DELAWARE STATE SENATE

150th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE BILL NO. 175

AS AMENDED BY

SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 RELATING TO ELIGIBILITY FOR SEED GRANTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 3403A, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3403A Administration.

(a) This subchapter shall be administered by the institution where the student is enrolled or has sought admission.

(b) Each institution shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary and proper to the administration of this subchapter. Such rules and regulations may include an appeals process to grant exceptions to the eligibility requirements set forth in § 3404A(a)(6) of this title for applicants who are unable to attend classes in the fall semester immediately after graduation from high school due to military service, participation in a full-time volunteer service program, or a documented medical condition. Admission deferrals of up to 1 calendar year in duration may be offered to those students who defer admission due to military service, participation in a full-time volunteer service program, or a documented medical condition. Upon passage of 1 year, students may appeal for an admission deferral for 1 additional consecutive year.

(c) Each institution shall annually report to the General Assembly of the State the names of its own students enrolled in the SEED program and the total amount of expenditures made under this subchapter. The report must identify which of those students enrolled in the program pursue a bachelor’s degree after completion of an associate degree.

Section 2. Amend § 3406A, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 3406A Maintaining eligibility.

(a) To maintain continued State payment of tuition once enrolled at Delaware Technical and Community College or the University of Delaware, Associate in Arts program, the student shall meet all of the following:

(1) Make steady academic progress toward an associate degree, earning not less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing in each academic year.

(2) Maintain continuous enrollment for not less than 2 semesters in each successive academic year, unless granted an exception for cause by the institution.

(3) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 calculated on a 4.0 scale at the end of the first academic year and thereafter maintain such a cumulative grade point average. The institution may grant exceptions upon appeal.

(4) The student and family shall certify that the student has not been convicted of any felony.

(b) Grants made by the SEED program shall not be allowed for courses or other post-secondary units repeated or taken in excess of the requirements for completion of an associate degree with the exception of those courses required by the institution for program admission and courses taken pursuant to the Associates in Arts program.

(c) Students are eligible to participate in this program for a period not to exceed 6 continuous semesters, not including the summer semester. A student who completes an associate degree pursuant to this section, maintains the applicable criteria set forth above, and immediately thereafter pursues a bachelor’s degree at either the University of Delaware and/or Delaware Technical Community College shall be eligible for SEED grant monies toward their junior year and/or pursuing an equivalent number of credits equal to what is otherwise their junior year of higher education.