Arkansas Governor’s Scholars Program
RULES AND REGULATIONS
RULE 1 – ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE
I. The Arkansas Department of Higher Education shall administer the Governor's
Scholars Program within the policies set by the Arkansas Higher Education
Coordinating Board. All formal communications shall be addressed to or signed
by the Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education or his/her
designee. The Governor's Scholars Advisory Council shall provide advice to the
Department of Higher Education regarding the administration of the program.
II. Governor's Scholars Program Advisory Council
A. The Governor's Scholars Program Advisory Council shall consist of ten
members appointed by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating
Board for staggered two-year terms and shall represent the public and
private sectors of post-secondary education and secondary schools.
B. The Governor's Scholars Program Advisory Council shall advise the
Arkansas Department of Higher Education in the determination of
guidelines and regulations for the administration of this program.
C. The Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education or his/her
designee shall serve as presiding officer of the Governor's Scholars
Program Advisory Council and shall ensure that staff services for the
Council are provided.
III. The final responsibility for selecting scholarship recipients shall rest with the
Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education pursuant to the
provisions of Act 59 of 1983, Act 176 of 1985, Act 951 of 1989, Acts 489 and
1269 of 1997, Act 1562 of 1999, Acts 1612 and 1761 of 2001, Acts 1014, 1241
and 2197 of 2005 and subsequent legislation.
IV. When functioning under Act 59 of 1983, Act 176 of 1985, Act 951 of 1989, Acts
189 and 230 of 1995, Acts 489 and 1269 of 1997, Act 1562 of 1999, Acts 1612
and 1761 of 2001, Acts 1014, 1241 and 2197 of 2005 and subsequent
legislation, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education shall follow the
provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act.
RULE 2 – SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
I. Eligibility Criteria
A student must meet the following requirements to be eligible to receive the
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Governor's Scholars Award.
A. The applicant must be a citizen of the United States or a permanent
resident alien.
B. The applicant or one parent must be a bona fide resident of the State of
Arkansas, as defined by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education,
for at least the six months prior to the application deadline.
C. The applicant must be eligible for admission as a full-time undergraduate
student and declare an intent to enroll in an eligible public or private
college or university in Arkansas. An "undergraduate student" is defined
as an individual who is enrolled in a post-secondary education program
that leads to or is directly creditable toward the individual's first
baccalaureate degree.
D. The applicant must meet the minimum academic standards of a minimum
high school grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, or a minimum ACT
composite score of 27, or a minimum SAT composite score of 1220, or be
selected as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship or National
Achievement competition conducted by the National Merit Scholarship
Corporation for Governor's Scholars candidacy.
E. The applicant must demonstrate superior academic ability and leadership
qualities.
F. For students graduating after December 31, 2009, the applicant must
demonstrate proficiency in the application of knowledge and skills in
reading and writing literacy and mathematics by passing end-of-course
examinations or by scoring at least a nineteen (19) on the applicable
subscore of the ACT.
II. Continued Eligibility
The Governor’s Scholars scholarship shall be awarded for one academic year
and renewed annually for up to three additional academic years provided the
scholar maintains a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0
scale and completes a minimum of at least twelve (12) credit hours the first
semester and fifteen (15) hours each semester thereafter, or the equivalent .
The Governor’s Distinguished Scholars (as defined in Program Definitions)
scholarship shall be awarded for one academic year and renewed annually for up
to three additional academic years provided the scholar maintains a minimum
cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and completes a minimum
of at least twelve (12) credit hours the first semester and fifteen (15) hours each
semester thereafter. Those Governor’s Distinguished Scholars who fall below
the 3.25 GPA but do maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or above, shall be
eligible to receive $4,000 per academic year in the remaining years of the
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scholarship period.
If the student is entering the junior year, the student must have taken the
standardized rising junior test provided for in §6-61-114.
An academic year consists of regular fall, winter, spring and first and second
summer terms. Those recipients who complete their baccalaureate degree in
less than four years may use the scholarship for postgraduate studies at any
approved Arkansas higher education institution or at institutions located out of
state and educating Arkansas residents in dentistry, optometry, veterinary
medicine, podiatry, chiropractic, or osteopathy under agreement with the Board
of Control for Southern Regional Education. In no instance, may the scholarship
term exceed four academic years. The scholarship shall be terminated if the
scholar fails to complete a baccalaureate degree within five years from initial
college entrance.
RULE 3 – APPLICATION PROCESS
I. Application
Application for the Governor's Scholars Program originates through the
eligible student's individual initiative. The Arkansas Department of Higher
Education shall provide Governor's Scholars applications to high school
guidance counselors or principals and Arkansas higher education institutions.
Applications may also be obtained upon request from the Arkansas
Department of Higher Education.
The Governor's Scholars application shall be completed by the applicant, the
applicant's parent or legal guardian, and the applicant's high school principal
or counselor. Specific instructions are printed on the application and the
additional instruction sheet included with the application. Applicants may
withdraw from consideration for the program only through a letter from a
parent or guardian that states the reason for withdrawing.
II. Submission of Applications
Any interested student, who is classified as an Arkansas resident, as defined
by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, planning to enroll in an
eligible public or private college or university in Arkansas may apply.
III. Application Deadline
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education shall establish the deadline
for receipt of applications for the Governor's Scholars Program each year.
The deadline date shall be clearly printed on the application for the
Governor's Scholars Program and in the instructions, which accompany each
application.
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All applications must be received by the Arkansas Department of Higher
Education by the established deadline date in order to be considered for
Governor's Scholars candidacy. It is the responsibility of the individual applicant
to ensure that the application is received by the Arkansas Department of Higher
Education by the deadline date.
