R765-609-3. Definitions

  3.1. "Applicant" means a student who is in their last term in high school and on track to complete the high school graduation requirements of a public school established by the Utah State Board of Education and the student's school district or charter school or a private high school in the state that is accredited by a regional accrediting body approved by the Utah State Board of Regents.

  3.2. "Base award" means a one-time scholarship to be awarded to applicants who complete the eligibility requirements of section 4.1 of this policy.

  3.3. "Board" means the Utah State Board of Regents.

  3.4. "College Course Work" means instance in which college credit is earned, including but limited to, concurrent enrollment, distance education, dual enrollment, or early college.

  3.5. "Core Course of Study" means the the courses taken during grades 9-12, for the Core Course of Study which include:

  3.5.1. 4.0 credits of English;

  3.5.2. 4.0 credits of mathematics taken in a progressive manner (at minimum Secondary Mathematics I, Secondary Mathematics II, Secondary Mathematics III and one class beyond); if the student is attending a school that has not implemented the Utah Core "K-12" Standards, a student would complete at minimum Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and a class beyond Algebra II;

  3.5.3. 3.5 credits of social studies;

  3.5.4. 3.0 credits of lab-based natural science (one each of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics); and

  3.5.5. 2.0 credits of the same world or classical language, other than English, taken in a progressive manner.

  3.6. "Eligible Institutions" means institutions of USHE, or any private, nonprofit institution of higher education in Utah accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

  3.7. "Excusable Neglect" means a failure to take proper steps at the proper time, not in consequence of carelessness, inattention, or willful disregard of the scholarship application process, but in consequence of some unexpected or unavoidable hindrance or accident.

  3.8. "Exemplary Academic Achievement award" (Exemplary Award) means a renewable scholarship to be awarded to students who complete the eligibility requirements of section 4.2 of this policy.

  3.9. "Good Cause" means the student's failure to meet a scholarship application process requirement was due to circumstances beyond the student's control or circumstances that are compelling and reasonable.

  3.10. "High school" means a public school established by the Utah State Board of Education or private high school within the boundaries of the State of Utah. If a private high school, it shall be accredited by a regional accrediting body approved by the Board.

  3.11. "Home-schooled" refers to a student who has not graduated from a Utah high school and received letter grades for the Core Course of Study in grades 9-12.

  3.12. "Recipient" means an applicant who receives an award under the requirements set forth in this policy.

  3.13. "Reasonable progress" means enrolling and completing at least fifteen credit hours during Fall and Spring semesters and earning a 3.3 grade point average (GPA) or higher each semester while enrolled at an eligible institution and receiving the award.

  3.14. "Renewal Documents" include institutionally produced documents demonstrating that the recipient has met the required semester GPA and a detailed schedule providing proof of enrollment in fifteen credit hours for the semester for which the recipient is seeking award payment.

  3.15. "Scholarship Appeals Committee" means the committee designated by the Commissioner of Higher Education to review appeals of Regents' Scholarship award decisions and take final agency action regarding awards.

  3.16. "Scholarship Staff" means the group assigned to review Regents' Scholarship applications and make initial decisions awarding the scholarships.

  3.17. "Substantial Compliance" means the applicant, in good faith, complied with the substantial or essential scholarship application requirements and has demonstrated likely eligibility but failed to comply exactly with the application specifics.

  3.18. "UESP" means the Utah Educational Savings Plan.

  3.19. "USHE" means the Utah System of Higher Education, which includes the University of Utah, Utah State University, Weber State University, Southern Utah University, Snow College, Dixie State University, Utah Valley University, and Salt Lake Community College.

  3.20. "Weighted Grade" means a grade shall be weighted if a student completed an advanced placement, international baccalaureate or college course. The grade weight given is half the value of the high school credits earned for the course. For AP and IB courses all grades are averaged and then the weight is applied. When college credit is earned the grade weight is applied to the grade shown on the college transcript.