) A percentage of the grant program’s appropriations may be expended for the operation and maintenance of the program.

(h) Each authorized institution that enrolls an adult learner who is eligible for the tuition and mandatory fees benefits provided by this program shall take necessary action to ensure that the student is aware of all other benefits that he or she may be entitled to under any other federal and state educational benefits, and any student grant or scholarship. In order to receive the benefits provided by this program, the student shall take the necessary steps to utilize all of the above benefits.