NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — HutchCC President Carter File said the Legislature cleaned up some issues in the The Kansas Promise Scholarship Act this session.
"They defined what aid really is," File said. "They've exempted any 529 money. It's no longer considered aid. It really wasn't ever intended to, but it wasn't clear, so they cleaned that up. Veterans who are using military aid, that does not count against...that does not count as aid when we're doing the formula, so they can receive both the Promise Act and their military benefit. Again, a great program, helping a lot of students."
The bill permits students to enroll on a part-time or full-time basis, but students must maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of the promise-eligible program.
"This is a real, kind of a technical higher education thing, but they moved from a program, which is a clearly defined set of courses, to fields of study," File said. "Rather than have to have all of the programs in a technical sense, you could take shorter courses and you could take different paths."
There are specific fields of study that are eligible for the last dollar scholarship.
"Advanced manufacturing, building trades, early childhood education, health care, information technology and security and then, fire science," said spokesperson Denny Stoecklein.
The legislature also extended the amount of time allowed to finish the program from 30 to 36 months.