As used in this act:

(a) “Kansas ethnic minority scholarship program” means a program under which the state, in response to growing concerns over loss of talented ethnic minority students to institutions of postsecondary education in other states, the need to enhance the diversity of the student population at Kansas institutions of postsecondary education, and the barriers to ethnic minority student enrollment at Kansas institutions of postsecondary education and for the purpose of enabling and encouraging talented ethnic minority students to remain in Kansas for the attainment of educational goals and fulfillment of career aspirations, provides financial assistance through the award of Kansas ethnic minority scholarships to Kansas ethnic minority scholars.

(b) “Kansas ethnic minority scholarship” means a financial award by this state under this act to a Kansas ethnic minority scholar.

(c) “Kansas ethnic minority scholar” means a person who: (1) Is a resident of Kansas; (2) is a member of an ethnic minority group; (3) has been accepted for admission to or is enrolled full time in an educational program at an eligible institution; (4) has established financial need; and (5) has qualified for the award of a Kansas ethnic minority scholarship on the basis of having demonstrated educational ability, or who has previously so qualified and remains qualified for the renewal of a Kansas ethnic minority scholarship on the basis of maintaining full-time enrollment in an educational program at an eligible institution, remaining in good standing, and making satisfactory progress toward completion of the requirements for the award of a degree or certificate of completion.

(d) “Eligible institution” means an institution of postsecondary education which maintains open enrollment, the main campus or principal place of operation of which is located in Kansas, and which qualifies as an eligible institution under the higher education act of 1965 (P.L. 89-329), as amended.

(e) “Ethnic minority group” means a group of persons categorized as: (1) American Indian or Alaskan Native; (2) Asian or Pacific Islander; (3) Black, non-Hispanic; or (4) Hispanic.

(f) “American Indian or Alaskan Native” means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of North America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.

(g) “Asian or Pacific Islander” means a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the far east, southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or pacific islands. This includes, but not by way of limitation, persons from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, Samoa, India and Vietnam.

(h) “Black, non-Hispanic” means a person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa (except those of Hispanic origin).

(i) “Hispanic” means a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

(j) “Financial need” means the difference between the available financial resources of a Kansas ethnic minority scholar and the scholar’s total anticipated expenses to attend an eligible institution. A scholar’s financial resources shall be determined on the basis of criteria provided under the federal methodology of need analysis. Financial need shall be determined annually.

(k) “Semester” means one of two principal terms when there are only two principal terms in the academic year of an eligible institution whether or not there are other shorter terms during the same academic year of the eligible educational institution.

(l) “Term” means one of two or more substantially equivalent divisions of the academic year of an eligible institution.

(m) “Program period” means the duration of the period of time, or any division thereof, required for completion of a vocational or technical education program which is given in an eligible institution.

(n) “Open enrollment” means the policy of an institution of postsecondary education which provides the opportunity of enrollment for any student who meets its academic and other reasonable enrollment requirements, without regard for race, gender, religion, creed, ethnicity or national origin.