The Florida Senate

445.0121  Student eligibility requirements for initial awards.--

(1)  To be eligible for an initial award for lower-division college credit courses that lead to a baccalaureate degree, as defined in s. 445.0122(5), a student must:

(a)1.  Have been a resident of this state for no less than 3 years for purposes other than to obtain an education; or

2.  Have received a standard Florida high school diploma, as provided in s. 1003.43, or its equivalent, as described in s. 1003.435, unless:

a.  The student is enrolled full-time in the early-admission program of an eligible postsecondary education institution or completes a home education program in accordance with s. 1002.41; or

b.  The student earns a high school diploma from a non-Florida school while living with a parent or guardian who is on military or public service assignment outside this state.

(b)  In addition to the residency requirements in paragraph (a), an eligible lower-division, baccalaureate degree-seeking student must:

1.  Have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in postsecondary coursework.

2.  Have earned at least 18 credit hours at the postsecondary level.

3.  Be enrolled in an eligible public or independent postsecondary educational institution in this state for at least 6 semester credit hours or the equivalent.

(2)  To be eligible for an initial award for upper-division courses, a student must:

(a)  Have been a resident of this state for the previous 3 years for purposes other than to obtain an education.

(b)  Be enrolled in an eligible baccalaureate degree program, as specified in s. 445.0124, for at least 6 semester credit hours or the equivalent.

(c)  Have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in all postsecondary coursework.

(3)  To be eligible for an initial award for an applied technology diploma program or a certificate or degree career education program that does not articulate into a baccalaureate degree program, a student must:

(a)  Have been a resident of this state for not less than 3 years for noneducational purposes.

(b)  Be enrolled in an eligible diploma, certificate, or degree career education program, as specified in s. 445.0124

History.--s. 156, ch. 2000-165; s. 1004, ch. 2002-387; s. 54, ch. 2003-1.