Guam § 34102 - Growing Guam’s Work Force Scholarship Program, Created.

§ 34102. Growing Guam’s Work Force Scholarship Program, Created.

(a) There is hereby created the “Growing Guam’s Work Force

Scholarship Program”. Awards granted under this Section shall be granted

for Academic Year 2012-2013, and thereafter.

(b) Administration of Program. The Guam Community College

Board of Trustees shall administer this program pursuant to § 34101 of this

Chapter.

(c) Rules and Regulations. All rules and regulations adopted prior

to the enactment of this Section shall remain effective unless they are

amended or repealed by the Board in a manner consistent with this Chapter.

(d) Selection Committee. The President of Guam Community

College shall annually establish an Evaluation and Selection Committee

(the Committee).

The Committee shall conduct interviews for the purpose of selecting

scholarship recipients under the programs listed within this Chapter. The

passing of the oral interviews and the meeting of established Guam

Community College entrance and academic requirements shall constitute

the primary criteria for selection of scholarship recipients. The Board may

prescribe additional qualifications for admission to the scholarship

programs.

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Applications for the Growing Guam’s Work Force Scholarship

Program shall be received by April 30 of every year, and applicants shall

be interviewed at a time and place designated by the Committee prior to

June 30. Awards shall be granted prior to July 30 in a written notice to the

selected applicant, and the applicant’s school administrator, if applicable.

(e) Academic Advisor and Program Contract. Each program

scholarship recipient shall have an academic advisor who, with the student,

shall develop a complete academic plan that would result in the granting of

the applicable degree within the prescribed period of time. This plan shall

be examined by the appropriate College official, as determined by the

Board, and upon approval, shall constitute a contract between the student

and the College.

(f) Scholarships. The Growing Guam’s Work Force Scholarship

Program shall consist of students who have declared their intention to

attend the Guam Community College. Scholarships may be awarded to

eligible students who meet the following criteria:

(1) bona fide resident of Guam paying income taxes to the

government of Guam, or is a dependent of a parent or legal guardian

who pays income taxes to the government of Guam;

(2) citizen of the United States;

(3) senior or graduate of an accredited high school with a

cumulative grade point average of not less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or

its equivalent;

(4) official acceptance to Guam Community College in

accordance with its admissions policies;

(5) demonstrate financial need, which shall be determined by

regulations authorized by this Chapter. In addition, the applicant must

complete a “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” (FAFSA) form

as documentary evidence of need; and must exhaust all federal sources

that may be available for economically disadvantaged students, as

certified by GCC; and

(6) may be a degree holder from a foreign post secondary

education institution.

(g) Same: Benefits. Students entitled to scholarships pursuant to this

Chapter shall receive the following benefit: a scholarship in the amount of

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Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), issued in two (2) equal installments of

Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2500) each. The first (1st)

installment shall be payable at the beginning of the first (1st) semester of the

recipient’s freshman year at the Guam Community College. The second

(2nd) installment shall be paid in the beginning of the first (1st) semester of

the recipient’s sophomore year at the Guam Community College.

Scholarship funds shall be payable exclusively to GCC for tuition or books

or as reimbursement to scholarship recipients upon evidence of prior

payment of tuition and books, and according to the rules and regulations.

(h) Reporting Requirements. A report shall be submitted to the

Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan no later than three (3) weeks after the

start of the fall semester for which any scholarships have been awarded.

The report shall contain the following information: the total number of

recipients by academic year, sorted by new and continuing recipients; the

total number of recipients that completed their degree program; the total

amount expended for the prior academic year for any activity related to the

program; and any other information that I Liheslatura will deem helpful in

the review of the program.

(i) Service Requirements.

(1) Any student who receives a scholarship pursuant to the

provisions of this Section shall be obligated to work on Guam for a

period of one (1) year (equivalent to twelve (12) months) for every

year of assistance received, commencing no later than six (6) months

after the completion of an Associate’s degree program or higher

degree program, or no later than six (6) months immediately following

non-enrollment from the Guam Community College, or higher degree

program.

(2) Any student granted a scholarship under this Section who

fails to fulfill the provisions of this Section must repay the full amount

of the scholarship. The Board shall establish such policies prescribing

the length and terms of repayment, the interest rate to be charged, and

the collection of delinquent accounts or in the event of a default.

(3) If a student enlists to serve on active duty in a branch of the

U.S. Armed Services during the course of or upon completion of

studies, the service requirement shall be postponed until the student

returns to work on Guam, but in no case longer than six (6) years;

provided, however, that the student applies for the postponement

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within ninety (90) days of entering the Armed Services and continues

to maintain Guam as home of record.

(4) Death or total and permanent disability of the student shall

terminate any obligations herein. Total and permanent disability for

purposes of this Section is defined as any physiological or

psychological condition that will prevent the student from obtaining or

maintaining any form of gainful employment. The Board may defer

repayment for temporary disability. Total and permanent disability

requires the certification by two (2) physicians licensed to practice in

the United States.

(j) Funding Sources. The Program may make every effort to award

up to five hundred (500) scholarships annually contingent on the

availability of funding sources cited in this Section. Funding to administer

and conduct the Program in this Act may come from any or all of the

following sources:

(1) direct appropriation by I Liheslaturan Guåhan for the

express purpose of funding the program created by this Act;

(2) public investments from GEDA’s Qualifying Certificate

Program, not already dedicated for a particular use;

(3) company donations to a “Qualified Tuition Program, also

known as a 529 program” made available to eligible employees for re-

investment and development; and

(4) any other source of funding for which the use of money for

the purposes herein is consistent with law.