Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 39 - Higher educational agencies and education compacts.
39.437 - Wisconsin covenant scholars grants.

39.437 Wisconsin covenant scholars grants.
(1) Establishment of grant program. There is established, to be administered by the board, a Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program to provide grants to students who meet the eligibility criteria specified in sub. (2).
(2) Eligibility.
(a) Except as provided in par. (b), a student is eligible for a grant under this section if the student meets all of the following criteria:
1. The student is a resident of this state and is enrolled at least half time and registered as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in a public or private, nonprofit, accredited institution of higher education or in a tribally controlled college in this state.
2. The student has been designated as a Wisconsin covenant scholar by the board.
(b)
1. The board may not make a grant under this section to a person whose name appears on the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), unless the person provides to the board a payment agreement that has been approved by the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) and that is consistent with rules promulgated under s. 49.858 (2) (a).
2. No student shall be eligible for a grant under this section in more than the equivalent of 10 semesters of undergraduate education.
3. No student who fails to meet acceptable academic standards prescribed by the student's institution of higher education or tribally controlled college shall be or shall remain eligible for a grant under this section.
(3) Amount of grant.
(a) In this subsection, “expected family contribution" means the amount that a student and the student's family are expected to contribute in an academic year to the cost of the student's postsecondary education, as determined by use of the most recent federal Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as described in 20 USC 1090 (a).
(b) The amount of a grant shall be paid from the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (fm) and, except as provided in pars. (c) and (d), shall be determined by the board by rule.
(c) Subject to par. (e), for a student enrolled full time after the student's 2nd year of postsecondary education, the amount of a grant is as follows:
1. One thousand dollars per academic year, if the student's expected family contribution is $0.
2. One thousand five hundred dollars per academic year, if the student's expected family contribution is greater than $0, but less than $3,500.
3. One thousand dollars per academic year, if the student's expected family contribution is $3,500 or more, but less than $12,000.
4. Two hundred fifty dollars per academic year, if the student's expected family contribution is $12,000 or more.
(d) Subject to par. (e), for a student enrolled half time after the student's 2nd year of postsecondary education, the amount of a grant is as follows:
1. Seven hundred fifty dollars per academic year, if the student's expected family contribution is less than $3,500.
2. Five hundred dollars per academic year, if the student's expected family contribution is $3,500 or more, but less than $12,000.
3. One hundred twenty-five dollars per academic year, if the student's expected family contribution is $12,000 or more.
(e) If awarding the full amount of a grant under par. (c) 1., 2., 3., or 4. or (d) 1., 2., or 3. would result in an overaward of financial assistance in violation of federal law or regulation, the board may reduce the amount of the grant in order to comply with that law or regulation.
(4) Administration of grant program.
(a) By February 1 of each year, the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System shall provide to the board information relating to the resident undergraduate academic fees charged to attend each of the institutions within that system for the current academic year, the technical college system board shall provide to the board information relating to the fees under s. 38.24 (1m) (a) to (c) charged to attend each of the technical colleges within that system for the current academic year, each tribally controlled college in this state shall provide to the board information relating to the tuition and fees charged to attend the tribal college for the current academic year, and the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities or a successor organization shall provide to the board information relating to tuition and fees charged to attend each of the private, nonprofit, accredited institutions of higher education in this state for the current academic year.
(b) By April 1 of each year, the board shall determine the average of the resident undergraduate academic fees charged for the current academic year among the institutions within the University of Wisconsin System, the average of the fees under s. 38.24 (1m) (a) to (c) charged for the current academic year among the technical colleges in this state, the average of the tuition and fees charged for the current academic year among the tribally controlled colleges in this state, and the average of the tuition and fees charged for the current academic year among the private, nonprofit, accredited institutions of higher education in this state.
(c) To the extent permitted under 20 USC 1232g and 34 CFR part 99, the department of public instruction shall provide pupil information to the board as necessary for that office to fulfill its role in the administration of the grant program under this section.
(5) Rules. The board shall promulgate rules to implement this section, including all of the following:
(a) Rules establishing a reporting system to periodically provide student economic data.
(b) Rules establishing eligibility criteria for designation as a Wisconsin covenant scholar under sub. (2) (a) 2.
(c) Any other rules the board considers necessary to assure the uniform administration of this section.
(6) Sunset. No student may enroll in the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program after September 30, 2011. After that date, the board may designate a student as a Wisconsin covenant scholar under sub. (2) (a) 2. only if the student enrolled in the Wisconsin Covenant Scholars Program by that date.
History: 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20.

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