ORS 348.260: Oregon Opportunity Grant; amount; renewal.

(1) In addition to any other form of student financial aid authorized by law, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission may award Oregon Opportunity Grants to qualified students. (2) The amount of a grant shall equal the amount of a grant as determined by the commission under ORS 348.205 and comply with applicable rules and procedures described in ORS 348.205. (3) Grant funds necessary to meet matching requirements for federal funds may also be used to award grants to qualified students in any eligible post-secondary institution approved by the commission. (4) Grants may be awarded under this section to qualified students enrolled for any term, including summer term. The commission may prescribe the method and date or dates by which a student must apply to the commission to qualify for a grant. (5)(a) A qualified student who receives a grant under this section may apply for renewal of the grant on an annual basis. The commission may not renew the grant if the qualified student has not made a timely application for renewal of the grant. (b) The commission shall by rule establish academic standards and benchmarks that a qualified student must meet to have the student’s grant renewed. (c) If a qualified student who receives a grant under this section makes a timely application for renewal of the grant, meets the academic standards and benchmarks established by the commission under this subsection and continues to meet all other grant eligibility criteria, the grant shall be renewed for a second year of attendance at an eligible post-secondary institution. (d) Upon timely application by a qualified student who meets the academic standards and benchmarks established by the commission under this subsection and who continues to meet all other grant eligibility criteria, the commission may continue to renew the grant until the qualified student has received the equivalent of four full-time undergraduate years of grant funding for an eligible program as defined by the commission. (6)(a) The commission shall inform eligible post-secondary institutions of the identity of qualified students who attend the institution and who receive a grant under this section for more than one academic year. (b) To the extent possible, eligible post-secondary institutions shall ensure that qualified students identified under this subsection are made aware of the academic guidance and counseling services available at the institution. (7) A qualified student who receives a grant under this section must attend the eligible post-secondary institution upon which the grant application is based unless the commission authorizes the grant to be used at a different eligible post-secondary institution. A qualified student who receives a grant under this section may attend more than one eligible post-secondary institution if the grant application was based on the qualified student attending more than one eligible post-secondary institution. (8) The commission may not award a grant to any qualified student enrolled in a course of study required for and leading to a degree in theology, divinity or religious education. (9)(a) The commission shall report annually on or before February 1 to committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education regarding the academic success and performance of qualified students who receive grants under this section. (b) In order to meet the reporting requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection: (A) The commission shall by rule design a method for evaluating the academic success and performance of students who receive a grant under this section; and (B) Upon a request from the commission, eligible post-secondary institutions must provide the commission with the data necessary for the commission to conduct its analysis. [1971 c.735 §4; 1973 c.721 §4; 1977 c.725 §5; 1977 c.762 §8; 1987 c.175 §1; 1989 c.845 §2; 1993 c.820 §1; 1997 c.203 §2; 1999 c.1070 §11; 2001 c.321 §§5,6; 2007 c.802 §4; 2011 c.637 §148; 2013 c.747 §90; 2015 c.624 §4; 2017 c.66 §34; 2024 c.95 §17; 2025 c.383 §2] 348.260. (1) In addition to any other form of student financial aid authorized by law, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission may award Oregon Opportunity Grants to qualified students. (2) The amount of a grant shall equal the state share of a qualified student’s cost of education as determined by the commission and comply with applicable rules and procedures described in ORS 348.205. (3) Grant funds necessary to meet matching requirements for federal funds may also be used to award grants to qualified students in any eligible post-secondary institution approved by the commission. (4) Grants may be awarded under this section to qualified students enrolled for any term, including summer term. The commission may prescribe the method and date or dates by which a student must apply to the commission to qualify for a grant. (5)(a) A qualified student who receives a grant under this section may apply for renewal of the grant on an annual basis. The commission may not renew the grant if the qualified student has not made a timely application for renewal of the grant. (b) The commission shall by rule establish academic standards and benchmarks that a qualified student must meet to have the student’s grant renewed. (c) If a qualified student who receives a grant under this section makes a timely application for renewal of the grant, meets the academic standards and benchmarks established by the commission under this subsection and continues to meet all other grant eligibility criteria, the grant shall be renewed for a second year of attendance at an eligible post-secondary institution. (d) Upon timely application by a qualified student who meets the academic standards and benchmarks established by the commission under this subsection and who continues to meet all other grant eligibility criteria, the commission may continue to renew the grant until the qualified student has received the equivalent of four full-time undergraduate years of grant funding for an eligible program as defined by the commission. (6)(a) The commission shall inform eligible post-secondary institutions of the identity of qualified students who attend the institution and who receive a grant under this section for more than one academic year. (b) To the extent possible, eligible post-secondary institutions shall ensure that qualified students identified under this subsection are made aware of the academic guidance and counseling services available at the institution. (7) A qualified student who receives a grant under this section must attend the eligible post-secondary institution upon which the grant application is based unless the commission authorizes the grant to be used at a different eligible post-secondary institution. A qualified student who receives a grant under this section may attend more than one eligible post-secondary institution if the grant application was based on the qualified student attending more than one eligible post-secondary institution. (8) The commission may not make a grant award to any qualified student enrolled in a course of study required for and leading to a degree in theology, divinity or religious education. (9)(a) The commission shall report annually on or before February 1 to committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education regarding the academic success and performance of qualified students who receive grants under this section. (b) In order to meet the reporting requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection: (A) The commission shall by rule design a method for evaluating the academic success and performance of students who receive a grant under this section; and (B) Upon a request from the commission, eligible post-secondary institutions must provide the commission with the data necessary for the commission to conduct its analysis.