AR SB542

Amends the definition of "continuously enrolled" for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program to clarify enrollment requirements for traditional students (27 semester hours first year, 30 thereafter), nontraditional full-time students (15 semester hours in consecutive semesters), current achiever students (12 hours before receiving scholarship, 15 hours after), part-time nontraditional students (6 semester hours), and students in degree plans with lower maximum semester hour requirements.

Modifies eligibility requirements for traditional students to require completion of at least 27 semester hours of courses in consecutive semesters, excluding summer terms, as a full-time first-time freshman.

Allows scholarship recipients to attend summer terms at their own expense to earn credit hours necessary to maintain scholarship eligibility.

Permits recipients who become ineligible due to GPA or credit hour deficiencies to regain eligibility one time in the academic year they became ineligible by completing 15 semester hours (traditional/full-time nontraditional) or 6 semester hours (part-time nontraditional) with a 2.5 grade point average at their own expense.

Allows traditional students who lose eligibility to apply as first-time nontraditional student applicants, but recipients who lose nontraditional eligibility and do not regain it are ineligible to apply under any other eligibility provision of the program.