§ 6-85-206 — Basic eligibility requirements

The basic requirements for an applicant to be eligible for an award from the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program are: (1) (A) The applicant has been an Arkansas resident for at least the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date the applicant will enroll in an approved institution of higher education. (B) If the applicant is less than twenty-one (21) years of age, either the applicant or a parent or guardian of the applicant shall have maintained Arkansas residency for at least the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date the applicant will enroll in an approved institution of higher education. (C) (i) To be considered an Arkansas resident, an applicant shall demonstrate residency by evidence deemed sufficient to the Division of Higher Education. (ii) Evidence of residency may include without limitation information provided by the applicant on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a subsequent application required by the United States Department of Education for federal financial aid. (D) During the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date an applicant will enroll in an approved institution of higher education if the person for whom the twelve-month period is calculated under subdivision (1)(A) or subdivision (1)(B) of this section is deployed outside of Arkansas under military orders, the division shall calculate the twelve (12) months by: (i) Excluding months of military deployment outside of Arkansas that are within the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date the applicant will enroll in an approved institution of higher education; and (ii) Including months the person maintained Arkansas residency immediately preceding the military deployment outside of Arkansas; (2) The applicant is a citizen of the United States or is a lawful permanent resident; (3) (A) The applicant is accepted for admission as a full-time student or part-time student at: (i) An approved institution of higher education in a program of study that leads to or is creditable toward: (a) A baccalaureate degree; (b) An associate degree; (c) A certificate from a qualified certificate program; or (d) A graduate-level or professional degree; or (ii) An approved school of nursing in a program of study that leads to a nursing diploma under § 6-85-213 . (B) A full-time student shall enroll in at least twenty-seven (27) semester hours the first academic year and thirty (30) semester hours per academic year thereafter or the equivalent, as described in this subchapter, or the equivalent as defined by the division. (C) A part-time student shall complete at least six (6) semester hours but less than the minimum number of semester hours for a full-time student, as defined by the division; (4) The applicant has not met the maximum continuing education eligibility requirements under § 6-85-210 ; (5) The applicant does not owe a refund on a federal or state student financial aid grant for higher education; (6) The applicant is not in default on a state or federal student financial aid loan for higher education; (7) The applicant has not borrowed, as determined by the approved institution of higher education to be attended, in excess of the annual loan limits of the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program in the same academic year for which the student has applied for assistance under this subchapter; (8) The applicant is not incarcerated at the time of the application for or during the time the applicant receives a scholarship under this subchapter; (9) The applicant has complied with United States Selective Service System requirements for registration; (10) The applicant has completed and submitted to the United States Department of Education a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a subsequent application required by the United States Department of Education for federal financial aid; and (11) The applicant certifies that he or she is drug-free and pledges in writing on the application form to refrain from the use or abuse of illegal substances in order to become eligible and maintain eligibility for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program.

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2021, No. 636,§ 1, eff. 4/12/2021. Amended by Act 2019, No. 692,§ 14, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 2162, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 2161, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 910,§ 2160, eff. 7/1/2019. Amended by Act 2017, No. 597,§ 2, eff. 8/1/2017. Amended by Act 2013, No. 1173,§ 6, eff. 4/12/2013. Amended by Act 2013, No. 1173,§ 5, eff. 4/12/2013. Acts 2009, No. 605, § 4; 2009, No. 606, § 4; 2009, No. 1405, § 4; 2010, No. 265, § 5; 2010, No. 294, § 5; 2011, No. 207, § 6.