N.Y. Education Law § 669-g: The New York state achievement and investment in merit scholarship (NY-AIMS)

§ 669-g. The New York state achievement and investment in merit

scholarship (NY-AIMS). 1. Purpose. The New York state achievement and

investment in merit scholarship (NY-AIMS) is hereby established for the

purpose of granting merit based scholarship awards to New York state

high school graduates who achieve academic excellence.

2. Eligibility. To be eligible for such awards, an applicant must have

graduated from a New York state high school, enrolled in an approved

undergraduate program of study in a New York state post-secondary

institution beginning in the two thousand fifteen--two thousand sixteen

academic year or thereafter, and achieved at least two of the following

during high school:

a. graduated with a grade point average of 3.3 or above;

b. graduated with a "with honors" distinction on a New York state

regents diploma or received a score of 3 or higher on two or more

advanced placement examinations; or

c. graduated within the top fifteen percent of their high school

class, provided that actual class rank may be taken into consideration.

3. Priority. a. Such awards shall be made to eligible applicants in

the following priority:

(i) first, to applicants who have received payment of an award

pursuant to this section in a prior year and remain in good academic

standing; and

(ii) second, to applicants in descending order based on the unmet need

to reach the full cost of attendance as indicated on the financial aid

award letter.

However, in the program's first year, first priority shall be in

accordance with subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph.

b. In the event that there are more applicants who have the same

priority than there are remaining scholarships, the president shall

distribute the remaining number of such scholarships by means of a

lottery or other form of random selection.

c. In each year, the awards made shall be proportionate to the total

applications received for students accepted for undergraduate study at

public and private not-for-profit degree granting institutions.

4. Awards. Within amounts appropriated therefor, the president shall

grant an annual award to eligible applicants on a competitive basis

pursuant to subdivisions two and three of this section in the amount of

five hundred dollars for not more than four academic years of

undergraduate study, or five academic years, if the program of study

normally requires five years as defined by the commissioner pursuant to

article thirteen of this chapter. Up to five thousand awards may be

granted to new recipients annually.

5. Offset. Such awards may be used to offset the applicant's total

cost of attendance determined for federal Title IV student financial aid

purposes.

6. Rules. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and

regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations, necessary for the

implementation of the provisions of this section.