(1) There is established the UPSKILL Mississippi Grant Program, which shall be administered by the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid, for the purpose of providing grants to eligible recipients to cover tuition and fees associated with attending a Mississippi public community or junior college for the length of time required to earn a certificate or associate degree in an eligible program. This program shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature.
(2) As used in this article, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless context clearly indicates otherwise:(a) “Accelerate Mississippi” means the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development.(b) “Office” means the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid.(c) “Eligible institution” means any Mississippi public community or junior college.(d) “Eligible recipient” means a person who:(i) Has been a resident of Mississippi for at least two (2) years prior to application for participation in the Mississippi Workforce Promise Grant Program and continues to physically reside in the state;(ii) Is a United States citizen or a lawful, permanent resident;(iii) Has a high school diploma, GED or equivalent;(iv) Is enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program at a Mississippi community or junior college;(v) Has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and qualifies as an independent student on the basis of age and is at least twenty-four (24) years of age;(vi) Has completed the Mississippi Aid Application and submitted all required supporting documents by the deadline established in rules promulgated by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board; and(vii) Maintains satisfactory academic progress as defined by the administering institution.
(a) “Accelerate Mississippi” means the Mississippi Office of Workforce Development.
(b) “Office” means the Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid.
(c) “Eligible institution” means any Mississippi public community or junior college.
(d) “Eligible recipient” means a person who:(i) Has been a resident of Mississippi for at least two (2) years prior to application for participation in the Mississippi Workforce Promise Grant Program and continues to physically reside in the state;(ii) Is a United States citizen or a lawful, permanent resident;(iii) Has a high school diploma, GED or equivalent;(iv) Is enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program at a Mississippi community or junior college;(v) Has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and qualifies as an independent student on the basis of age and is at least twenty-four (24) years of age;(vi) Has completed the Mississippi Aid Application and submitted all required supporting documents by the deadline established in rules promulgated by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board; and(vii) Maintains satisfactory academic progress as defined by the administering institution.
(i) Has been a resident of Mississippi for at least two (2) years prior to application for participation in the Mississippi Workforce Promise Grant Program and continues to physically reside in the state;
(ii) Is a United States citizen or a lawful, permanent resident;
(iii) Has a high school diploma, GED or equivalent;
(iv) Is enrolled at least half-time in an eligible program at a Mississippi community or junior college;
(v) Has completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and qualifies as an independent student on the basis of age and is at least twenty-four (24) years of age;
(vi) Has completed the Mississippi Aid Application and submitted all required supporting documents by the deadline established in rules promulgated by the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board; and
(vii) Maintains satisfactory academic progress as defined by the administering institution.
(3) The Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid shall:(a) Serve as the fiscal agent in administering the program;(b) With the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, promulgate rules and regulations for administering the program;(c) Establish an annual application and application process;(d) Receive and review applications;(e) Inform each eligible recipient of the amount of his or her award, which shall be a last-dollar financial grant equal to the student’s outstanding tuition and fees after all other gift aid, plus a book/material stipend of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per year;(f) Disburse funds to eligible institutions on behalf of eligible recipients upon verification of enrollment in an eligible program;(g) Use no more than five percent (5%) of the funds allocated for this section for the administration of the program; and(h) Include the program in its annual report to the Legislature. The report shall contain a detailed explanation of how the funds appropriated for the program were awarded, how many students have participated in the program, and their education and employment outcomes where available.
(a) Serve as the fiscal agent in administering the program;
(b) With the Mississippi Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, promulgate rules and regulations for administering the program;
(c) Establish an annual application and application process;
(d) Receive and review applications;
(e) Inform each eligible recipient of the amount of his or her award, which shall be a last-dollar financial grant equal to the student’s outstanding tuition and fees after all other gift aid, plus a book/material stipend of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per year;
(f) Disburse funds to eligible institutions on behalf of eligible recipients upon verification of enrollment in an eligible program;
(g) Use no more than five percent (5%) of the funds allocated for this section for the administration of the program; and
(h) Include the program in its annual report to the Legislature. The report shall contain a detailed explanation of how the funds appropriated for the program were awarded, how many students have participated in the program, and their education and employment outcomes where available.
(4) Eligible institutions shall:(a) Provide the following support services to grant recipients:(i) Assign an advisor or success coach to contact each grant recipient a minimum of three (3) times per term to assist with enrollment, financial aid, career planning, or other topics as needed to support program continuation and completion;(ii) Enroll each recipient in Mississippi Works;(iii) Provide career integration by creating program maps aligning eligible programs with careers and connect grant recipients to paid practicums or apprenticeships where possible;(iv) Identify alternative funding sources, such as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, to provide up to Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per term per grant recipient in emergency aid, childcare stipends or transportation assistance (bus vouchers or gas cards);(v) When possible, offer flexible program delivery, such as evening, weekend, and online program participation;(vi) Utilize data and early alert systems to support recipients.(b) Report to the office each term:(i) Student cost of attendance;(ii) Federal grants received;(iii) Institutional grants received;(iv) Other grants received;(v) Loans received;(vi) Work Study received;(vii) Degree/credential earned; and(viii) Program Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code.
(a) Provide the following support services to grant recipients:(i) Assign an advisor or success coach to contact each grant recipient a minimum of three (3) times per term to assist with enrollment, financial aid, career planning, or other topics as needed to support program continuation and completion;(ii) Enroll each recipient in Mississippi Works;(iii) Provide career integration by creating program maps aligning eligible programs with careers and connect grant recipients to paid practicums or apprenticeships where possible;(iv) Identify alternative funding sources, such as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, to provide up to Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per term per grant recipient in emergency aid, childcare stipends or transportation assistance (bus vouchers or gas cards);(v) When possible, offer flexible program delivery, such as evening, weekend, and online program participation;(vi) Utilize data and early alert systems to support recipients.
(i) Assign an advisor or success coach to contact each grant recipient a minimum of three (3) times per term to assist with enrollment, financial aid, career planning, or other topics as needed to support program continuation and completion;
(ii) Enroll each recipient in Mississippi Works;
(iii) Provide career integration by creating program maps aligning eligible programs with careers and connect grant recipients to paid practicums or apprenticeships where possible;
(iv) Identify alternative funding sources, such as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, to provide up to Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per term per grant recipient in emergency aid, childcare stipends or transportation assistance (bus vouchers or gas cards);
(v) When possible, offer flexible program delivery, such as evening, weekend, and online program participation;
(vi) Utilize data and early alert systems to support recipients.
(b) Report to the office each term:(i) Student cost of attendance;(ii) Federal grants received;(iii) Institutional grants received;(iv) Other grants received;(v) Loans received;(vi) Work Study received;(vii) Degree/credential earned; and(viii) Program Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code.
(i) Student cost of attendance;
(ii) Federal grants received;
(iii) Institutional grants received;
(iv) Other grants received;
(v) Loans received;
(vi) Work Study received;
(vii) Degree/credential earned; and
(viii) Program Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code.
(5) Accelerate Mississippi shall annually provide a list of eligible programs based on priority sectors and occupations to the office, which shall use the list to determine the eligibility of applicants.