System of Higher Education Board of Regents

Mark W. Doubrava, M.D. Chairman System Administration 9011 W. Sahara Avenue, Suite 101 4300 S. Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, Nevada 89117 Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 (702) 794-2020 (702) 889-8426 [email protected]

August 25, 2020

Director Brenda Erdoes Legislative Counsel Bureau 401 S. Carson Street Carson City, NV 89701-4747

RE: Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship Spring 2020 Wavier

Dear Ms. Erdoes:

The purpose of this letter is to meet the reporting requirements of Senate Bill 2 (Chapter 2, Statutes of Nevada 31st Special Session) concerning the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship (GGMS) waivers that were issued to students who lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 semester.

As you are aware, during the 31st Special Session, Senate Bill 2 was enacted providing temporary authority to the Board of Regents to waive or modify certain requirements for eligibility to receive a GGMS in response to a state of emergency or declaration of disaster. This authorization was sought in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in the March 12, 2020, Declaration of Emergency that was issued by Governor Steve Sisolak to facilitate the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On August 7, 2020, under the authority provided in Senate Bill 2, the Board of Regents adopted policies providing that students who lost eligibility under Title 4, Chapter 18, Section 9.14, at the end of the Spring 2020 semester be deemed “eligible.” A copy of the policy and briefing paper are attached here. The waiver provisions adopted by the Board provide that the students who lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 semester (as a result of not meeting the requirements outlined in Title 4, Chapter 18, Section 9.14) will retain eligibility for the immediately subsequent semester of enrollment and will not earn a strike on their GGMS eligibility record.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas  University of Nevada, Reno   Desert Research Institute College of Southern Nevada   Truckee Meadows Community College  Following the adoption of the Board’s policy on the Spring 2020 waiver, the Chancellor’s Office generated a list of students that meet the requirements to receive the waiver. The Treasurer’s Office in consultation with our office, then began the process of reconciling the NSHE list of students eligible to receive the Spring 2020 waiver with their own eligibility records. The Treasurer’s Office worked directly with Roseman University and University in identifying their respective students eligible for the Spring 2020 waiver as NSHE does not have access to those student records. In the end, based on the reconciliation, 1,950 students received the waiver statewide. Eligibility records were updated in the Treasurer’s system as of August 17, 2020 and were loaded into NSHE’s student information system as of August 18, 2020, at which time campus financial aid offices were able to award students receiving the waiver for Fall 2020. The Treasurer’s Office also notified waiver recipients via email on August 18 (a sample message is attached).

Senate Bill 2 requires that the Board select a “person” to appear on behalf of the Board to report on the waiver. The Board designated “the Chancellor or their designee” to report at the next meeting of the Legislative Committee on Education that is tentatively scheduled for mid-September.

I trust this information is helpful. Should you or any member of the Legislature have any questions, please feel free to contact Chancellor Thom Reilly or Vice Chancellor Crystal Abba directly.

Sincerely,

Mark W. Doubrava Chairman

Enc. cc: Members, Board of Regents Chancellor Thom Reilly Dr. Melody Rose Treasurer Zach Conine BOARD OF REGENTS BRIEFING PAPER Handbook Revision: Millennium Scholarship Spring 2020 Continuing Eligibility Waiver August 7, 2020

BACKGROUND & POLICY CONTEXT OF ISSUE: Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 396.930 and 396.934 establish the initial and continuing eligibility requirements for the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship (GGMS) program and sets forth the related duties and powers of the Board of Regents. Existing Board policy under Title 4, Chapter 18, Section 9 of the Handbook (Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship: Policy and Procedures) reflects NRS 396.930 and 396.934 and establishes related provisions.

In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NSHE students, during the 2020 Special Session the Nevada Legislature passed Senate Bill 2 (Chapter 2, Statutes of Nevada 31st Special Session), providing authority to the Board of Regents to grant a waiver of continuing eligibility requirements to certain recipients of the Millennium Scholarship. This will effectively allow the Board of Regents to waive requirements for students that lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 semester, effectively holding them harmless in terms of their eligibility status. The result of the waiver will be that the students who lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 semester will retain eligibility for the immediately subsequent semester of enrollment and will not earn a strike on their Millennium Scholarship eligibility record. The authority granted in Senate Bill 2 will be in place through July 1, 2021, so that if the Board deems it necessary, they may invoke a waiver for continuing eligibility requirements in Fall 2020 and/or Spring 2021, depending on the situation.

