North Carolina § 116-281 - 1. Semester limitation on eligibility for scholarship.

§ 116-281. 1. Semester limitation on eligibility for scholarship.

A student shall not receive a scholarship under this Article for more than 10 full-time academic semesters, or the equivalent if enrolled part-time, unless the student is enrolled in a program officially designated by the eligible private postsecondary institution as a five-year degree program. If a student is enrolled in such a five-year degree program, then the student shall not receive a scholarship under this Article for more than 12 full-time academic semesters or the equivalent if enrolled part-time. Upon application by a student, the eligible private postsecondary institution may grant a waiver to the student who may then receive a scholarship for the equivalent of one additional full-time academic semester if the student demonstrates that any of the following have substantially disrupted or interrupted the student's pursuit of a baccalaureate degree: (i) a military service obligation, (ii) serious medical debilitation, (iii) a short-term or long-term disability, or (iv) other extraordinary hardship. The eligible private postsecondary institution shall establish policies and procedures to implement the waiver provided by this subsection. History (2013-360, s. 11.15(f).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.6, made this section effective July 1, 2013. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 11.15(i), made this section applicable to the 2014-2015 academic year and each subsequent academic year. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as the 'Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2013.'" Session Laws 2013-360, s. 38.5, is a severability clause. Session Laws 2013-360, s. 11.15(h), as amended by Session Laws 2014-100, s. 11.8, provides: "The State Education Assistance Authority, in consultation with The University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System, and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, shall study ways to structure its financial aid payment schedules to encourage students to complete an average of 30 credit hours per academic year. The State Education Assistance Authority shall make an interim report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by March 1, 2015, on its progress or lack thereof in developing such schedules and shall make a final report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by October 1, 2015, about the financial aid payment schedules it proposes to implement. "After submitting its final report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee, the State Education Assistance Authority shall structure its payment schedules to encourage students to complete an average of 30 credit hours per academic year. The revised payment schedules shall be in place for financial aid awards made for the 2016-2017 academic year and all subsequent academic years." Session Laws 2014-100, s. 1.1, provides: "This act shall be known as 'The Current Operations and Capital Improvements Appropriations Act of 2014.'" Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.4, provides: "Except for statutory changes or other provisions that clearly indicate an intention to have effects beyond the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the textual provisions of this act apply only to funds appropriated for, and activities occurring during, the 2014-2015 fiscal year." Session Laws 2014-100, s. 38.7, is a severability clause.