1. (1) Eligibility criteria. In order to be eligible to receive a waiver of tuition and service and activities fees at public institutions of higher education or the grant at public and independent colleges or universities, the scholar must meet the following requirements:

   1. (a) Be a resident of the state of Washington.
   2. (b) Have attended high school in the state of Washington.
   3. (c) Be a designated and fully recognized recipient of the Washington state scholars award, or the Washington scholars-alternate award.

   4. (d) Have entered a public institution of higher education or independent college or university in the state of Washington within the applicable time frame, as described herein:

      1. (i) Washington state scholars named to the award prior to the year 2000 must enter a public institution of higher education or an independent college or university in the state of Washington within three years of high school graduation.

      2. (ii) Washington scholars named to the award in or after the year 2000 must:

         1. (A) Within the time frame and in the manner established by the board, acknowledge acceptance of the grant benefit and demonstrate the intent to enroll at a Washington public or independent college or university in the fall academic term immediately following high school graduation.
         2. (B) Be enrolled at a Washington institution of higher education by the fall term immediately following high school graduation, and maintain continuous enrollment during the remainder of the regular academic year.

      3. (iii) Washington scholar-alternates. Washington scholars-alternates initially receive a recognition certificate only. Alternates may receive the grant only if an originally named Washington state scholar in the same legislative district relinquishes, or is considered by the board to have forfeited, the grant award within one calendar year of initial award notification, and if funds are available for this purpose. The alternate also must meet all other eligibility criteria, as follows:

         1. (A) Acknowledge acceptance of the grant benefit and demonstrate the intent to enroll at a Washington institution of higher education in the next available academic term, within the time frame and in the manner established by the board.
         2. (B) Be enrolled, and maintain continuous enrollment, for the balance of the remaining regular academic year at a Washington institution of higher education.
   5. (e) Be a student enrolled in undergraduate studies.

   6. (f) Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent, at a public institution of higher education or independent college or university.

      If the student's cumulative grade point average falls below 3.30 during the first three quarters or two semesters, that student may petition the higher education coordinating board which shall have the authority to establish a probationary period until such time as the student's grade point average meets required standards. A student who has received probationary status from the higher education coordinating board shall remain eligible to receive a waiver or grant during such probationary period.

   7. (g) Not be pursuing courses that include any religious worship or exercise, or any degree in religious, seminarian, or theological academic studies.

2. (2) Waiver of enrollment requirements. Washington state scholars named to the award in or after the year 2000, and Washington scholars-alternates who have accepted the remaining value of an award benefit relinquished by the original Washington scholar recipient, may petition the board, which shall have the authority to waive the enrollment requirements based on the exceptional mitigating circumstances of the individual grant recipients.

   Those Washington scholars and Washington scholars-alternates who do not meet eligibility criteria as defined in subsection (1)(a) through (g) of this section, and for whom the enrollment requirements are not waived by the board, shall be deemed to have withdrawn from college, and the grant award for that scholar shall be considered relinquished and forfeit.

3. (3) Duration of eligibility. Subject to criteria set forth in subsection (1) of this section, individual recipients of the Washington state scholars award shall be eligible for award benefits not to exceed a cumulative maximum of eight semesters or twelve quarters total of waiver and/or grant benefits for undergraduate coursework.

   Subject to criteria set forth in subsections (1) and (2) of this section, Washington scholar-alternates may be eligible to receive the values remaining in a grant benefit relinquished by a Washington scholar originally named to the award, not to exceed a cumulative maximum of eight semesters or twelve quarters total of undergraduate coursework.

4. (4) Transferability. Recipients of the Washington state scholars award and the Washington scholars-alternate award may transfer between public institutions of higher education and independent colleges and universities in the state of Washington provided that the cumulative terms of waivers of tuition and service and activities fees and/or grants received by any one recipient does not exceed eight semesters or twelve quarters.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.80 RCW. WSR 00-08-081, § 250-66-040, filed 4/4/00, effective 5/5/00.Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.80 RCW and 1995 1st sp.s. c 5. WSR 95-22-105, § 250-66-040, filed 11/1/95, effective 12/2/95. Statutory Authority: 1992 c 231 and chapter 28B.80 RCW. WSR 92-16-038, § 250-66-040, filed 7/30/92, effective 8/30/92. Statutory Authority: 1988 c 210. WSR 88-14-088 (Order 5-88, Resolution No. 88-13), § 250-66-040, filed 7/5/88.]