Regents support plan to up GPA levels

Thursday, March 20, 2003 | 10:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A plan to require higher grades for Millennium Scholarships got a favorable reception from the Board of Regents on Wednesday.

State Treasurer Brian Krolicki outlined a proposal for the regents that would raise the requirements for the program so that its funding lasts longer.

Financial experts for the Legislature have said the fund could run into trouble by 2006. Krolicki said his plan would keep the $10,000 scholarships running until at least 2011 and possibly until 2019.

The program gets its money from the state's tobacco settlement. There are more than 12,000 students receiving the scholarships with an estimated $19.5 million to be paid out this year.

Those students currently receiving the scholarship money would not be affected by the higher standards.

Students must have a 3.0 grade point average to qualify for the scholarships. But under the Krolicki plan, which he said was backed by Gov. Kenny Guinn, those entering high school next fall would have to maintain a 3.25 grade point average by graduation in 2007. Current freshmen and sophomores would have to achieve a 3.1 grade point average before their graduations in 2006 and 2005.

"This gives plenty of warning," Krolicki said.

To retain the scholarship in college, a student would have to carry a 2.6 grade point average compared with the present 2.0 requirement.

"This makes it more special. A 2.0 is lower than it needs to be," Krolicki said.

Regent Jack Schofield of Las Vegas praised Krolicki and the proposed new standards. Regent Tom Kirkpatrick said he also concurred with the recommendations.

Regent Doug Hill of Sparks said he would rather see the grade point average for a college freshman set at 2.5 and then raised in the second year to 2.6.

Chancellor Jane Nichols told the board that a student now may lose his eligibility for the scholarship if he falls below 2.0. But he can regain it if he brings his grades up.

"It is not lost forever," she said.

Regent Chairman Doug Seastrand of North Las Vegas asked how many high school students might not be eligible if the grade point average is raised. Krolicki said he did not have a good estimate yet, but would get one for Seastrand.

Seastrand said he believed that raising the GPA requirement should inspire more students to get higher grades.

Some of the changes will have to be approved by the Legislature.

Krolicki suggested the board decide what core subjects high school students must take to qualify for the scholarship. This might eliminate the need for Millennium Scholars needing to take remedial classes in college.

He said the grade point requirement would remain the same, no matter what courses were taken in high school.

Nichols said the regents would have to be careful not to hurt the vocational education student.

Krolicki also recommended reducing the time allowed to use the scholarship after graduation from high school. Instead of eight years, a student should have just six, he said. Military service would not count against the time limit, and there would be an appeals board for a student to ask for an extension.

Krolicki also said he wants to "securitize" the $1.2 billion tobacco fund which is to come to the state in increments over 20 years. The state would sell off the fund for a discounted amount and then invest the money under his plan. Under the present plan, Krolicki said as smoking goes down, the cigarette companies pay less to the state. He estimated the fund would last until at least 2016 under his plan.

He said he wants a constitutional amendment to prohibit any of the Millennium Scholarship money being used for other purposes.

About 40 percent of the tobacco settlement goes for scholarships. The rest goes for health and other programs.

He suggested other states "squandered" their tobacco fund by using it to balance their budgets. That was "highly imprudent," he said.