The Legislature declares that there exists within the State of Alabama a number of accredited independent colleges and universities whose facilities could be used more effectively in the public interest by the grant of financial assistance to residents of the state who choose to attend such colleges and universities, in order to pay a portion of such residents’ institutional related expenses at such colleges and universities, thereby reducing the cost to taxpayers of the state below the cost of providing similar instruction to such residents at institutions of higher learning within the state higher education system.

The Legislature finds and declares that there is an apparent need to narrow the gap in student charges between public universities and colleges and independent institutions of higher education in Alabama in order to provide students with true economic and academic freedom of choice in selecting a college; and to help assure that independent colleges will continue to contribute to the overall quality and diversity of postsecondary education in Alabama.

This chapter is intended to provide higher educational opportunities to bona fide residents of the state by utilizing the facilities and resources of independent colleges and universities in the state more effectively.