OAR 575-031-0027: Persistence and Completion

(1) The Commission may award funds from the Oregon Opportunity Grant program to qualified students as defined in OAR 575-031-0005 to reward persistence and completion of degree programs at eligible post-secondary institutions as authorized by ORS 348.263, if program funds are available. The Commission shall determine potential eligible students from their financial aid application information via a secure portal to eligible post-secondary institutions. The Commission may rely on eligible post-secondary institutions to identify candidates who are close to degree completion, have exhausted all other aid, or have financial need as defined in OAR 575-030-0005(4) from the potential list of eligible students. The Commission shall provide administrative guidance to the institutions and reporting instructions. Based on available funds, the Commission will select eligible recipients and set the award amounts. (2) The Commission will prioritize eligible students based on financial need if sufficient funds are not available to award all eligible students submitted from the institutions. (3) Awards for persistence and completion may vary in amount from the minimum award amount to the maximum award amount for the current academic year, as determined by the Commission. Upon request from the institution, the Commission may authorize an award that exceeds the maximum amount allowed for the Oregon Opportunity Grant for the current year if such award is deemed required to support the persistence and completion of a particular student. (4) Award amounts will be prorated for students attending less than full-time.