§ 116-209.17. Establishment of student assistance program.

§ 116‑209.17. Establishment of student assistance program.

The Authority is authorized, in addition to all other powers and dutiesvested or imposed under this Article, to establish and administer a statewidestudent assistance program for the purpose of removing, insofar as may bepossible, the financial barriers to education beyond the high school level foreligible needy students at public or private institutions in this State and,with respect to loans, public, and private institutions located elsewhere. Thisobjective shall be accomplished, consistent with Federal law or regulation,through a comprehensive program under which the financial ability of eachstudent and of his family, under standards prescribed by the Authority, ismeasured against the reasonable costs, as determined by the Authority, of theeducational program which the student proposes to pursue. Needs of students forfinancial assistance shall, to the extent of the availability of funds fromfederal, State, institutional or other sources, be met through work‑studyprograms, loans, grants and out‑of‑term employment, or acombination of these forms of assistance. With respect to grants made pursuantto this Article, no student is eligible to receive benefits under this studentassistance program for a total of more than 45 months of full‑time, post‑highschool level education. (1971, c. 392, s. 11; 1979, c. 165, s. 8; 1987, c. 227, s. 7.)