| (a) Eligibility. (1) Any college or university that is defined as a public or private or independent institution of higher education by Texas Education Code, §61.003, and that is preparing students for licensure as a licensed vocational nurse is eligible to participate in the Vocational Nursing Scholarship Programs. (2) No participating school or program may, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability exclude an individual from participation in, or deny the benefits of the program described in this subchapter. (3) Each participating school or program must follow the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VI (Public Law 88-353) in avoiding discrimination in admissions. (b) Approval. (1) Agreement. Each approved school or program must enter into an agreement with the Board, the terms of which shall be prescribed by the Commissioner. (2) Approval Deadline. A school or program must be approved by April 1 in order for qualified students enrolled in that institution to be eligible to receive grants in the following fiscal year. (c) Responsibilities. (1) Probation Notice. If the institution is placed on public probation by its accrediting agency, it must immediately advise scholarship recipients of this condition and maintain evidence in each student's file to demonstrate that the student was so informed. (2) Disbursements to Students. (A) Documentation. The school or program must maintain records to prove the receipt of program funds by the student or the crediting of such funds to the student's school account. (B) Procedures in Case of Illegal Disbursements. If the Commissioner has reason for concern that a school or program has disbursed funds for unauthorized purposes, the Board will notify the school or program and offer an opportunity for a hearing pursuant to the procedures outlined in Chapter 1 of this title (relating to Agency Administration). Thereafter, if the Board determines that funds have been improperly disbursed, the school or program shall become primarily responsible for restoring the funds to the Board. No further disbursements of scholarship funds shall be permitted to students at that school or program until the funds have been repaid. (3) Reporting Requirements/Deadlines. Participating schools or programs must submit vocational nursing enrollment data and (if a public or private institution of higher education) the Financial Aid Database Report in a timely fashion. (4) Program Reviews. If selected for such by the Board, participating institutions must submit to program reviews of activities related to the Scholarship Programs for Vocational Nursing Students. |
