CHAPTER 44. PROGRAM STANDARDS AND
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE HIGHER
EDUCATION EQUAL OPPORTUNITY ACT

 (a)  This chapter provides standards and eligibility criteria for programs operated by institutions of higher education under Act 101. Guidelines for the Act 101 program issued by the Department prior to the adoption of this chapter shall cease to be effective on June 30, 1992.

 (b)  This chapter applies only to programs operated under Act 101.

 The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

   Act 101—The Higher Education Equal Opportunity Act (24 P. S. § §  2510-301—2510-305).

   Act 101 student—A student who meets the eligibility criteria of this chapter and who is enrolled in a program.

   Program—A program operated under Act 101 and this chapter.

 An accredited degree-granting postsecondary institution in this Commonwealth is eligible to apply for Act 101 funds.

 (a)  A bona fide domiciliary of this Commonwealth who is attending an institution which is an eligible grant applicant under §  44.3 (relating to eligible grant applicants) and who is determined to be economically and educationally disadvantaged under this section is eligible for participation in the program. To be eligible for participation, a student shall meet the following criteria. The student shall be:

   (1)  Economically disadvantaged by having an annual family income equal to or less than 200% of the family income level established by the United States Bureau of the Census for determining poverty status and published by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal Register. The annual family income to be used to recruit students who will enter the program on or after July 1 of every year beginning in 2001 will be provided to institutions by the Secretary by March 31 of the same year and will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin by April 15 of the same year. The Secretary’s notification under this section will comply with this chapter and will not be subject to the regulatory review procedures under section 5 of the Regulatory Review Act (71 P. S. §  745.5).

   (2)  Educationally disadvantaged by having a grade point average (GPA) predicted to be 2.0 or less (scale: A = 4.0). The prediction shall be based upon the criteria and formula regularly used by the institution to select students for admission. If an institution has not developed a formula for predicting a student’s GPA, the term means a student who is judged unlikely to succeed academically at the institution.

 (b)  Act 101 programs serve both full-time and part-time students. Full-time means that the student is carrying at least 12 credits in a semester. Part-time means that the student is carrying at least 6 credits but less than 12 credits in a semester. A participating Act 101 institution shall serve full-time students and may serve part-time students.

   The provisions of this §  44.4 amended March 8, 1996, effective for the 1996-97 academic year, 26 Pa.B. 1060; amended January 17, 1997, effective for the 1997-98 academic year, 27 Pa.B. 323; amended August 11, 2000, effective August 12, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 4243. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (225466).

 (a)  A participating 4-year institution shall plan a 2-year financial and academic commitment to all students entering the program. A participating 2-year institution shall plan a 1-year financial and academic commitment to all students entering the program. This commitment is subject to continued funding by the General Assembly. The institution shall arrange financial aid packages, based on needs, to assure that each Act 101 student receives adequate financial assistance to cover expenses. Act 101 funds will not be used for this purpose.

 (b)  An institution shall match a minimum of 15% of the cost for new programs and a minimum of 25% for continuing programs as part of the institution’s commitment.

 (c)  The institution shall carefully evaluate every phase of the proposed program in terms of proposal development, recruitment, admissions, counseling, tutoring, course offerings, student personnel services, student retention, degree completion and postgraduate plans of Act 101 students, and shall, if necessary, be committed to altering institutional attitudes, methods and practices to maximize the Act 101 students’ chances for a positive and productive higher education experience. The evaluation shall be conducted annually and the results provided to the Department under §  44.6(b) (relating to responsibility of the Department).

 (d)  Each program shall have an advisory board. The program may be guided, but not directed, by the advisory board. The advisory board shall represent the administration, faculty, student body and community. Advisory board members from the community shall include parents and agency representatives and may include neighborhood residents. Advisory board members shall be available to participate regularly in its meetings and activities. The advisory board shall be given the services of program staff persons and be empowered to create subcommittees as needed. Its total size shall be determined by the program director and eligible institution. The advisory board shall offer advice in areas of program development, recruitment, retention, funding and supportive services affecting Act 101 students. An orientation program for the advisory board shall be implemented to assure clarity of roles and comprehension of the philosophy of the program.

 (a)  The Department will implement the Act 101 program by making grants to eligible institutions and providing oversight of institution programs.

 (b)  The Department will receive and review the annual evaluation reports submitted by institutions participating in the Act 101 program under § §  44.5(c) and 44.7(a) (relating to institutional commitment; and reports) and other reports as may be required by the Department. As deemed necessary, the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee may issue advice and directives to institutions to facilitate program implementation. The advice and directives will be consistent with the act and this chapter.

 (c)  The Department will issue new guidelines for the Act 101 program consistent with this chapter. The guidelines will be issued to participating institutions in sufficient time to take effect July 1, 1992.

 (a)  Annually, each institution participating in the Act 101 program shall provide the Department information on program outcomes, including, at a minimum, student retention, degree completion and postgraduate plans of Act 101 students. The information shall be provided by the institutions at the time and in the form requested by the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee.

 (b)  Annually, the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee will report on implementation of the Act 101 program to the Council of Higher Education. When deemed advisable, the Secretary or the Secretary’s designee may recommend to the Board revisions in these standards to this chapter.

 Institutions of higher education which are recruiting students to enter Act 101 programs on or after July 1, 1992 shall use the eligibility criteria in §  44.4 (relating to eligible students).