1. A. The Commission may review institutional administrative practices to determine institutional compliance with pertinent statutes, guidelines, rules or regulations. If such a review determines that an institution has failed to comply with Program statutes, guidelines, rules or regulations, the Commission may suspend, terminate, or place certain conditions upon the institution’s continued participation in the Program and require reimbursement to the LIFE Scholarship Program for any LIFE Scholarship or LIFE Scholarship Enhancement funds lost or improperly awarded.
2. B. Upon receipt of evidence that an institution has failed to comply, the Commission on Higher Education shall notify the institution in writing of the nature of such allegations and conduct an audit.
3. C. If an audit indicates that a violation or violations may have occurred or are occurring at any eligible public or independent institution, the Commission on Higher Education shall secure immediate reimbursement from the institution in the event that any funds were expended out of compliance with the provisions of the Act, any relevant statutes, guidelines, rules, and regulations.
4. D. The institution is responsible for determining South Carolina residency and lawful presence of all LIFE Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship Enhancement recipients. If it is determined that the institution has failed to verify the lawful presence and South Carolina residency of a LIFE Scholarship or LIFE Scholarship Enhancement recipient, the institution shall immediately reimburse the funds disbursed in error.
5. E. Independent and public institutions of higher learning in this, or any other state in the U.S., outside the U.S. or abroad, are prohibited from using the Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence or “LIFE” Scholarship in programs that promote financial aid incentives or packages. Any mention of the Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence or “LIFE” Scholarship in these financial aid packages must indicate the scholarship to be separate from the University that is offering the financial aid package, and reference the Legislative Incentive for Future Excellence or “LIFE” Scholarship as a separate financial aid award, provided to the student by the State of South Carolina.
6. F. The student shall be required to provide a state recognized, unique identifier in order to award, disburse and/or transfer the student’s LIFE Scholarship to an eligible institution.
7. G. All eligible independent and public institutions that participate in the scholarship enhancement program shall report to CHE the recipients of each enhancement award, per term within the deadlines as determined by CHE. In reporting recipients of the enhancement, institutions shall distinguish recipients by their status in the eligible major, ensuring that education, accounting, math, and science majors are individually identified in a format as determined by CHE.

Editor's Note

See SCSR 44-6 Doc. No. 4966, effective May 18, 2020 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-1200.1 to 62-1200.75, providing high school students with an opportunity to take the ACT test 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 LIFE Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship Enhancement eligibility.

See SCSR 44-8 Doc. No. 4973, effective August 14, 2020 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-1200.1 to 62-1200.75, providing high school students with an opportunity to take the ACT test 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 LIFE Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship Enhancement eligibility.

See SCSR 48-7 Doc. No. 5274, effective July 9, 2024 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-1200.1 to 62-1200.75, providing institutions the ability to award and disburse the LIFE Enhancement Stipend for education and accounting majors, effective for the Fall 2024 term.

See SCSR 49-1 Doc. No. 5368, effective January 2, 2025 for 90 days, which promulgated emergency amendments to SC ADC 62-1200.1 to 62-1200.75, providing institutions the ability to award and disburse the LIFE 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 45-5 Doc. No. 5004, eff May 28, 2021; SCSR 46-5 Doc. No. 5052, eff May 27, 2022; SCSR 49-5 Doc. No. 5321, eff May 23, 2025.