Chapter 18C, Chapter 18C

(a) The Legislature makes the following findings: (1) Although enrollments in institutions of higher education in this state and throughout the nation continue to increase at a rapid pace, West Virginia has not developed sufficiently the state’s human talent and resources because…

Definitions for terms used in this chapter have the meanings ascribed to them in section two, article one, chapter eighteen-b of this code unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (a) "Board" or "governing board" in the singular or plural means the vice chancello…

(a) Legislative findings: (1) Education attainment is inextricably linked to economic development, and, in the current global economy, the state is competing not only with other states, but also with other countries; (2) The federal government no longer funds student financial ai…

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code or rule to the contrary, a student who attended a public or private high school outside the state is eligible for state funded student financial aid, grants and scholarships if: (1) The student meets all other eligibility requi…

(a) The Higher Education Student Financial Aid Advisory Board is established. (b) The purpose of the board is to provide financial aid expertise and policy guidance to the commission, the council and the Vice Chancellor for Administration on all matters related to federal, state …

The Legislature enacts the provisions of this article which relate to the establishment of the guaranteed student loan program to continue and encourage education of citizens of this state who are in need of financial assistance, such assistance and education being for the welfar…

As used in this article, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context shall indicate another or different meaning or intent: (a) The words "act" or "undertaking" shall mean the official act of the governing boards, or senior administrator ac…

In order to facilitate the education of residents in this state and promote the industrial and economic development of the state, the governing boards are hereby authorized and empowered to buy and sell obligations of students who are residents of West Virginia, and who have been…

The senior administrator acting under direction of the governing boards is hereby authorized and empowered: (1) To fix and revise from time to time and charge and collect fees for its acts and undertakings; (2) To establish rules concerning the acts and undertakings; (3) To acqui…

Title to any property acquired by the governing boards under the provisions of this article which relate to the guaranteed student loan program shall be taken and held in the name of the governing boards.

With funds available to the governing boards for purposes other than the payment of compensation to personnel and the lease or rental of offices or equipment, the governing boards may acquire from any bank or other lending institution of this state a contingent interest in studen…

Each governing board shall prescribe the terms, conditions and limitations upon which it will acquire a contingent or direct interest in any obligation and such terms, conditions and limitations shall include, but without limiting the generality thereof, the terms for payment of …

The appropriation made to the governing boards under the provisions of this article which relate to the guaranteed student loan program shall be used exclusively for the purpose of acquiring contingent or vested rights in obligations which it may acquire under this article, and s…

The provisions of this article which relate to the guaranteed student loan program shall be liberally construed to the end that its beneficial purposes may be effectuated.

(a) Definitions. – As used in this section, unless the context in which the term used clearly requires a different meaning: "Approved service commitment area" means a location in West Virginia that is both a federally designated geographic, population, or facility-based health pr…

The board of trustees is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with an educational institution or institutions outside the state that offer training in optometry, by the terms of which the board of trustees may obligate itself to pay the institution, within the limits of any…

(a) There is continued a special revolving fund account under the Higher Education Policy Commission in the State Treasury known as the Health Sciences Loan Repayment Fund. The fund shall be used to accomplish the purposes of this section. The fund consists of any of the followin…

(a) There is continued in the State Treasury a special revolving fund account known as the "Nursing Scholarship and Workforce Fund" to be administered by the commission to implement the provisions of this section and §18B-16-6 of this code. Any moneys in the account on the effect…

(a) The Legislature finds as follows: (1) There is a critical need for additional primary care physicians practicing in West Virginia; (2) West Virginia has an aging population and an increasing need for recruiting primary care physicians, and placing primary care physicians in r…

(a) It is the purpose of this article and §18C-4A-1 et seq. of this code to improve the quality of education in the public schools of West Virginia by encouraging and enabling individuals who have demonstrated outstanding academic abilities to pursue teaching careers in critical …

(a) The Higher Education Student Financial Aid Advisory Board created by §18C-1-5 of this code shall select recipients to receive Teacher Education Loan Repayment Program awards. The advisory board shall make decisions regarding loan repayment awards pursuant to §18C-4-1 of this …

(a) Before receiving a loan repayment award, each eligible applicant shall enter into an agreement with the Vice Chancellor for Administration and shall meet the following criteria: (1) Provide the commission with evidence of compliance with §18C-4-4 of this code; (2) Agree to be…

(a) Vice Chancellor for Administration shall appoint a selection panel comprised of individuals representing higher education, public education, and the community at large to select Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars who meet the eligibility criteria set forth in subsection (b) of…

(a) Each award recipient is eligible to receive loan assistance in an amount determined annually by the commission based upon available funds, but not less than $3,000 annually in an amount determined annually by the commission based upon available funds, and subject to limits se…

(a) Each recipient of an Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars award shall enter into an agreement with the Vice Chancellor for Administration under which the recipient shall meet the following conditions: (1) Provide the commission with evidence of compliance with §18C-4-4(a) of thi…

