SECTION 22.295. Hardship Provisions

(a) In the event of a hardship or for other good cause as determined by the eligible institution, the Program Officer at the institution may allow an otherwise eligible Scholar to receive a scholarship:

(1) While enrolled in fewer semester credit hours than required in §22.288 of this subchapter (relating to Eligible Students);

(2) If the Scholar fails to meet the satisfactory academic progress requirements of §22.288 of this subchapter; or

(3) If the scholar requires an extension of the limits found in §22.294(b) of this subchapter (relating to Discontinuation of Eligibility or Non-Eligibility) to complete his or her degree.

(b) Hardship conditions may include:

(1) Documentation of a serious health/condition that makes the Scholar unable to attend school or complete academic study;

(2) Documentation that the Scholar is responsible for the care of a child, spouse, or parent who has a serious health condition, sick, injured, or and that the scholar's provision of care may affect his or her academic performance;

(3) The birth of a child or placement of a child with the student for adoption or foster care; or

(4) Scholar needing fewer than twelve semester credit hours to complete Scholar's degree plan.

(c) A hardship under this section may extend for a period of no longer than one year.

(d) Documentation of the hardship circumstances approved for a Scholar to receive a scholarship must be kept in the Scholar's files, and the institution must identify Scholars approved for a scholarship based on a hardship to the Coordinating Board, so that it may appropriately monitor each Scholar's period of eligibility.

(e) Eligible institutions shall adopt a hardship policy under this section, share such policy with Scholars and have the policy available in the financial aid office for public review upon request.

Source Note: The provisions of this §22.295 adopted to be effective February 15, 2024, 49 TexReg 689