Upon the Board’s approval of this Handbook revision, System staff will promptly submit a list of Millennium Scholarship students receiving the waiver to the State Treasurer’s Office. This will make it possible for students attending an NSHE institution in Fall 2020 and meeting all other program eligibility requirements to receive a Millennium Scholarship award by the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester. Students receiving the waiver would also be eligible for reimbursement for credits completed during Summer 2020 (this normally occurs in September).

As of July 24, 2020, 2,191 students lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 semester. Pursuant to the proposed revisions, the Chancellor’s Office will transmit to the Treasurer’s Office a list of students who are receiving the waiver and for the purpose of identifying those students as “eligible” in the Treasurer’s records. As part of this process, the Treasurer’s Office will verify the list submitted by NSHE to ensure all students who are eligible receive the waiver. In addition, in accordance with the provisions of Senate Bill 2, within 45 days of the Treasurer’s Office updating the student eligibility record, System staff will submit a report on the waiver (indicating the number of students that received the waiver) to the Governor and the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau.

Finally, the provisions of Senate Bill 2 require the Board of Regents to select “a person” to appear on behalf of the Board before the appropriate committees of the Legislature or, if the Legislature is not in session, the Legislative Committee on Education, at the next practicable opportunity after the waiver is effective. It is recommended that the Board select “the Chancellor or the designee” to represent the Board when presenting on the matter of the waiver to the Legislature.

This proposed Handbook revision has been vetted with the Financial Aid Directors and the Treasurer’s Office, each of whom indicated their support for the proposal as presented herein.

SPECIFIC ACTIONS BEING RECOMMENDED OR REQUESTED: Revise Title 4, Chapter 18, Section 9 of the Handbook to implement the provision of Senate Bill 2, enacted by the Nevada Legislature, that provide, authority to the Board to issue a waiver of continuing eligibility requirements for certain Millennium Scholarship recipients. The current proposal provides waivers for Spring 2020 recipients only. IMPETUS (WHY NOW?): This proposal is brought forward to implement the provisions of Senate Bill 2, enacted by the Nevada Legislature during the 31st Special Session and authorizing the Board to implement a waiver of continuing eligibility requirements for certain Millennium Scholarship recipients. Timely approval by the Board will make it possible for students attending an NSHE institution in Fall 2020 and meeting all other program eligibility requirements to receive a Millennium Scholarship award by the beginning of the fall semester.

CHECK THE NSHE STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THIS REQUEST: X Access (Increase participation in post-secondary education) X Success (Increase student success) X Close the Achievement Gap (Close the achievement gap among underserved student populations) ❑ Workforce (Collaboratively address the challenges of the workforce and industry education needs of Nevada) ❑ Research (Co-develop solutions to the critical issues facing 21st century Nevada and raise the overall research profile) ❑ Not Applicable to NSHE Strategic Plan Goals

INDICATE HOW THE PROPOSAL SUPPORTS THE SPECIFIC STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL The proposed revision implements a waiver for students that lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 semester to mitigate the negative impact on Millennium recipients who lost continuing eligibility due to the COVID-19 emergency. By maintaining eligibility that would have otherwise been lost, all Millennium students who were enrolled in Spring 2020 and lost eligibility at the end of that term will retain uninterrupted access to the Millennium Scholarship, supporting the Access, Success, and Close the Achievement Gap goals.

BULLET POINTS TO SUPPORT REQUEST/RECOMMENDATION: • Adoption of the policy revision will effectively implement a waiver for students that lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 semester utilizing the authorization provided under the provisions of Senate Bill 2. • Due to circumstances beyond their control, many students receiving the Millennium Scholarship who originally enrolled in traditional face-to-face courses were transitioned to remote instruction during Spring 2020. In addition to the shift in instruction to distance learning, Millennium recipients faced additional stressors due to the pandemic including loss of employment, caring for family members, etc. This measure allows students who would have otherwise lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 term to be held harmless.

