1. (a) A higher education award for a student in a program leading to a baccalaureate degree may be renewed for a total of three (3) undergraduate academic years following the academic year of the first award or until an earlier time as the student receives a degree normally obtained in four (4) undergraduate academic years. A higher education award for a student in a program leading to a technical certificate or an undergraduate associate degree may be renewed for the number of academic years normally required to obtain a certificate or degree in the student's program. The commission may grant a renewal only upon application and only upon its finding that:

   1. (1) the applicant has successfully completed the work of a preceding year;
   2. (2) the applicant remains domiciled in Indiana;
   3. (3) the recipient's financial situation continues to warrant an award, based on the financial requirements set forth in section (1)(a)(3) of this chapter;
   4. (4) the applicant is eligible under section 2 of this chapter;
   5. (5) the student maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the eligible institution;

   6. (6) beginning in an academic year beginning after August 31, 2017, the student successfully completes:

      1. (A) at least twenty-four (24) credit hours or the equivalent during the last academic year in which the student received state financial aid; or
      2. (B) at least twenty-four (24) credit hours or the equivalent during the last academic year in which the student was enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution; and

   7. (7) if the student initially enrolls in an eligible institution for an academic year beginning after August 31, 2013, the student successfully completes:

      1. (A) at least twenty-four (24) credit hours or the equivalent by the end of the student's first academic year;
      2. (B) at least forty-eight (48) credit hours or the equivalent by the end of the student's second academic year; and

      3. (C) at least seventy-two (72) credit hours or the equivalent by the end of the student's third academic year.

         A student's academic years used to determine if the student meets the requirements of this subdivision are not required to be successive calendar years. A recipient who fails to meet the credit hour requirement for a particular academic year becomes ineligible for an award during the next academic year. The recipient may regain eligibility for an award in subsequent academic years if the recipient meets the aggregate credit hour requirements commensurate with the recipient's academic standing. In addition, the commission may allow a student who is otherwise ineligible under this subdivision for an award during the next academic year to maintain eligibility for an award if the student submits a petition to the commission and the commission makes a determination that extenuating circumstances (as determined by the commission) prevented the student from meeting the requirements of this subdivision. This subdivision expires June 30, 2017.

2. (b) In determining eligibility under subsection (a)(6), the commission shall apply all the following types of credits regardless of whether the credits were completed during the last academic year described in subsection (a)(6)(A) or (a)(6)(B):

   1. (1) Credits earned from dual credit, advanced placement, Cambridge International, and international baccalaureate courses.
   2. (2) College credits earned during high school.

   3. (3) Credits earned exceeding thirty (30) credit hours during a previous academic year in which a student received state financial aid.

      [Pre-2007 Higher Education Recodification Citation: 20-12-21-7(b).]

As added by P.L.2-2007, SEC.253. Amended by P.L.125-2008, SEC.3; P.L.169-2011, SEC.3; P.L.281-2013, SEC.9; P.L.165-2016, SEC.7; P.L.191-2018, SEC.22.