(a) The recipient of an Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars award is eligible for scholarship renewal only during those periods when the recipient meets the following conditions: (1) Is enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited institution of higher education in this state; …

(a) An Underwood-Smith Teaching Scholars award shall be used in preparation for becoming an elementary, middle or secondary teacher in a critical teacher shortage field in the public schools of this state. Each award shall be in the amount of $10,000 annually, and is available fo…

(a) The Higher Education Grant Program is continued. (b) It is the policy of the Legislature and the purpose of this article to continue the Higher Education Grant Program within the limits of appropriations made therefor from time to time for such purpose by the Legislature. (1)…

(a) "Approved institution of higher education" means: (1) A state institution of higher education as defined in section two, article one, chapter eighteen-b of this code; Alderson-Broaddus College, Appalachian Bible College, Bethany College, Mountain State University, Davis and E…

(a) The grant program established in this article is administered by the Vice Chancellor for Administration. (b) There is hereby created a special revenue fund in the state Treasury which is designated and known as the "Higher Education Grant Fund". (1) The fund consists of: (A) …

Subject to the provisions of this article and within the limits of appropriations made by the Legislature, the vice chancellor may: (1) Prepare and supervise the issuance of public information concerning the grant program; (2) Prescribe the form and regulate the submission of app…

A person is eligible for consideration for a grant if the person: (1) Is a citizen of the United States; (2) Has been a resident of the state for one year immediately preceding the date of application for a grant; (3) Meets the admission requirements of, and is admitted into, the…

(a) A grant recipient may attend any approved institution of higher education. An institution is not required to accept a grant recipient for enrollment, but may exact compliance with its own admission requirements, standards and policies. (b) Grants may only be awarded to underg…

(a) There is established the Higher Education Future Workforce Grant Program. The Future Workforce grant program established and authorized by this section is administered by the vice chancellor for administration. Moneys appropriated or otherwise available for the Future Workfor…

(a) The purpose of this article is to attract talented students to West Virginia colleges and universities to major in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The Legislature recognizes that a larger pool of STEM talent in West Virginia will build the state’s ec…

When used in this article the following terms have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning: "Eligible institution of higher education" means a state institution of higher education as defined in §18B-1-2 of this code; and Appalachian Bible…

(a) The vice chancellor for administration shall select the recipients of West Virginia STEM scholarships from among those applicants who meet eligibility criteria set forth in subsection (b) of this section. (b) To be eligible to receive a scholarship under the provisions of thi…

(a) Each recipient of a West Virginia STEM scholarship shall enter into an agreement with the commission under which the recipient shall: (1) Provide the commission with evidence of compliance with §18C-6-5(a) of this code; (2) Agree that within one year following the date the re…

(a) The recipient of a West Virginia STEM scholarship is eligible for scholarship renewal if the recipient is: (1) Enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible institution of higher education; (2) Pursuing a course of study leading to a certificate, associate or baccalaureate d…

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, each recipient of a West Virginia STEM scholarship is eligible to receive an award of up to $3,000 for each academic year of higher education. No individual may receive a scholarship award for more than four academic years for the co…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the "West Virginia providing real opportunities for maximizing in-state student excellence (PROMISE) scholarship program".

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that: (1) West Virginia must have an educated work force in order to attract and retain the high wage, high skill jobs of the twenty-first century; (2) A large percentage of West Virginia residents who graduate from the state's colleges and …

(a) General. — For the purposes of this article, terms have the meaning ascribed to them in §18C-1-2 of this code, unless the context in which the term is used clearly requires a different meaning or a specific definition is provided in this section. (b) Definitions. — (1) "Eligi…

(a) The West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship Board is hereby dissolved. (b) All funds administered by the former PROMISE Scholarship Board shall be administered by the Higher Education Policy Commission.

(a) Powers of commission. — In addition to the powers granted by any other provision of this code, the commission has the powers necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes and provisions of this article including, but not limited to, the following express powers: (1) To pr…

(a) A PROMISE scholarship annual award shall meet the following conditions: (1) For a student enrolled in a state institution of higher education, the annual award is equal to the lesser of the cost of tuition or $4,750, except that a student who was awarded and used a PROMISE sc…

(a) The special revenue fund in the state Treasury designated and known as the PROMISE Scholarship Fund is continued. The fund consists of moneys from the following sources: (1) All appropriations to the fund from the West Virginia Lottery, video lottery and taxes on amusement de…

This article shall be known and may be cited as the WV Invests Grant Program.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that: (1) Every West Virginian should have access to education and training that will lead directly to quality employment opportunities within the state. In order for West Virginia to retain and attract business and industry, it must …

As used in this article: "Academic fees" means fees charged to students for specific courses or programs to support such expenses such as lab or equipment costs. "Council" means the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education. "Commission" means the West V…