§ 21-17-119 — Authority to offer course in dentistry through contracts with other institutions; contracts with students; repayment of funds expended; deposit of repayments

(a) In addition to other powers granted to the trustees of
the University of Wyoming, the board may offer and provide at
other institutions, universities or colleges, a course of
training and education in the field of dentistry.
(b) To accomplish the purposes of this section, the board
of trustees may enter into contracts with other institutions,
universities or colleges outside the state that maintain schools
for the training and education of students in dentistry and to
expend funds appropriated for this purpose in connection
therewith.
(c) In entering into contracts with institutions, the
board of trustees shall give preference to institutions that
agree to provide students with a training rotation or externship
in Wyoming.
(d) Students desiring to avail themselves of the
opportunities under this section, before enrolling for such
courses and having completed the admissions process into the
dental education program at a school of dentistry with which the
university has an agreement under subsection (a) of this
section, must be approved by the president of the university
acting with the advice of the state board of dentistry. 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.
(e) 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 cost of attendance incurred in his dentistry
education as determined by any contract between the state of
Wyoming and the school of dentistry providing that education:
and
(A) Actively engage in professional practice or
other professional pursuits in dentistry in Wyoming for a period
of three (3) years; or
(B) Repay all amounts expended by the state of
Wyoming under this paragraph on the student's education,
together with interest which shall begin accruing after the
student's graduation, but in no event later than five (5) 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board finds that the student has withdrawn from the school of
dentistry or is otherwise not making satisfactory progress
toward completion of the degree or program. Money expended
under this paragraph shall accrue interest at an annual 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%).
(ii) During the time required to practice under
subparagraph (i)(A) of this subsection, treat under terms and
conditions specified in the agreement Wyoming patients eligible
for services under the Wyoming Medical Assistance and Services
Act or the child and parent health insurance program pursuant to
Wyoming Statutes title 35, chapter 25. All contract provisions
established under this paragraph shall be developed in
consultation with the state board of dentistry and the
department of health.
(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) Any amounts other than fees and tuition payments, paid
by dentistry students in accordance with the contractual
arrangements authorized under this section shall be deposited
into a special account designated the Dentistry School Student
Account, maintained and separately accounted for by the
University of Wyoming, which account may be added to by specific
contributions from other sources. The account may be invested,
at the discretion of the president of the University of Wyoming,
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 dental board examinations, rural
training, dislocation, student development and scholarships to
dentistry 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 account, 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.
(h) Tuition and fees received by the University of Wyoming
from students participating in the 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 and other graduate courses in the college of health
sciences. The receipt and expenditure of these funds shall be
identified in the university's biennial budget request.