Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 34, August 23, 2024
Section 62-315 - Initial Eligibility for Palmetto Fellows ScholarshipA. In order to qualify for consideration for a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, a student must: 1. Meet the eligibility criteria stipulated under the "Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Application" Section;2. Be enrolled as a senior in an eligible high school;3. Be classified as a South Carolina resident at the time of college enrollment;4. Be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident that meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under State Residency Statutes whose lawful presence in the US has been verified at the time of enrollment at the institution. When verifying the lawful presence of an individual, institutional personnel shall not attempt to independently verify the immigration status of any alien, but shall verify any alien's immigration status with the federal government pursuant to 8 USC Section 1373(c). A student must be a legal permanent resident of the United States before being considered to be a South Carolina resident;5. Be seriously considering attending, have applied, or have been accepted for admission to an eligible two-year or four-year degree-granting independent or public institution in South Carolina as a first-time, full-time, degree-seeking student; and6. Certify that he/she has never been adjudicated delinquent, convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any felonies and any second or subsequent alcohol, or drug related offenses under the laws of this or any other state or under the laws of the United States by submitting a signed affidavit each academic year to the home institution testifying to the fact, except that a high school or college student who has been adjudicated delinquent, convicted, or pled guilty or nolo contendere of a second or subsequent alcohol or drug related misdemeanor offense is only ineligible the next academic year of enrollment in an eligible independent or public institution after the date of the adjudication, conviction or plea. If the adjudication, conviction, or plea occurs during the academic year after the student has already submitted a signed affidavit to the home institution, the student will continue to be eligible for the remainder of that academic year. However, the student will be ineligible the following academic year of enrollment. If a student completes a pretrial intervention program and subsequently has his/her record expunged, the conviction will not affect the student's eligibility;7. Submit the official Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Application by the established deadline(s) and comply with all the directions contained therein.B. The high schools shall ensure that all students meeting the eligibility criteria are given the opportunity to be included in the applicant pool.C. A student who graduates immediately after the high school sophomore year is eligible to apply for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, providing that the student meets all eligibility requirements as described in the "Initial Eligibility" Section and providing that the student is entering an eligible independent or public four-year institution no later than the fall term one year immediately following high school graduation.D. A student who graduates in December/January of the high school senior year (considered an early graduate) is eligible to apply for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship after the completion of the junior year but prior to graduating high school, provided that the student meets all eligibility requirements as described in the "Initial Eligibility" Section and provided that the student is entering an eligible independent or public four-year institution no later than the Spring term one year immediately following high school graduation. Early graduates must be certified by the high school principal that they have met the South Carolina graduation requirements. Students who graduate high school mid-year are unable to use rank as an eligibility criterion. The South Carolina UGP GPA, as well as the high school graduation date, must be printed on the official final high school transcript. Students must enroll full-time continuously at a four-year institution no later than the Spring term one year immediately upon high school graduation. Early graduates who enroll mid-year (spring term) and are awarded the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship through the Early Graduation process will officially begin their initial college enrollment. In order to receive the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship the next academic year for a student who enrolls mid-year, the student must earn a minimum of fifteen credit hours and a 3.0 cumulative institutional GPA by the end of the academic year.E. Students cannot earn eligibility for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship after high school graduation. All students must apply and be awarded during the high school senior year.F. Students receiving the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship are not eligible for the LIFE Scholarship, SC HOPE Scholarship or Lottery Tuition Assistance within the same academic year.G. Any student who attempts to obtain or obtains the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship through means of a willfully false statement or failure to reveal any material fact, condition or circumstances affecting eligibility will be subject to applicable civil or criminal penalties, including loss of the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.Added by State Register Volume 22, Issue No. 6, Part 3, eff June 26, 1998; Amended by State Register Volume 23, Issue No. 2, eff February 26, 1999; State Register Volume 26, Issue No. 2, eff February 22, 2002; State Register Volume 27, Issue No. 6, Part 2, eff June 27, 2003; State Register Volume 29, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 2005; State Register Volume 30, Issue No. 4, eff April 28, 2006; State Register Volume 33, Issue No. 6, eff June 26, 2009; State Register Volume 35, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 2011; State Register Volume 43, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/24/2019; State Register Volume 45, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/28/2021; State Register Volume 46, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/27/2022.