§ 19-9-503 — Requirements for educational assistance; assistance payments

(a) Subject to legislative appropriation and in accordance
with the provisions of this article, the adjutant general or his
designee, may authorize the payment of higher education tuition
and mandatory fees for active members of the Wyoming national
guard or for the spouse or dependents of active members of the
Wyoming national guard as provided in subsection (c) of this
section. To be eligible to participate in the plan members
shall:
(i) Have completed basic military training or officer
training unless waived by the adjutant general for good cause
shown;
(ii) Meet the standards for satisfactory
participation in the Wyoming national guard at the beginning of
and throughout the entire academic term for which assistance is
received;
(iii) Be committed through an enlistment contract or
other written agreement to membership in the Wyoming national
guard for not less than six (6) years, including initial
enlistment and any previous contract or contracts;
(iv) Agree in writing to serve in the Wyoming
national guard for two (2) years after the last day of the last
academic term for which assistance is received under the plan.
This two (2) year period of service may be within the six (6)
year commitment period required by paragraph (iii) of this
subsection;
(v) Have declared an academic major or educational
objective; and
(vi) Meet the academic standards specified in this
paragraph and otherwise be in good standing as determined by the
institution of higher education pursuant to a published policy.
Any member receiving educational assistance under the plan who
fails to earn a cumulative grade point average at least
equivalent to 2.0 on a 4.0 scale shall be ineligible for
educational assistance under the plan until the member attains
that cumulative grade point average, unless the adjutant general
for cause and pursuant to rule and regulation waives the grade
point average requirement.
(b) Members meeting the requirements of subsection (a) of
this section or spouses or dependents under subsection (c) of
this section may receive educational assistance benefit payments
as follows:
(i) For authorized courses at a Wyoming public
institution of higher education, payment may be made for up to
the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees;
(ii) For authorized courses at a Wyoming private
institution of higher education, payment may be made for the
lesser of the actual costs of tuition and mandatory fees or an
amount equal to the average resident tuition and mandatory fee
charges of all Wyoming public institutions of higher education
for an undergraduate student enrolled for twelve (12) semester
hours;
(iii) Eligible members or spouses or dependents under
subsection (c) of this section who are not Wyoming residents may
receive benefits as provided in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this
subsection, but the benefit payment shall not exceed the amount
of tuition and mandatory fees that would have been charged if
the member or the spouse or dependent under subsection (c) of
this section were a Wyoming resident;
(iv) Payment shall be made directly to the
institution after the institution officially certifies that the
member or the spouse or dependent under subsection (c) of this
section has registered;
(v) Payments under the plan together with any federal
tuition assistance received by the member or the spouse or
dependent under subsection (c) of this section shall not exceed
one hundred percent (100%) of the tuition and mandatory fees
charged.
(c) Members of the Wyoming national guard who meet the
standards for satisfactory participation in the Wyoming national
guard, upon completion of their initial mandatory service
obligation under paragraph (a)(iii) of this section, may
transfer any Wyoming national guard educational assistance plan
benefits that have not reached the limits under W.S. 19-9-504(a)
and (c) to their spouse or dependent to be paid in accordance
with subsection (b) of this section. The transfer of benefits by
the member requires the member to agree in writing to serve in
the Wyoming national guard for not less than four (4) additional
years after the date the benefit has been transferred. This four
(4) year period of service is in addition to the six (6) year
commitment period required by paragraph (a)(iii) of this
section. The member's spouse or dependent may subsequently
transfer any remaining benefits that have not reached the limits
under W.S. 19-9-504(a) and (c) back to the member to use subject
to this section. The member and the member's spouse or dependent
cannot use the benefits concurrently.