§ 21-7-701 — Wyoming adjunct professor loan repayment program; eligibility criteria; procedures; program reporting

Wyoming § 21-7-701

• Jurisdiction: Wyoming
• Title 21: Education
• Ch. 7: TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES
• Art. 7: WYOMING ADJUNCT PROFESSOR LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM

Text

(a) The Wyoming adjunct professor loan repayment program
is created to provide assistance to public school teachers in
attaining necessary qualifications to provide instruction in
concurrent enrollment programs. This program shall be
administered by the Wyoming community college commission
established under W.S. 21-18-201. The commission shall
promulgate rules and regulations to govern the loan program.
Application shall be on a form and in a manner prescribed by the
commission. Applicants shall have a Wyoming residence, as
defined in W.S. 22-1-102(a)(xxx), and may apply for loans from
the program in accordance with this section.
(b) To qualify for a loan under this section, the
applicant shall first:
(i) Be employed by a Wyoming school district as a
teacher, as defined by W.S. 21-7-102;
(ii) Be certified by and in good standing with the
professional teaching standards board, as required by W.S. 21-7-
303;
(iii) Be nominated by the employing Wyoming school
district for consideration by the commission. The nomination
shall include a copy of the agreement reached between the
teacher, the employing school district and one (1) of the seven
(7) Wyoming community colleges or the University of Wyoming that
will be a party to the agreement under W.S. 21-20-201 upon the
completion of the program;
(iv) The agreement required by paragraph (iii) of
this subsection shall include the following:
(A) Identification of the classes approved under
W.S. 21-20-201 that will be taught upon successful completion of
the program;
(B) Identification of the appropriate accredited
college-level educational program, including a list of the
specific classes, that will enable the teacher to provide
instruction in the agreed upon courses at the high school and
college level upon completion;
(C) An estimate of the cost of tuition and fees
required to complete the program;
(D) The terms of repayment of the loan, which
shall include successful completion of the educational program
and teaching of the agreed upon classes for two (2) years in a
Wyoming school district.
(c) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for
this program, loans under this section may be granted to
qualified applicants to pay the cost of tuition and fees as
certified by the accredited educational program for the classes
listed in the agreement required under paragraph (b)(iv) of this
section.
(d) The employing school district shall certify to the
community college commission the amount required to pay tuition
and fees in accordance with the agreement reached under
paragraph (b)(iv) of this section upon completion of the
teacher's coursework. The certification shall include
documentation of successful completion of prior coursework paid
for by the community college commission under this section.
(e) Any teacher who fails to complete the academic program
for which the loan was provided or who fails to maintain
employment in accordance with the terms of the agreement
required under paragraph (b)(iii) of this section shall commence
cash repayment of the loan within forty-five (45) days.
(f) Loan repayment options under this section may be
deferred for a period not to exceed five (5) years while a loan
recipient is serving full time on active duty with any branch of
the military services of the United States.
(g) The Wyoming community college commission shall have
the authority specified under W.S. 21-18-202(c) to implement
this section and shall establish terms and conditions of loans
issued under this section, including:
(i) Interest rates and loan terms;
(ii) The form and process for loan application,
review and award;
(iii) Criteria under which students may be relieved
from having to repay loans and interest thereon, in whole or in
part, where the requirement to repay would cause undue hardship.
(h) Funding of the loan program established under this
section shall be by appropriation of the legislature.
(j) Cash repayment of loans and interest thereon shall be
credited to the public school foundation program account.
(k) The community college commission shall annually review
the loan program established under this section and report to
the governor and the legislature in accordance with W.S.
9-2-1014, regarding program results, funds received and loans
issued during the preceding academic year, together with the
status of all outstanding loan commitments and repayments under
the program. The report required under this subsection shall
include information regarding the impact of the program on
courses approved under W.S. 21-20-201.
(m) The loan repayment program created by this section
shall expire effective June 30, 2020.
(n) Notwithstanding subsection (m) of this section:
(i) Any person who receives a loan under this section
shall continue to receive funding for the program as the person
remains eligible as required by this section;
(ii) Repayment of loans awarded under this section
shall continue as specified by this section until all loan
obligations have been satisfied.