Bill > H3203

This bill modifies scholarship programs in South Carolina to extend support for accelerated undergraduate-to-graduate degree programs. Specifically, it changes the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship rules to allow students to receive funding for combined bachelor's and master's degree programs that are structured as continuous, accelerated pathways. For the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, the bill establishes new term limits for different types of academic programs, including up to ten terms for combined bachelor's and master's degrees offered in an accelerated format, either at a single institution or through cooperative arrangements between two institutions. For the LIFE Scholarship, the bill clarifies that students can receive up to ten semesters of funding for five-year degree programs, which now explicitly include accelerated programs that allow students to progress through both undergraduate and graduate degrees without interruption or meeting traditional intermediate requirements like separate degree completion or standardized testing. The changes aim to provide more flexible financial support for students pursuing streamlined, integrated academic pathways. The act will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Education

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3203&session=126&summary=B