§ 6-85-205 - Authority and duties of the Department of Higher Education. - Arkansas Statutes

6-85-205. Authority and duties of the Department of Higher Education.

(a) (1) The Department of Higher Education shall develop and promulgate rules for the administration of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program consistent with the purposes and requirements of this subchapter.

(2) The Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee shall perform the function of the Legislative Council required by law for the review of a proposed rule or proposed change to a rule promulgated by the Department of Higher Education under this subchapter.

(b) The rules developed and promulgated by the Department of Higher Education under this section shall pertain to:

(1) Student eligibility criteria based on this subchapter;

(2) The method for selecting scholarship recipients and for determining continuing eligibility;

(3) The procedures for making payment to an approved institution of higher education where the recipient is enrolled; and

(4) Other administrative procedures that may be necessary for the implementation and operation of the program.

(c) The Department of Higher Education shall implement a complete financial aid management system that uses a single application form that may be accessed as a web-based application for all Arkansas state-supported student financial assistance administered by the Department of Higher Education, including:

(1) Scholarships awarded under this subchapter or other state law that are funded with net proceeds from the state lottery; and

(2) Scholarships, grants, or other financial assistance for higher education students funded with nonlottery state educational resources.

(d) (1) The Department of Education and the Department of Higher Education are directed to develop appropriate informational materials on the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program and to ensure distribution of the materials to Arkansas students in grade seven through grade twelve (7-12) each year as a part of the packet of materials on precollegiate preparation distributed by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board under 6-61-217 and by the Department of Education under the Higher Education Awareness Act of 1993, 6-5-401 et seq.

(2) The distribution of informational materials under this section shall be accomplished through the collaboration of school counselors and other appropriate public school or Department of Higher Education personnel.

(3) The Department of Higher Education shall provide a copy of the informational materials developed under this section to the Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee for its review.

(e) The Director of the Department of Higher Education shall review and evaluate the operation of the program with regard to eligibility criteria and size of the scholarship award to ensure that the program's operation meets the intent of this subchapter.

(f) The Department of Higher Education may determine the necessary procedures for the awarding of scholarships if the number of eligible applicants exceeds the funds available based on the criteria under this subchapter.

(g) (1) (A) By July 15 of each year, the Director of the Department of Higher Education shall provide a report to the Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee on:

(i) The implementation of this subchapter;

(ii) The number of recipients that either:

(a) Dropped out during the academic year; or

(b) Lost the scholarship during the academic year; and

(iii) Any additional information requested by the Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee.

(B) The Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee shall include the information reported under this subsection in its annual report to the General Assembly under 6-85-220.

(2) By August 1 of each year, the Department of Higher Education shall provide to the Arkansas Lottery Commission Legislative Oversight Committee an unaudited financial report on the administration of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program for the fiscal year just ended.