Sections:
13.0101	Scholarship board-Establishment.
13.0102	Scholarship board-Duties.
13.0103	Scholarship board-Members- Chairman-Secretary.
13.0104	Eligibility for awards.
13.0105	Selection criteria.
13.0106	Community college enrollment.
13.0107	Advanced students.
13.0108	Contracts.
13.0109	Return obligation.
13.0110	Term-Academic performance-Transfer-Contract renewal.
13.0111	Transportation.
13.0112	Award limits-Costs covered.

By virtue of General Memorandum No. 38-1979, the Governor of American Samoa established the scholarship board (hereinafter called the board) for the territory pursuant to 4.0302 (a) ASCA.

(1) develop policies, subject to the Governor's approval, for the award and continuation of all scholarships offered by the ASG for post-secondary education, including but not limited to the regular scholarship program, the East-West Center degree program, and government employee off-island training for more than 6 months or 1 semester;

(2) establish procedures for the processing of applications for all such scholarships;

(3) award all such scholarships according to approved policies and procedures; and

(4) review the continuation of all such scholarships according to approved policies.

A. Members of the board, serving indefinite terms subject to tenure in office, are a representative of the Legislature, a representative of private industry , the director of education, the director of manpower resources, the president of the American Samoa Community College, a representative of the secretary of Samoan affairs, a representative of the attorney general, and a representative of the Governor. B. The director of education is the chairman of the board. In the absence of the chairman, the chairman, or if necessary the members, may designate an acting chairman. The chairman shall designate a member of the department of education staff to serve as secretary to the board who shall perform all duties requested by the chairman.

(1) be a U.S. national, or a U. S. citizen, or an American Samoan as defined under 41.0502 (b) ASCA, or a permanent resident of American Samoa approved and certified by the immigration board pursuant to 41.0603 and 41.0604 ASCA; or a person legally adopted when 12 years of age or under in accordance with 41.0640 (a) ASCA; and

(2) be a legal resident of and in compliance with the immigration laws of American Samoa. The rules set forth in 6.0212 ASCA shall apply in determining legal residency; provided, that

the legal residence of the parent or parents, or legal guardian having custody of a minor under 18 years of age shall determine the legal residence of the minor.

The following shall be the criteria to be used by the board in its selection of recipients for scholarship awards:

(3) Favorable letters of references from teachers, counselor, principal, employer, and others;

(4) Educational achievement based on academic records, including grade poin t average and test scores acceptable to the board; and

(a) Beginning with the school year 1980-81, a scholarship recipient may enroll, with the approval of the board, at the American Samoa Community College for the initial year or years of college education or until completion of the requirements for the associate degree in his or her respective areas of study, except:

(1) a high school graduate who maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.6 or better in high school and has a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 500 or better; or

(2) a recipient whose program of study is not offered at the American Samoa Community College.

(b) Any recipient permitted to attend the American Samoa Community College must :

(3) have a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 450 or better.

An advanced student who is continuing his or her education for degrees in law, medicine, engineering and other professional fields, and who is accepted to accredited educational institutions in one of these fields, is also qualified to apply for scholarship awards, as long as he or she is eligible under criteria set forth under 13.0104.

(a) Each scholarship recipient must sign 1 or more written contracts containing the terms and conditions of his or her scholarship award as may be necessary to cover the entire period of benefit under the scholarship program. The board shall develop a standard and uniform contract form for each category of scholarship award, approved by the attorney general. Each contract shall normally be of I-year duration and may contain special conditions as deemed appropriate by the board and approved by the attorney general; provided, that no terms or conditions, special or otherwise, shall be inconsistent with currently approved scholarship policies.

(b) The Governor or his designee, as authorized in writing, shall sign each contract on behalf of the ASG.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a scholarship recipient incurs a moral obligation to return to American Samoa upon completion of the study for which the award is granted for employment in or near his or her field of study for a period of time equal to 1/2 the time enrolled under this program.

(b) A scholarship recipient who is an ASG employee shall be obligated contractually to continue his or her employment with the government upon completion of the study for which the award is granted for a period of time at least equal to the time enrolled under this program. The employment is to be in or near the recipient's field of study to the fullest practicable extent.

(a) Financial assistance shall be furnished to a recipient until the completion of all respective requirements for the degree or degrees sought; provided, that the recipient must:

(1) maintain a passing grade point average according to the criteria of the educational institution of enrollments (a student failing to do so must make up the deficiency during the probationary term as provided under the institution 's rules and regulations or the scholarship award may be terminated);

(3) authorize the registrar of the institution to send his or her grade report to the department of education, ASG, immediately after each academic term, whether quarterly or semesterly; and

(4) not at any time transfer to a different educational institution without prior approval of the board. (b) Each recipient's contract under this scholarship program will be renewed annually upon satisfactory performance of the contract for the previous year, with modifications in accordance with current policies developed by the board and approved by the Governor.

(a) Air transportation at the standard economy rate for commercial carriers from American Samoa to the approved educational institution of enrollment upon the initial award shall be provided by the ASG for each scholarship recipient. Return air transportation at the same rate to American Samoa and a personal effects shipment allowance paid in cash, which is equal to such allowance paid to a contract employee for a family of 1 person upon renewal of an employment contract according to the government travel policy then in effect, shall be provided for each recipient who satisfactorily completes degree requirements, as specified by the recipient's institution. This cash allowance is intended to permit a successful recipient to ship books and other educational materials and personal effects accumulated during the course of study back to American Samoa.

(b) The ASG shall provide return air transportation at the standard economy rate for commercial carriers to American Samoa for each recipient who does not complete degree requirements due to failure or for any other reason if the recipient returns to American Samoa within 6 months from the date of nonattendance at the institution.

(a) To conform with the provisions of 16.2501 ASCA, no scholarship recipient may receive more than $4,000 a year, excluding transportation benefits under 16.2511, in scholarship money in pursuit of his or her post-secondary education, except where the cost of the school justifies any request for any additional funds a year. Any increased amount shall be approved by the board. The educational costs covered may only include:

(b) Each recipient is responsible for personal and other miscellaneous expenses incurred while in the scholarship program.