(a)
(1) The term “minority” when used in this subchapter shall refer to Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, and Native Americans.
(2) The Native American group includes all persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who maintain cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.
(b) Any individual who is a minority and who is enrolled in or accepted for enrollment at a baccalaureate degree-granting institution of higher education whose teacher education program is approved by the State Board of Education or at an accredited state-supported community college in the State of Arkansas who expresses in writing an intention to teach in a geographical area of the state in which there exists a critical shortage of teachers, as designated by the board, shall be eligible for a financial Critical Needs Minority Teacher Scholarship to be applied toward the costs of the individual's college education, if:
(1) The applicant has a grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale in high school if the applicant graduated within the five (5) preceding years; and
(2) The applicant scored nineteen (19) or above on the ACT composite or the equivalent as defined by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
(c)
(1) The university is authorized to develop selection criteria through Critical Needs Minority Teacher Scholarship Program rules which combine an applicant's ACT or equivalent score and grade point average in the core curriculum into a selection index.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section, this selection index shall be employed as an alternative selection process for applicants who achieve a grade point average below 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or for applicants who have an ACT composite or equivalent score greater than nineteen (19).
(d)
(1) The annual amount of the scholarship shall be one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) per year.
(2) Awards made to nonresidents of the state shall not include any amount assessed by the college or university for out-of-state tuition.
(e)
(1) Awards granted under the Critical Needs Minority Teacher Scholarship Program shall be available to both full-time and part-time students.
(2) Students enrolling on a full-time basis may receive a maximum of four (4) annual awards.
(3) The maximum number of awards that may be made to students attending school on a part-time basis and the maximum time period for part-time students to complete the number of academic hours necessary to obtain a baccalaureate degree in education shall be established by rules jointly promulgated by the university and the Division of Higher Education.
(f) Scholarships shall not be based upon an applicant's eligibility for financial aid.