(a) The Division of Higher Education is responsible for:

1. (1) Coordinating with the Arkansas National Guard regarding rule changes or modifications;
2. (2) Administering receipt and disbursement of funds to the institutions and maintaining fiscal records of the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver;
3. (3) Verifying the soldier or airman has submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and the Arkansas Scholarship Application Management System financial aid application;

4. (4) Approving or denying Arkansas Scholarship Application Management System financial aid applications and submitting results to the:

   1. (A) Arkansas Army National Guard Education and Incentives Branch;
   2. (B) Institution; and
   3. (C) Soldier or airman;
5. (5) Providing the Arkansas National Guard with eligibility verification for Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver criteria as outlined in 6 CAR § 530-201 et seq.;
6. (6) Defining “mandatory fees”; and
7. (7) Determining the amount of funds available and the allocation method to pay mandatory fees.

(b) The institution of higher education or an institution offering postsecondary credential or certification program is responsible for:

1. (1) The institution’s Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver representative will serve as the liaison between the:

   1. (A) Respective institution;
   2. (B) Education Services Officer; and
   3. (C) Division;
2. (2) Verifying the soldier or airman is considered by the institution to be in “good standing” and meeting the requirements of satisfactory academic progress as defined in the institution’s policies;

3. (3) Verifying the soldier or airman:

   1. (A) Is enrolled in a program of study that leads to an undergraduate degree or a postsecondary credential or certificate program; and
   2. (B) Does not already possess a bachelor's degree;
4. (4) Verifying the soldier or airman has applied for institutional grants and scholarships applicable to the soldier’s or airman’s term and major;
5. (5) Notifying the division of the application close date and applicable term for institutional grants and scholarships;
6. (6) Notifying the division of the soldier’s or airman’s current date of acceptance as a student at the institution;
7. (7) Notifying the division regarding the status of eligibility and application verification;
8. (8) Providing to the division a roster of all hours and dollars attributed to this program as well as student completion status at the conclusion of each semester;
9. (9) Informing the division if the soldier’s or airman's academic status changes; and
10. (10) Applying the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver to student accounts in accordance with the sequence or sequences established in this part.

(c) The Adjutant General is responsible for:

1. (1) Coordinating with the division in promulgating rules for the implementation of the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver, including without limitation rules for the eligibility of soldiers and airmen; and

2. (2)

   1. (A) Making final decision regarding recoupment of all benefits paid on the soldier’s or airman's behalf for reasons including, but not limited to:

(i) Absence without leave;

1. (ii) Substance abuse violations; or

   1. (iii) Any other serious misconduct.

   2. (B) See 6 CAR § 530-306.

      1. (d) The Education and Incentives Branch is responsible for:
2. (1) Monitoring and verifying eligibility status of participating soldiers for the Arkansas Army National Guard;
3. (2) Receiving eligibility verification data from the Arkansas Air National Guard and processing applications of participating airmen in accordance with this part;
4. (3) Maintaining records or databases, or both, and serving as point of contact for verification and discrepancies for institutions and the division;
5. (4) Providing the division with a roster of all soldiers and airmen requesting Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver for the term;
6. (5) Reviewing eligibility verification rosters from the division and providing the division with final Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver eligibility determinations;
7. (6) Providing notification of Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver ineligibility and exception to policy request procedures to disqualified applicants;
8. (7) Providing notification of exception to policy request determination to the division and the soldier or airman; and
9. (8) Educating soldiers and airmen on the process established by the division regarding mandatory fees.

(e) The Arkansas Army National Guard Education Services Officer is responsible for:

1. (1) Serving as the Adjutant General’s delegated proponent for the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver;
2. (2) Coordinating policy changes with the division;
3. (3) Coordinating with the division, the institution, and the soldier or airman to resolve any exception to policy requests or grievances;
4. (4) Processing exception to policy requests in accordance with 6 CAR § 530- 301 et seq.; and
5. (5) Rendering final approval or denial of any soldier’s or airman’s request for an exception to policy.

(f) The Arkansas Air National Guard representative or representatives are responsible for:

1. (1) Working directly with the Education and Incentives Branch and Education Services Officer in executing and administering Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver for the Air National Guard; and
2. (2) Maintaining records or databases, or both, and serving as point of contact for verification and discrepancies for institutions and the division.

(g) The soldier or airman is responsible for:

1. (1) Meeting and maintaining eligibility criteria (see 6 CAR § 530-201 et seq.) and submitting an application (see 6 CAR § 530-301 et seq.) before the deadline date each semester;
2. (2) Maintaining eligibility criteria established by the institution in which they are enrolled, the Arkansas National Guard, and the division and otherwise successfully completing the semester and all hours for which the tuition waiver is awarded;
3. (3) Remaining in “good standing” with the institution in which they attend, as defined by that institution;
4. (4) Achieving and maintaining “satisfactory academic progress” within their degree program, or a postsecondary credential or certification program, as defined by that institution; and

5. (5)

   1. (A) If denied for the Arkansas National Guard Tuition Waiver, the soldier or airman may request an exception to policy through the Education Services Officer if they feel they have extenuating circumstances that were beyond their control or unavoidable.

   2. (B) The exception to policy must be:

      1. (i) Requested within thirty (30) calendar days of denial; and
      2. (ii) Processed in accordance with 6 CAR § 530-301 et seq.