Section 1501.520  Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grants

a)         Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grants shall be vouchered to community colleges.

b)         Students can qualify for their first Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grant if they meet the following criteria:

1)         Graduate from the Lincoln's Challenge Academy;

2)         Earn a high school equivalency certificate;

3)         Enroll at an Illinois public community college in a certificate or degree program the next semester following graduation;

4)         Maintain and complete an academic course load of at least six credit hours in each fall and spring semester; and

5)         Present the "notification of award" letter signed by the Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board to the community college at the time of registration.

c)         The scholarship amount will be awarded up to $1,000 per student per semester for up to four successive semesters to be used toward the completion of a degree or certificate program. Scholarships for the summer semester will not be awarded.

d)         The scholarship grants shall be used to cover the cost of education, which includes tuition, books, fees, and required educational supplies for specific programs or classes.

e)         To remain qualified for a Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship Grant after initial enrollment, each semester a student must:

1)         Submit a renewal application to ICCB requesting continuation of the scholarship for the following semester. 

2)         Submit a grade transcript showing successful completion of a minimum of six credit hours in the previous semester and a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.0.

3)         Submit a grade transcript and application postmarked by July 1 for application to the fall semester and January 1 for application to the spring semester. Applications submitted electronically will be considered postmarked on the date sent.

4)         Meet with the community college's designated Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship coordinator at the time of enrollment and at mid-semester, and arrange an exit interview before completing the semester.

5)         Comply with academic standards as defined by college policy.  Exceptions to this subsection (e)(5), such as extenuating circumstances, shall be documented and reviewed by ICCB staff and the college's Lincoln's Challenge Scholarship coordinator.

f)         Scholarship recipients shall notify ICCB of changes to contact information (including mailing address, email address, or phone number) or if the recipient enrolls in a community college other than the one listed on the original application.

g)         The grant will only reimburse the college at the in-district tuition rate.

h)         To receive the reimbursement, colleges must submit vouchers during the semester the student is enrolled or payment cannot be guaranteed.  The following information must be submitted to ICCB for each student:

            1)         Name;

            2)         Program of study;

            3)         Course schedule (including credit hours); and

4)         Costs broken out by tuition, fees, books and required educational supplies.

i)          The number of scholarships awarded each year is contingent upon the amount of funds appropriated.  The scholarships cannot be guaranteed to students even if all criteria are met.  The distribution of available funds among new and renewed scholarships will be determined by the Illinois Community College Board to maximize use of the funds.

j)          Community colleges may credit student accounts pending reimbursement, but are not required to waive tuition should funds not be appropriated.

(Source:  Amended at 42 Ill. Reg. 24855, effective December 17, 2018)