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Legislation amends incentives for future LIFE Scholarship recipients

Current Legislative Incentives for Future Excellence (LIFE) Scholarship guidelines stipulate that to renew, earn or regain eligibility, a student must earn at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale by the end of the academic year consistent with the policies and procedures of the institution for graduation purposes.

However, Act 187 (Section 18) amends this stipulation, requiring that the cumulative 3.0 GPA must be inclusive of the student’s GPA earned at all eligible South Carolina institutions attended by the student. Thus, when a student takes courses at any eligible S.C. institution during any term, all grades must be used in calculating the new LIFE GPA at the end of each academic year.  Students will be required to submit official transcripts from all eligible S.C. institutions attended in order for the institution to calculate the new LIFE GPA.

The new GPA calculation will include courses taken at the home institution, college courses taken during high school (dual enrollment), and all courses taken at other eligible S.C. institutions. The  GPA calculation will not include out-of-state courses, courses classified as remedial/developmental, continuing education courses, study abroad or exchange courses outside the home institution, or distance education courses offered through out-of-state institutions. This calculation will only be used to determine eligibility for the LIFE Scholarship Program and not for other institutional purposes. 

For the 2004-05 academic year, students will have the following options:

Option I: Students who met the eligibility requirements for the scholarship under the current guidelines that existed as of Jan. 1 shall be eligible to receive the scholarship for the 2004-05 academic year. The Financial Aid Office at your institution will contact you regarding eligibility.

Option II: Ineligible students (according to current guidelines) must submit an official written request to the Financial Aid Office to recalculate their GPAs according to Act 187 in order to be eligible for the 2004-05 academic year. Eligibility for the 2005-06 academic year will be calculated based on all grades earned at any eligible S.C. institution according to Act 187 for all students. 

For information visit http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess115_2003-2004/bills/560.htm or contact the S.C. Commission on Higher Education at (803) 737-2260.

Friday, June 11, 2004
Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.