IV. Amount of Scholarship
Those students who have been designated as Governor’s Distinguished Scholars
(see Program Definition) prior to December 31, 2001, under Act 489 of 1997, will
be awarded funds which, when combined with the $4,000 Governor’s Scholars
award, equals tuition, mandatory fees, room and board at the approved institution
in which the recipient is enrolled, at the rate charged by the institution in
academic year 2000-01 for a regular full-time course load.
Those students who are awarded the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship after
December 31, 2001 shall receive an award, which when combined with the
$4,000 Governor’s Scholars award equals the lesser of (a) ten thousand dollars
($10,000) per year OR (b) tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees charged
by the approved at any Arkansas public or private institution of higher education.
The Governor’s Scholars amount awarded to each recipient shall be $4,000 per
year.
As authorized by Act 1269 of 1997, recipients who complete a baccalaureate
degree in three years or less may receive a fourth-year award if they enroll in a
postgraduate program at an approved institution. In no case, however, will the
recipient receive a larger scholarship than he or she received as an
undergraduate Governor’s Scholar. For students who qualify for a postgraduate
award by completing a bachelor’s degree in three years or less and enrolling in a
postgraduate program at an approved institution, the remaining term of the
Governor’s scholars award will be either the same amount received in the last
undergraduate year or the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for the
postgraduate program at an approved institution, whichever is less. The
Governor’s Scholarship term will never exceed four academic years.
RULE 4 – SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION CRITERIA
I. Selection Criteria
The Governor's Scholars selection criteria consist of value points for academic
achievement and leadership including: ACT or SAT score, selection as a
National Merit or National Achievement Finalist as conducted by the National
Merit Scholarship Corporation, high school grade point average, rank in high
school class, and leadership in school, community, and employment activities.
Value points assigned to each selection criterion are weighted as follows:
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ACT, SAT Score,
National Merit Finalist, or
National Achievement Finalist as conducted by the National Merit Scholarship
Corporation ----------------------------------------------- 40%
Rank in Class --------------------------------------------- 25%
Grade Point Average ------------------------------------ 25%
Leadership:
School & Employment ------------------------- 8%
Community ------------------------------------- 2%
ACT scores will be accepted only if they are from tests taken on national test dates or
are administered under special conditions approved by ACT and scored by ACT.
Those
applicants graduating from high school after December 31, 2001 will receive
consideration only for test scores earned by December 31 prior to the application
deadline.
Students who score a composite 32 or above on the ACT or a combined 1410 or above
on the SAT and who achieve a 3.50 cumulative high school grade point average on a
4.00 scale in addition to the 32 or 1410 to be eligible to be designated as Governor’s
Distinguished Scholars. Students who are designated as National Merit Finalists or
National Achievement Finalists are also eligible to be named Governor’s Distinguished
Scholars.
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education has the authority to alter the weight
assigned to the individual criterion to more appropriately meet the needs of the state as
determined by the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
High school counselors or principals shall supply high school records to include ACT or
SAT examination scores. The principal or counselor will verify the accuracy of the
scores. ACT or SAT examinations may be taken more than one time. The highest
composite score from any one examination shall be used. Grade point averages are
computed based on academic courses only, as defined in program definitions.
The eligible student receiving the highest point total from each county, but does not
meet the criteria for the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship, shall be awarded that
county's Governor's Scholars Award. All students who exhibit extraordinary academic
ability as defined in the program definitions, shall receive the Governor’s Distinguished
Scholar award provided the total number of such awards does not exceed the maximum
number specified in paragraph IIA below. Preference will be given to students who plan
to enter college at the beginning of the academic year immediately following their last
year of high school attendance.
II. Awarding Scholarships
A. Number of Governor's Scholars Awards
One Governor’s Scholars award shall be made to a student in each of
Arkansas' seventy-five (75) counties. Those applicants selected as county
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winners are selected according to their county of residence, not by the
county where the winner attends high school.
For purposes of this program, the county of residence will be that as
indicated by the student’s address shown on the applicant’s high school
transcript or other official school records. If a county awardee declines the
award, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education shall offer the
scholarship to the applicant with the next highest point total from that
county.
Students who attend high school out-of-state, but are eligible
through Act 692 of 1997, shall compete in the pool for the Governor’s
Distinguished Scholars award.
If sufficient funding is available, up to two hundred fifty (250) new
Governor’s Distinguished Scholars awards may be awarded each year. If
there are more than two hundred fifty (250) applicants who meet the
criteria for award of the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship, awards will
be made in accordance with the selection criteria in Rule 4
, Paragraph I
above. In this case, if an awardee declines the scholarship, then the
award may be offered to the applicant with the next highest point total who
meets the Governor’s Distinguished Scholar criteria.
In no event will the total number of Governor’s Scholars and Governor’s
Distinguished Scholar awards exceed three hundred twenty five (325) new
awards per year.
B. Notification of Awards
Applicants chosen as Governor's Scholars and Distinguished Scholars
shall be mailed an award packet, which includes an award notice, an
acceptance form and an information sheet. The acceptance form includes
the student's name, address, social security number, first institutional
choice as indicated on the application, and scholarship identification
number. The information sheet explains disbursement procedures and
conditions of the Arkansas Governor's Scholars Award.
C. Acceptance of Awards
The acceptance of the Governor's Scholars Award is accomplished by
signing and returning to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education the
acceptance form included in the award packet by the date indicated on the
acceptance form. The date by which the acceptance must be returned to
the Arkansas Department of Higher Education will be no less than two (2)
weeks from the date after notices are printed. If the Arkansas
Department of Higher Education does not receive the signed acceptance
form by the date indicated on the acceptance form, the student will not
receive the Arkansas Governor's Scholars Award. The Governor's
Scholars Award shall then be offered to the applicant selected in
accordance with the procedures in Paragraph II. A. above.
