§18C-5-6. Recipients, awards and distribution of grant awards; authority of vice chancellor to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states concerning grants.

(a) A grant recipient may attend any approved institution of higher education. An institution is not required to accept a grant recipient for enrollment, but may exact compliance with its own admission requirements, standards and policies.

(b) Grants may only be awarded to undergraduate students.

(c) Each grant is renewable until the course of study is completed, but not to exceed an additional three academic years beyond the first year of the award. The academic years are not required to be consecutive years, and the grant will be terminated if the student receives a bachelor's degree in a shorter period of time.

(d) Qualifications for renewal include the following, as determined by the vice chancellor:

(1) Maintaining satisfactory academic standing;

(2) Making normal progress toward completion of the course of study; and

(3) Continued eligibility.

(e) Grants are awarded:

(1) Without regard to the applicant's race, creed, color, sex, national origin or ancestry; and

(2) In accordance with the provisions of this article.

(f) The vice chancellor shall treat all approved institutions of higher education in a fair and equitable manner when awarding grants.

(g) The vice chancellor periodically shall identify areas of professional, vocational and technical expertise that are, or will become, of critical need in this state. To the extent feasible the vice chancellor may direct grants to students who are pursuing instruction in those areas.

(h) The vice chancellor may enter into reciprocal agreements with state grant and grant program agencies in other states which provide financial assistance to their residents attending institutions of higher education located in West Virginia. In connection therewith, the vice chancellor may authorize residents of West Virginia to use financial assistance under this article to attend institutions of higher education in such other states. Residents of West Virginia requesting financial assistance to attend institutions of higher education located in any such state must meet all of the eligibility standards set forth in section five of this article.

(i) Grant awards may not exceed the cost of the tuition and those related compulsory fees charged by an institution to all West Virginia undergraduate students.

(j) Grant payments are made directly to the institution.

(k) In the event that a grant recipient transfers from one approved institution of higher education to another, the grant is transferable only with the approval of the vice chancellor.

(l) If a recipient terminates enrollment for any reason during the academic year, the unused portion of the grant shall be returned by the institution to the commission in accordance with the commission's policy for issuing refunds. The commission shall transfer such funds to the appropriate account for allocation and expenditure pursuant to the provisions of this article.