Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3231

Assistance Act – Definitions – Program creation – Eligibility -

Application.

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma

National Guard Educational Assistance Act".

B. As used in this act:

1. "Oklahoma educational institution" means an institution of

higher education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher

Education;

2. "Eligible Guard member" means a current member of the

Oklahoma National Guard in good standing who has a high school

diploma or who has completed General Educational Development (GED)

requirements and who has secured admission to and enrolled in an

Oklahoma educational institution;

3. "Graduate program" means a program offered by an Oklahoma

educational institution that leads to the award of a master's

degree;

4. "Program" means the Oklahoma National Guard Educational

Assistance Program established pursuant to the provisions of this

section; and

5. "Undergraduate program" means a program offered by an

Oklahoma educational institution that leads to the award of an

associate's degree or a baccalaureate degree.

C. There is hereby created the Oklahoma National Guard

Educational Assistance Program to provide assistance to eligible

Guard members who enroll in an Oklahoma educational institution.

Subject to the availability of funds, the amount of assistance shall

be equivalent to the amount of resident tuition and approved

mandatory fees, program fees, academic service fees, and any other

fees for courses in which the eligible Guard member is enrolled, not

to exceed a maximum of eighteen (18) credit hours each semester.

The amount of mandatory fees, program fees, academic service fees,

and any other fees shall be jointly reviewed and approved by the

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Military

Department of the State of Oklahoma before a determination to pay

the fees is made.

1. The amount of assistance provided to an eligible Guard

member enrolled in an undergraduate program shall not exceed a

maximum of one hundred twenty (120) credit hours in pursuit of an

associate's degree and/or a baccalaureate degree.

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2. Subject to the assistance for eligible Guard members

enrolled in undergraduate programs being fully funded, assistance

shall be provided to an eligible Guard member with a baccalaureate

degree enrolled in a graduate program. The amount of assistance

provided to an eligible Guard member enrolled in a graduate program

shall not exceed a maximum of forty (40) credit hours in pursuit of

a master's degree.

3. Assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be

granted without any limitation other than the amount of funds

available for the Program and the number of eligible Guard members

who apply, subject to any cap established by the Military

Department.

4. Assistance allowed by this section shall not be allowed for

courses taken in excess of the requirements for completion of an

undergraduate program or a graduate program, whichever is applicable

for the eligible Guard member.

D. Assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be

allocated to the Oklahoma educational institution from the Oklahoma

National Guard Educational Assistance Revolving Fund created

pursuant to Section 3232 of this title.

E. To be eligible to apply for the Program, an eligible Guard

member shall:

1. Have at least one (1) year remaining on his or her

enlistment contract at the beginning of any semester for which the

member applies for assistance pursuant to this section;

2. Agree in writing to complete his or her current service

obligation in the Oklahoma National Guard; and

3. Agree in writing to serve actively in good standing with the

Oklahoma National Guard for not less than twenty-four (24) months

after completion of the last semester for which the member receives

assistance pursuant to this section.

F. To retain eligibility for the Program, an eligible Guard

member shall:
o complete his or her current service

obligation in the Oklahoma National Guard; and

3. Agree in writing to serve actively in good standing with the

Oklahoma National Guard for not less than twenty-four (24) months

after completion of the last semester for which the member receives

assistance pursuant to this section.

F. To retain eligibility for the Program, an eligible Guard

member shall:

1. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic

progress according to standards of the Oklahoma educational

institution in which the member is enrolled;

2. Maintain the requirements for retention and degree

completion as established by the Oklahoma educational institution in

which the member is enrolled;

3. Maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0

scale;

4. Maintain satisfactory participation in the Oklahoma National

Guard; and

5. Possess a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or Air Force

Specialty Code (AFSC) after his or her first semester.

G. An eligible Guard member seeking assistance pursuant to the

provisions of this section shall submit an application on a form

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prescribed by the Military Department of the State of Oklahoma to

the Educational Service Office of the Military Department prior to

the semester for which assistance is sought. The Military

Department may establish a cap on the number of eligible Guard

members allowed to participate per semester per undergraduate or

graduate program. The eligible Guard member's Commander or his or

her designee shall confirm a member's standing and eligibility to

the Oklahoma educational institution in which the student is

enrolled.

H. The eligible Guard member's Commander may deny an

application submitted by an eligible Guard member for continued

Program assistance if he or she fails to comply with the provisions

of paragraph 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 of subsection F of this section.

I. An eligible Guard member who has received Program assistance

pursuant to the provisions of this section and who fails to comply

with the provisions of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section

shall be required to repay an amount to be calculated as follows:

1. Determine the total amount of assistance provided pursuant

to the provisions of this section;

2. Divide the amount determined in paragraph 1 of this

subsection by twenty-four (24); and

3. Multiply the amount determined in paragraph 2 of this

subsection by the number of months the member did not fulfill the

requirements of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section.

Repayments shall be deposited into the Oklahoma National Guard

Educational Assistance Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section

3232 of this title.

J. An eligible Guard member who has received Program assistance

pursuant to the provisions of this section and who fails to comply

with the provisions of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section

due to hardship circumstances may request a waiver from repayment.

A waiver request shall be submitted in writing to the Adjutant

General.

K. By July 1 annually, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education shall notify the Adjutant General of the amount of funding

available in the Oklahoma National Guard Educational Assistance

Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 3232 of this title.

L. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall

promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act including

deadlines for submission of applications required by subsection G of

this section. The Military Department of the State of Oklahoma

shall promulgate regulations pertaining to the application process

and the determination of eligibility for the assistance program.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and Military

Department shall coordinate the promulgation of rules and

regulations to ensure compatibility. The Adjutant General may

promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this act.
State of Oklahoma

shall promulgate regulations pertaining to the application process

and the determination of eligibility for the assistance program.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and Military

Department shall coordinate the promulgation of rules and

regulations to ensure compatibility. The Adjutant General may

promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of this act.

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