§ 6455. Collegiate science and technology entry program. 1. General requirements. The commissioner shall award grants to degree-granting institutions in New York or to consortia of such institutions to be used for the purpose of increasing access by minority or disadvantaged students to academic programs that have been registered by the commissioner and that prepare students either for licensure in the professions or for employment in scientific and technical fields.

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2. Undergraduate programs. (a) (i) Undergraduate science and technology entry program moneys may be used for tutoring, counseling, remedial and special summer courses, supplemental financial assistance, program administration, and other activities which the commissioner may deem appropriate. To be eligible for undergraduate collegiate science and technology entry program support, a student must be a resident of New York, or meet the requirements of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, and must be either economically disadvantaged or from a minority group historically under represented in the scientific, technical, health and health-related professions, and must demonstrate interest in and a potential for a professional career if provided special services. Eligible students must be in good academic standing, enrolled full time in an approved, undergraduate level program of study, as defined by the regents.

(ii) An applicant who is not a legal resident of New York state, but who is a United States citizen, a permanent lawful resident, an individual who is granted U or T non-immigrant status pursuant to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, a person granted temporary protected status pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990, an individual of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general of the United States under his or her parole authority pertaining to the admission of noncitizens to the United States, or an applicant without lawful immigration status, shall be eligible for an award at the undergraduate level of study provided that the student:

(1) attended a registered New York state high school for two or more years, graduated from a registered New York state high school and applied for attendance at the institution of higher education for the undergraduate study for which an award is sought within five years of receiving a New York state high school diploma; or

(2) attended an approved New York state program for a state high school equivalency diploma, received a state high school equivalency diploma and applied for attendance at the institution of higher education for the undergraduate study for which an award is sought within five years of receiving a state high school equivalency diploma; or

(3) is otherwise eligible for the payment of tuition and fees at a rate no greater than that imposed for resident students of the state university of New York, the city university of New York or community colleges as prescribed in subparagraph eight of paragraph h of subdivision two of section three hundred fifty-five or paragraph (a) of subdivision seven of section sixty-two hundred six of this chapter.

Provided, further, that a student without lawful immigration status shall also be required to file an affidavit with such institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file such an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so.

(b) Applications for funding shall be submitted by eligible institutions to the department in accordance with requirements established by the commissioner. Priority consideration shall be given to institutions which coordinate their efforts to increase minority access with similar activities for programs at the secondary level in accordance with this section. Grants shall be awarded based on criteria established by the commissioner.

3. Graduate programs. (a) (i) Graduate science and technology entry program moneys may be used for recruitment, academic enrichment, career planning, supplemental financial assistance, review for licensing examinations, program administration, and other activities which the commissioner may deem appropriate. To be eligible for graduate collegiate science and technology entry program support, a student must be a resident of New York, or meet the requirements of subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, and must be either economically disadvantaged or from a minority group historically underrepresented in the scientific, technical and health-related professions. Eligible students must be in good academic standing, enrolled full time in an approved graduate level program, as defined by the regents.

(ii) An applicant who is not a legal resident of New York state, but either is a United States citizen, a permanent lawful resident, an individual who is granted U or T non-immigrant status pursuant to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, a person granted temporary protected status pursuant to the Federal Immigration Act of 1990, an individual of a class of refugees paroled by the attorney general of the United States under his or her parole authority pertaining to the admission of noncitizens to the United States, or an applicant without lawful immigration status shall be eligible for an award at the graduate level of study provided that the student:

(1) attended a registered approved New York state high school for two or more years, graduated from a registered New York state high school and applied for attendance at the institution of higher education for the graduate study for which an award is sought within ten years of receiving a New York state high school diploma; or

(2) attended an approved New York state program for a state high school equivalency diploma, received a state high school equivalency diploma and applied for attendance at the institution of higher education for the graduate study for which an award is sought within ten years of receiving a state high school equivalency diploma; or

(3) is otherwise eligible for the payment of tuition and fees at a rate no greater than that imposed for resident students of the state university of New York, the city university of New York or community colleges as prescribed in subparagraph eight of paragraph h of subdivision two of section three hundred fifty-five or paragraph (a) of subdivision seven of section sixty-two hundred six of this chapter.

Provided, further, that a student without lawful immigration status shall also be required to file an affidavit with such institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file such an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so.

(b) Applications for funding shall be made by eligible institutions in accordance with requirements established by the commissioner. Grants shall be awarded based on criteria established by the commissioner. Priority consideration shall be given to institutions which coordinate their efforts to increase minority access with similar activities at the undergraduate level.

4. Reporting requirements. Institutions participating in the science and technology entry program shall submit to the commissioner such reports or other information as he shall require. The commissioner shall prepare for the board of regents an annual report of the activities of institutions which receive state funds pursuant to this section concerning, but not limited to, the effectiveness of the programs, the numbers of students served, and future plans.