1. A. To be eligible for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement each academic year, a student must be:

   1. 1. A Palmetto Fellow at the time the Scholarship Enhancement is disbursed;
   2. 2. Enrolled full-time, degree-seeking in a declared major in an eligible degree program;
   3. 3. Making satisfactory academic progress toward completion of his/her declared major; and
   4. 4. Enrolled in the second year, third year, fourth year, or fifth year (if enrolled in a Commission approved five-year bachelor’s degree) at an eligible four-year independent or public institution.
2. B. All students not majoring in education-related disciplines must successfully complete a total of at least fourteen credit hours of instruction in mathematics or life and physical science courses within an approved major, in any combination, by the end of the student’s first year of enrollment in college (based on initial date of college enrollment). For the purpose of meeting the fourteen credit hour requirement at the end of the student’s first year, exempted credit hours (AP, CLEP, IB, etc.), credit hours earned while in high school (dual enrollment, credit hours earned during the summer session immediately prior to the student’s date of initial college enrollment, Pass/Fail courses with a grade of “Pass” (only), International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in mathematics, life and physical sciences and accounting, taken in high school in which the student scored a three or more on the advanced placement test and received college credit may be used. However, remedial coursework and continuing education coursework cannot be used to meet the fourteen credit hour requirement.
3. C. Students who initially enroll in college mid-year (i.e., spring term) as a first year student and meet the requirements under Section 62-318 may be eligible to receive a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement at the beginning of the spring term of the next academic year (i.e., beginning with the third consecutive term of full-time enrollment based on initial date of college enrollment). A student who initially enrolls mid-year (i.e., spring term) must earn a minimum of 15 credit hours and a 3.0 cumulative institutional GPA to be awarded a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship the following academic year. A student must earn a 3.0 cumulative institutional GPA and a minimum of 30 credit hours each subsequent year of enrollment to receive a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement.
4. D. For the 2024-25 academic year, a resident student who is at least in the second year of attendance, based on initial college enrollment, at an eligible four-year public or independent institution of higher learning in this State, who is majoring in science, mathematics, accounting, or an education program that leads to certification as defined by the Commission on Higher Education, and who is receiving a Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for the current year, shall receive an additional Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend equal to the cost of attendance after applying all other scholarships or grants, not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars each year for no more than three additional years of instruction, including their sophomore year, if enrolled in a four-year degree program, or for not more than four additional years of instruction, including their sophomore year, if enrolled in an approved five-year degree program or a 3 plus 2 program. To receive the additional Palmetto Fellows Scholarship stipend each year, the student must receive the underlying Palmetto Fellows Scholarship for that year and must be making acceptable progress each year toward receiving a degree in their education major.
5. E. All education majors receiving the enhancement/stipend based on their status as an education major must enter into a contractual agreement, including a default provision, that stipulates that the stipend recipient shall upon graduation work in a South Carolina public school for at least one school year for every year the stipend is received. A third party may be used for purposes of processing the contractual agreement.
6. F. Any student who attempts to obtain or obtains the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement 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 Enhancement.
7. G. The Commission on Higher Education shall annually communicate with high school guidance counselors regarding the list of qualifying majors in this section.

Editor's Note

See SCSR 44-6 Doc. No. 4967, effective May 18, 2020 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-300 to 62-375, providing high school students with an opportunity to take the ACT examination through July 2020, and to use the earned scores to meet the qualifications for state scholarships, and the opportunity to take a break in enrollment during the Fall 2020 academic term and still maintain their remaining terms of Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement eligibility.

See SCSR 44-8 Doc. No. 4972, effective August 14, 2020 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-300 to 62-375, providing high school students with an opportunity to take the ACT examination through July 2020, and to use the earned scores to meet the qualifications for state scholarships, and the opportunity to take a break in enrollment during the Fall 2020 academic term and still maintain their remaining terms of Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Enhancement eligibility.

See SCSR 48-7 Doc. No. 5273, effective July 9, 2024 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-300 to 62-375, providing institutions the ability to award and disburse the Palmetto Fellows Enhancement Stipend for education and accounting majors, effective for the Fall 2024 term.

See SCSR 49-1 Doc. No. 5369, effective January 2, 2025 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-300 to 62-375, providing institutions the ability to award and disburse the Palmetto Fellows Enhancement Stipend for education and accounting majors, effective for the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 terms.

HISTORY: Added by State Register Volume 33, Issue No. 6, eff June 26, 2009. Amended by State Register Volume 35, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 2011; SCSR 43-5 Doc. No. 4816, eff May 24, 2019; SCSR 45-5 Doc. No. 5005, eff May 28, 2021; SCSR 46-5 Doc. No. 5053, eff May 27, 2022; SCSR 49-5 Doc. No. 5322, eff May 23, 2025.