POTENTIAL ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE REQUEST/RECOMMENDATION: None have been brought forward.

ALTERNATIVE(S) TO WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED/RECOMMENDED: The Board may choose not to issue the waivers authorized by Senate Bill 2.

RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE: The Chancellor’s Office recommends issuing the waivers for students who lost eligibility at the end of Spring 2020 semester. COMPLIANCE WITH BOARD POLICY: ❑ Consistent With Current Board Policy: Title # Chapter # Section # X Amends Current Board Policy: Title 4, Chapter 18, Section 9 ❑ Amends Current Procedures & Guidelines Manual: Chapter # Section # ❑ Other: X Fiscal Impact: Yes No _X __ Explain: This proposed revision does not have directfiscal impact (cost) to the NSHE or its institutions; however, it is estimated that cost to the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship Trust Fund that is administered by the State Treasurer’s Office will be up to $2.6 million over the subsequent semesters in which the students who would have otherwise lost eligibility enroll and are funded. POLICY PROPOSAL - HANDBOOK TITLE 4, CHAPTER 18, SECTION 9 Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship: Policy and Procedures Additions appear in boldface italics; deletions are [stricken and bracketed]

Section 9. Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship: Policy and Procedures

9.14 Except as otherwise provided, to remain eligible for a Millennium Scholarship, a student must meet all of the following conditions at each institution where the student is a Millennium Scholarship recipient:

a. The student must make satisfactory academic progress, as defined by the home institution, toward a recognized associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or a pre­ baccalaureate certificate;

b. The student must maintain for each fall and spring semester that Millennium Scholarship funding is received at least a 2.75 semester grade point average.

c. The student must satisfactorily complete the minimum credit requirements in each Fall and Spring semester in which enrolled pursuant to Section 9.6.

9.14.1 The Nevada State Legislature pursuant to Senate Bill 2 of the 31st Special Session authorized the Board of Regents to implement temporary waivers to address the impact of the COVID-19 emergency on continuing eligibility of Millennium recipients.

a. Students that received the Millennium Scholarship in Spring 2020 who lost eligibility at the end of that term pursuant to subsection 9.14 shall receive a waiver and be deemed eligible to receive funding in the subsequent term for which they enroll pursuant to subsection 9.14. Further, such students deemed eligible pursuant to this subsection will not receive a strike pursuant to subsection 9.16.

b. The Chancellor’s Office shall transmit to the State Treasurer’s Office a list of students deemed eligible pursuant to this subsection for the purpose of updating student eligibility records.

The Chancellor or their designee shall report on the waivers issued pursuant to this subsection to the Legislature or, if the Legislature is not in session, the Legislature Committee on Education at the next practicable opportunity. GOVERNOR GUINN MILLENNIUM SCHOLARSHIP

August 18, 2020

Student Name MSID #: XXXXX

Dear Student:

On June 25, the State Treasurer’s Office emailed you about a change in status for your Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship (“GGMS”). Our records indicated that you did not meet the continuing eligibility requirements to maintain the scholarship based on Spring 2020 term data. Since then, Nevada State law has changed to allow a waiver for students that lost eligibility during the Spring 2020 semester given the COVID-19 Pandemic. Accordingly, students who lost eligibility at the end of the Spring 2020 semester will retain eligibility for the immediately subsequent semester of enrollment and will not earn a strike on their GGMS eligibility record.

Our Office has applied this waiver to your account, and you remain eligible for the scholarship.

At this time, no waiver is anticipated for future semesters, so you must meet the standard eligibility requirements to maintain GGMS. To review the GGMS eligibility standards, please visit: http://www.nevadatreasurer.gov/GGMS/GGMS_Home/.

We appreciate your patience as we work with NSHE on updating your account. Please review your financial aid account to ensure the waiver was applied and you have received funding from GGMS. If the waiver has not been applied or you notice an error, please reach out to your institution’s financial aid office for an update. You may also reach out to Elizabeth Mares, who oversees GGMS for the State Treasurer’s Office. She can be reached at 702-486-3383 or [email protected].

Thank you,

Tya Mathis-Coleman Deputy Treasurer, College Savings