Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Pell Grant Modernization Act”.
Pell Grant Modernization Act
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to adjust the period of eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Eligibility for Federal Pell Grants
10-Semester period of eligibility— Section 401(c)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a(c)(5)) is amended by striking “12 semesters” both places it appears and inserting “10 semesters”.
Full-Time student— Subparagraph (A) of section 481(a)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
“(2)
“(A) For the purpose of any program under this title, the term academic year shall—
“(i) require—
“(I) a minimum of 30 weeks of instructional time for a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours; or
“(II) a minimum of 26 weeks of instructional time for a course of study that measures its program length in clock hours;
“(ii) require an undergraduate course of study to contain an amount of instructional time whereby a full-time student is expected to complete at least—
“(I) 30 semester or trimester hours or 45 quarter credit hours in a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours; or
“(II) 1,125 clock hours in a course of study that measures its program length in clock hours;
“(iii) require an undergraduate course of study to contain an amount of instructional time whereby a 3/4-time student is expected to complete at least—
“(I) 22 semester or trimester hours or 33 credit hours in a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours; or
“(II) 825 clock hours in a course of study that measures its program length in clock hours;
“(iv) require an undergraduate course of study to contain an amount of instructional time whereby a 1/2-time student is expected to complete at least—
“(I) 14 semester or trimester hours or 21 credit hours in a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours; or
“(II) 525 clock hours in a course of study that measures its program length in clock hours; and
“(v) require an undergraduate course of study to contain an amount of instructional time whereby a less than 1/2-time student is expected to complete less than—
“(I) 14 semester or trimester hours or 21 credit hours in a course of study that measures its program length in credit hours; or
“(II) 525 clock hours in a course of study that measures its program in clock hours.”
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on July 1, 2018.