Section 121.42. Submission of applications

(a) Applications will be considered only if submitted on or prior to the deadline date announced by the Agency for each group specified in § 121.41 (relating to grouping of applicants). Applications will be accepted after the established deadline, funds permitting, when received from applicants in the following categories, except applicants who have been supplied with an application by the Agency in sufficient time to have had a reasonable opportunity to submit the application to the Agency prior to the deadline:

(1) Veterans and current and former members of the Peace Corps, VISTA, and other similar organizations.

(2) Applicants who have suffered a loss in expected family assistance through the death, disability or retirement of a major wage earner of the family.

(3) Applicants who have suffered a loss in expected family assistance through a major wage earner’s separation—as defined by the Agency—or divorce, or through a change in the employment status of a major wage earner of the family.

(b) If, in the case of applications accepted from students included in the categories mentioned in subsection (a), the release from active duty, death, disability, retirement, change of employment status, separation or divorce, as the case may be, occurred on or after January 1 immediately preceding the start of the academic year for which aid is requested, the applications will be processed, funds permitting, in accordance with the following schedule:

(1) Quarter schedule institutions. Applications from students attending institutions with quarter schedules will be considered in accordance with the following dates of reception:

(i) Received prior to February 1—full-year consideration.

(ii) Received on or after February 1 and prior to April 1—two-term consideration.

(iii) Received on or after April 1—no consideration for the current academic year.

(2) Semester schedule institutions. Applications from students attending institutions with semester schedules will be considered in accordance with the following dates of reception:

(i) Received prior to February 1—full-year consideration.

(ii) Received on or after February 1 and prior to April 1—one-semester consideration.

(iii) Received on or after April 1—no consideration for the current academic year.

(c) Applications which are accepted from students included in the categories mentioned in subsection (a), but not eligible under the terms of subsection (b) will, funds permitting, be processed, after consideration of those applicants designated in subsection (b), for the term or terms designated by the Agency.

(d) The President and Chief Executive Officer may authorize the setting aside of deadlines for other categories of applicants when in the judgment of the President and Chief Executive Officer the setting aside of the deadline will facilitate administration of the State Higher Education Grant Program in accordance with the policies established by the Board of the Agency and will promote equitable program results. Any determination made by the President and Chief Executive Officer under this subsection will be reduced to writing, which writing will delimit the category and give an estimate of the number of applicants for the particular processing year which is expected to fall within the category. A copy of this writing will be furnished to each member of the Board of the Agency.

(e) Exceptional cases involving applicants who submit an application after the established deadline will be reviewed and appropriate resolution of the question relating to setting aside the deadline and the term of eligibility will be taken by the Administrative Review Committee or the Committee on Appeals in turn.

The provisions of this § 121.42 adopted February 27, 1969; amended December 8, 1972, effective December 9, 1972, 2 Pa.B. 2296; amended December 27, 1974, effective December 28, 1974, 4 Pa.B. 2699; amended May 9, 1975, effective May 10, 1975, 5 Pa.B. 1210; amended May 21, 1976, effective May 22, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2907; amended November 19, 1976, effective November 20, 1976, 6 Pa.B. 2907; amended through June 7, 1985, effective June 8, 1985, 15 Pa.B. 2102; amended August 4, 2000, effective August 5, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 3924. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (218147) to (218148).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 121.42 amended under section 4 of the act of August 7, 1963 (P. L. 549, No. 290) (24 P. S. § 5104); section 1 of the act of January 25, 1966 (P. L. 1546, No. 541) (24 P. S. § 5151); The Institutional Assistance Grants Act (24 P. S. § § 5181—5189); the Urban and Rural Teacher Loan Forgiveness Act (24 P. S. § § 5191—5197); and the Agriculture Education Loan Forgiveness Act (24 P. S. § § 5198.1—5198.7).