§ 6-85-205 — Authority and duties of Division of Higher Education

(a) The Division of Higher Education shall develop and promulgate rules for the administration of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program consistent with the purposes and requirements of this subchapter. (b) The rules developed and promulgated by the Division of Higher Education under this section shall pertain to: (1) Student eligibility criteria based on this subchapter; (2) The method for selecting scholarship recipients and for determining continuing eligibility; (3) The procedures for making payment to an approved institution of higher education where the recipient is enrolled; and (4) Other administrative procedures that may be necessary for the implementation and operation of the program. (c) The Division of Higher Education shall implement a complete financial aid management system that uses a single application form that may be accessed as a web-based application for all Arkansas state-supported student financial assistance administered by the Division of Higher Education, including: (1) Scholarships awarded under this subchapter or other state law that are funded with net proceeds from the state lottery; and (2) Scholarships, grants, or other financial assistance for higher education students funded with nonlottery state educational resources. (d) (1) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Division of Higher Education shall develop appropriate informational materials on the program and ensure distribution of the materials to Arkansas students in grade seven through grade twelve (7-12) each year as a part of the packet of materials on precollegiate preparation distributed by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board under § 6-61-217 and by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education under the Higher Education Awareness Act of 1993, § 6-5-401 et seq. (2) The distribution of informational materials under this section shall be accomplished through the collaboration of school counselors and other appropriate public school or Division of Higher Education personnel. (3) The Division of Higher Education shall provide a copy of the informational materials developed under this section to the Legislative Council for review. (e) The Commissioner of the Division of Higher Education shall review and evaluate the operation of the program with regard to eligibility criteria and size of the scholarship award to ensure that the program's operation meets the intent of this subchapter. (f) (1) (A) By July 15 of each year, the commissioner shall provide a report to the Legislative Council on: (i) The implementation of this subchapter; (ii) The number of recipients that either: (a) Dropped out during the academic year; or (b) Lost the scholarship during the academic year; and (iii) Any additional information requested by the Legislative Council. (B) The Legislative Council shall include the information reported under this subsection in its annual report to the General Assembly under § 6-85-220 . (2) By August 1 of each year, the Division of Higher Education shall provide to the Legislative Council an unaudited financial report on the administration of the program for the fiscal year just ended.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 786,§ 28, eff. 4/12/2023. Amended by Act 2021, No. 636,§ 1, eff. 4/12/2021. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 2159, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1258,§ 7, eff. 7/22/2015. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1258,§ 6, eff. 7/22/2015. Amended by Act 2015, No. 1258,§ 5, eff. 7/22/2015. Amended by Act 2015, No. 218,§ 7, eff. 2/26/2015. Amended by Act 2015, No. 218,§ 6, eff. 2/26/2015. Amended by Act 2015, No. 218,§ 5, eff. 2/26/2015. Acts 2009, No. 605, § 4; 2009, No. 606, § 4; 2010, No. 265, §§ 2-4; 2010, No. 294, §§ 2-4.