A new law authored by Dermody was addressed. House Enrolled Act 1348 gives college incentives to graduates in four years. The new law changes the Frank O’Bannon Grant and 21st Century Scholars Program to give students assistance on classes they complete rather than classes they registered for. It also extends that assistance into the summer months.
The law requires that the Commission for Higher Education may offer an incentive-based award centered on student performance. Those guidelines for a four year graduation plan must be complete by Aug. 4, 2013. Once that plan is developed, the law will require that state post-secondary institutions provide a degree map for each student that enrolls after July 31, 2014.
Another portion of the law requires a study and assessment of financial costs and create a strategy to increase affordability and on-time college completion.
Dermody stated that this collaboration was an opportunity to facilitate discussion and generate ideas on how to achieve these goals.
