21-7-701. Wyoming adjunct professor loan repayment program; eligibility criteria; procedures; program reporting.

(a) The Wyoming adjunct professor loan repayment program is created to provide assistance to public school teachers in attaining necessary qualifications to provide instruction in concurrent enrollment programs. This program shall be administered by the Wyoming community college commission established under W.S. 21-18-201. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to govern the loan program. Application shall be on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commission. Applicants shall have a Wyoming residence, as defined in W.S. 22-1-102(a)(xxx), and may apply for loans from the program in accordance with this section.

(b) To qualify for a loan under this section, the applicant shall first:

(i) Be employed by a Wyoming school district as a teacher, as defined by W.S. 21-7-102;

(ii) Be certified by and in good standing with the professional teaching standards board, as required by W.S. 21-7-303;

(iii) Be nominated by the employing Wyoming school district for consideration by the commission. The nomination shall include a copy of the agreement reached between the teacher, the employing school district and one (1) of the seven (7) Wyoming community colleges or the University of Wyoming that will be a party to the agreement under W.S. 21-20-201 upon the completion of the program;

(iv) The agreement required by paragraph (iii) of this subsection shall include the following:

(A) Identification of the classes approved under W.S. 21-20-201 that will be taught upon successful completion of the program;

(B) Identification of the appropriate accredited college-level educational program, including a list of the specific classes, that will enable the teacher to provide instruction in the agreed upon courses at the high school and college level upon completion;

(C) An estimate of the cost of tuition and fees required to complete the program;

(D) The terms of repayment of the loan, which shall include successful completion of the educational program and teaching of the agreed upon classes for two (2) years in a Wyoming school district.

(c) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this program, loans under this section may be granted to qualified applicants to pay the cost of tuition and fees as certified by the accredited educational program for the classes listed in the agreement required under paragraph (b)(iv) of this section.

(d) The employing school district shall certify to the community college commission the amount required to pay tuition and fees in accordance with the agreement reached under paragraph (b)(iv) of this section upon completion of the teacher's coursework. The certification shall include documentation of successful completion of prior coursework paid for by the community college commission under this section.

(e) Any teacher who fails to complete the academic program for which the loan was provided or who fails to maintain employment in accordance with the terms of the agreement required under paragraph (b)(iii) of this section shall commence cash repayment of the loan within forty-five (45) days.

(f) Loan repayment options under this section may be deferred for a period not to exceed five (5) years while a loan recipient is serving full time on active duty with any branch of the military services of the United States.

(g) The Wyoming community college commission shall have the authority specified under W.S. 21-18-202(c) to implement this section and shall establish terms and conditions of loans issued under this section, including:

(i) Interest rates and loan terms;

(ii) The form and process for loan application, review and award;

(iii) Criteria under which students may be relieved from having to repay loans and interest thereon, in whole or in part, where the requirement to repay would cause undue hardship.

(h) Funding of the loan program established under this section shall be by appropriation of the legislature.

(j) Cash repayment of loans and interest thereon shall be credited to the school foundation program account.

(k) The community college commission shall annually review the loan program established under this section and report to the governor and the legislature in accordance with W.S. 9-2-1014, regarding program results, funds received and loans issued during the preceding academic year, together with the status of all outstanding loan commitments and repayments under the program. The report required under this subsection shall include information regarding the impact of the program on courses approved under W.S. 21-20-201.

(m) The loan repayment program created by this section shall expire effective June 30, 2020.

(n) Notwithstanding subsection (m) of this section:

(i) Any person who receives a loan under this section shall continue to receive funding for the program as the person remains eligible as required by this section;

(ii) Repayment of loans awarded under this section shall continue as specified by this section until all loan obligations have been satisfied.