(110 ILCS 967/Art. 15 heading)
(110 ILCS 967/15-5)
Sec. 15-5. Nurse Educator Scholarship Program. There is created, beginning July 1, 2006, the Nurse Educator Scholarship Program to be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The program shall provide scholarship assistance until July 1, 2010, subject to appropriation, to eligible students for nursing-related graduate study.
(Source: P.A. 94-1020, eff. 7-11-06.)
(110 ILCS 967/15-10)
Sec. 15-10. Scholarship award; maximum time period; maximum amount.
(a) Subject to appropriation, the Commission shall award a nurse educator scholarship to each qualified applicant in an amount sufficient to pay the tuition and fees of the Illinois institution of higher learning at which the recipient is enrolled, up to the current maximum amount of tuition and fees charged to students enrolled in an approved program of professional or practical nursing education at a public university.
(b) Scholarship recipients shall also receive a stipend, the amount of which shall not exceed $10,000, to cover other costs of attendance, including, but not limited to, living expenses. Stipend amounts for recipients enrolled on less than a full-time basis shall be prorated by credit hour.
(c) A recipient may receive scholarship assistance under the program for the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment.
(d) The total amount of scholarship assistance awarded by the Commission under the program to an individual in any given fiscal year, when added to other financial assistance awarded to that individual for that year, may not exceed the cost of attendance at the institution of higher learning at which the student is enrolled.
(Source: P.A. 94-1020, eff. 7-11-06.)
(110 ILCS 967/15-15)
Sec. 15-15. Application. All applications for a scholarship under the program shall be made to the Commission in a form and manner prescribed by the Commission. Applicants shall also submit any supporting documents deemed necessary by the Commission at the time of application.
(Source: P.A. 94-1020, eff. 7-11-06.)
(110 ILCS 967/15-20)
Sec. 15-20. Eligibility.
(a) The Commission shall, on an annual basis until July 1, 2010, receive and consider applications for scholarship assistance under the program. An applicant is eligible for a scholarship under the program if the Commission finds that the applicant:
(b) Scholarship recipients shall be selected from among eligible applicants based on a combination of academic excellence and financial need, as determined by the Commission.
(c) Preference may be given to previous recipients of a scholarship under the program, provided that the recipient continues to meet the eligibility requirements set forth in this Section and maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the institution of higher education at which he or she is enrolled.
(d) Prior to receiving scholarship assistance for an academic year, each recipient of a scholarship awarded under the program must sign an agreement pledging that, within the one-year period following the termination of the academic program for which the recipient was awarded a scholarship, the recipient shall (i) begin working as an educator in an approved program of professional nursing education or an approved program of practical nursing education in Illinois for a period of not less than 5 years and (ii) upon request of the Commission, provide the Commission with evidence that he or she is fulfilling or has fulfilled the terms of the work agreement required under this subsection (d).
(Source: P.A. 94-1020, eff. 7-11-06.)
(110 ILCS 967/15-25)
Sec. 15-25. Payment to institution. All scholarship funds distributed under the program shall be paid to the institution on behalf of the scholarship recipient.
(Source: P.A. 94-1020, eff. 7-11-06.)
(110 ILCS 967/15-30)
Sec. 15-30. Repayment upon default; exception.
(a)
If a recipient of a scholarship awarded under this Section fails to fulfill the work agreement required under the program, the Commission shall require the recipient to repay the amount of the scholarship or scholarships received, prorated according to the fraction of the work agreement not completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if applicable, reasonable collection fees.
(b)
Payments received by the Commission under this Section shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, except that that portion of a recipient's repayment that equals the amount in expenses that the Commission has reasonably incurred in attempting collection from that recipient shall be remitted to the State Comptroller for deposit into the Commission's Accounts Receivable Fund.
(c)
A recipient of a scholarship awarded by the Commission under the program shall not be in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant to this Article if the recipient is (i) serving as a member of the armed services of the United States, (ii) a person with a temporary total disability, as established by a sworn affidavit of a qualified physician, (iii) seeking and unable to find full-time employment as a nursing educator and is able to provide evidence of that fact, or (iv) taking additional courses, on at least a half-time basis, related to nursing education. Any extension of the period during which the work requirement must be fulfilled shall be subject to limitations of duration established by the Commission.
(Source: P.A. 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)