Agency: State Board of Regents

Line Item: Student Assistance

Function

Over the years, the Legislature has appropriated funds to financially assist students with the cost of tuition and other expenses associated with their post-secondary education. Funding is appropriated to the Board of Regents, which transfers the funding directly to the insitutions or to the Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority (UHEAA). UHEAA is the state's designated administrator of several campus-based federal- and state-funded financial aid programs.

Funding Detail

Program: Regents' Scholarship

Function

In 2008, the Utah State Legislature created the Regents' Scholarship. This scholarship encourages Utha high school students to prepare for college academically and financially by taking a rigourous course of study and saving for college. There are three elements to the scholarship:

1. A base award for the Regents' Scholarship worth up to $1,000.
2. An Exemplary Academic Achievement award for the Regents' Scholarship worth up to $5,000 for the shorter of two year of full-time enrollment, 65 credit hours, or the completion of a baccalaureate degree. (For students who graduated from high school in 2010, the award is up to 75% of tuition costs.)
3. A supplemental award of up to $100 per year for students who have contributed to their Utah Educational Savings Plan account between the ages of 14 and 17. The maximum supplemental award is $400.

Statutory Authority

The following laws govern the Regents' Scholarship Program, in addition to the laws previously mentioned in Chapter 1:

• UCA 53B-7-502 establishes and outlines the administration of the Higher Education Tuition Assistance Program.

Funding Detail

Program: Student Financial Aid

Function

The funding for this program is the state match required for three federal programs, including: the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study Program (FWS), and Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP).

Funding Detail

Program: Minority Scholarships

Function

The 1995 Legislature provided $50,000 for a state-sponsored minority scholarship program. Budget reductions in FY 2002 and FY 2009 have reduced that original amount to $40,600. Minority students may apply for these scholarship funds.

Funding Detail

Program: Tuition Assistance

Function

The Utah Tuition Assistance Program started in 1998. Originally it was a matching endowment program to provide need-based scholarships. The 2007 Legislature modified the rules changing it to a need-based grant program. Funds are allocated to specific institutions identified in State Code.

Statutory Authority

The following laws govern the Tuition Assistance Program:

• UCA 53B-7-502 establishes and outlines the administration of the Higher Education Tuition Assistance Program.

Funding Detail

Program: New Century Scholarships

Function

In the 1999 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 90, 'Higher Education Scholarships,' was passed, which instituted the New Century Scholarship program. Subsequent revisions to the program, including amendments enacted by the 2010 Legislature, have resulted in the current state of the scholarship. The New Century Scholarship currently provides a state-funded scholarship of up to 75 percent tuition for up to 60 credit hours of study at a public or private 4-year college or university in Utah for students who graduated in 2010. For students graduating after 2010, the value of the scholarship is up to $5,000.

To qualify, students who graduated in 2010 must have completed the requirements for an Associate's degree or the Math and Science Curriculum by September 1st after their regular high school class graduates. Students graduating after 2010 must complete the requirements no later than the day that the student's high school class graduates. Students who meet these requirements and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible for the scholarship.

Statutory Authority

The following laws govern the New Century Scholarship program:

• UCA 53B-8-105 establishes the New Century Scholarship.

Funding Detail

Program: Utah Centennial Opportunity Program for Education

Function

The Utah Centennial Opportunity Education Program for Education (UCOPE) was established in 1997 to provide state-funded, need-based financial aid for Utah resident students attending public and private universities and colleges in Utah. UCOPE currently has $1.4 million in ongoing state appropriations. In order to keep pace with the increases in tuition and fees, the Board of Regents' policy (R510-3.8) states: 'When the Board's higher education appropriation recommendations contemplate tuition rate increases, the Board will consider including a request for a related appropriation increase for the Utah Centennial Opportunity Education Program for Education (UCOPE).'

Statutory Authority

The following laws govern the UCOPE program:

• UCA 53B-13a outlines the administration of the UCOPE Program.

Funding Detail

Program: Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Function

The Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education (WICHE) allows students from 15 participating states to enroll in certain out-of-state professional programs at a reduced tuition rate. These professional programs are usually not available in the student's home state. Students pay the resident rate at public schools and a reduced standard tuition at private schools. In 2009-10, the State of Utah supported XX students in veterinary medicine, X in podiatry, and X in optometry. Another XX at-large veterinary medicine students received partial funding. The student's state of residence pays a support fee to the receiving school to help pay for the cost of the student's professional education. In addition, each state pays a membership fee to support the administrative functions of the Commission.

Statutory Authority

The following laws govern the State Board of Regent's WICHE program:

• UCA 53B-4 outlines the WICHE compact with other western states.

Funding Detail

Program: T.H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans Program

Function

The T. H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans Program was established to recruit and train Utah teachers. The incentive loans may be used at any higher education institution in the State with a state-approved teacher education program. Credit for tuition and fees are granted for each year of teaching in the State. A recipient who does not teach for a term equal to the number of years of the incentive loan within a reasonable period of time after graduation is required to repay a graduated portion of the tuition and fees. The State Board of Regents is appropriated administrative funds to support the management of the Loan Program.

Statutory Authority

The following statute relates to the T.H. Bell Teaching Incentive Loans Program:

• UCA 53B-10-101 details the program's eligibility requirements, repayment policies, criteria for awarding the loans, the number of loans, and legislative appropriations.

Funding Detail

Program: Engineering Loan Repayment Program

Function

This program has moved to the Economic Development line item within the State Board of Regents. The following Funding Detail is for historical purposes.

Funding Detail