§ 21-17-109 — Course in field of professional health services; authority to offer; contracts with students; repayment of funds expended; deposit of repayments

(a) In addition to other powers heretofore granted to the
trustees of the University of Wyoming, the board may offer and
provide, in whole or in part at the university or in whole or in
part at other institutions, universities or colleges within or
without the state, a course of training and education in the
field of professional health services including and limited to
medicine, dentistry, veterinary, optometry or nursing.
(b) To accomplish the purposes hereof and in order that
degrees in such fields of professional health services may be
awarded by the university the board of trustees may enter into
contracts with other institutions, universities or colleges
within or without the state that maintain schools for the
training and education of students in professional health
services and to expend its funds in connection therewith.
(c) Students desiring to avail themselves of the
opportunities under this section, before enrolling for such
courses and having passed a competitive examination, must be
approved by the president of the university acting with the
advice of the respective state board in each particular field.
No student shall be approved by the president unless the student
or the student's father, mother or lawful guardian are residents
of Wyoming and have been residents for not less than five (5)
years immediately prior thereto.
(d) In addition to the requirements of subsection (c) of
this section, before expending any funds the board of trustees
shall obtain an agreement from each student whereby the student
agrees to:
(i) Authorize the state of Wyoming to pay all or a
portion of the cost of attendance incurred in his or her medical
education as determined by any contract between the state of
Wyoming and the school of medicine providing that education; and
(ii) Actively engage in professional practice or
other professional pursuits in Wyoming for not to exceed three
(3) years as the board requires. The taking of a family
practice residency program in the state shall be credited toward
the practice requirements at the rate of one-third (1/3) year of
practice for each year of service in a family practice residency
program in the state; or
(iii) Repay all amounts expended by the state of
Wyoming under paragraph (i) of this subsection on the student's
education, together with interest which shall begin accruing
after the student's residency but in no event later than eight
(8) years after the student enters into an agreement, upon terms
specified by the board. However, interest shall begin to accrue
if the board finds that the student has withdrawn from medical
school or a residency program or is otherwise not making
satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree or
program. Money expended under this subsection shall accrue at
an annual interest rate equal to that charged for federal
Stafford loans at the time interest begins to accrue, which rate
shall be adjusted annually to match the federal Stafford loan
rate. In no event shall the interest rate be greater than eight
percent (8%);
(iv) Repealed By Laws 2011, Ch. 176, § 2.
(e) Any amounts, other than fees and tuition payments,
paid by medical students in accordance with the contractual
arrangements authorized under this section shall be deposited
into a special fund designated the Medical School Student Fund,
maintained and separately accounted for by the University of
Wyoming, which fund may be added to by specific contributions
from other sources. The fund may be invested, at the discretion
of the president of the University of Wyoming and the dean of
the College of Health Sciences, for the production of income.
The investment income shall be expended by the University of
Wyoming solely for direct assistance for relocation costs
associated with practice in Wyoming, fees and materials for
medical board examinations, rural training, dislocation, student
development and scholarships to medical students as authorized
by the president of the University of Wyoming and the dean of
the College of Health Sciences. The principal of the fund
established shall remain unimpaired and only the income derived
therefrom may be collected and expended from year to year. The
amount of income expended annually pursuant to this section
shall not exceed an amount equal to four percent (4%) of the
previous five (5) year average market value of the fund,
calculated from the first day of the fiscal year. Any unexpended
income shall remain in the fund. On or before October 1 of each
year, the university shall submit a report to the joint
appropriations committee and the joint labor, health and social
services interim committee on income to the fund and
expenditures from fund earnings during the prior fiscal year.
(f) Upon recommendation of the president of the
university, the board of trustees may relieve a student of the
obligation to repay amounts expended under paragraph (d)(i) of
this section, in whole or in part, where repayment would cause
undue hardship. The university shall annually report the number
of students relieved from repayment under this subsection to the
joint labor, health and social services interim committee not
later than October 1.
(g) Tuition and fees received by the University of Wyoming
from students participating in the medical education program
under this section, shall be separately accounted for by the
university. These funds are to be used by the university solely
for the support of education and training conducted at the
university pursuant to this section. The receipt and
expenditure of these funds shall be identified in the
university's biennial budget request.