(1) Any active member of the Montana army national guard or air national guard who meets the established criteria may be eligible to participate in the education benefit program (EBP) , if attending state funded institutions of higher learning.

(2) The EBP is a tuition waiver scholarship. The tuition waiver would pay for the cost of tuition for credit bearing courses only. Tuition is defined as the total semester hour cost of instruction to a student as published in the catalog of the institution, specifically excluding mandatory fees, book charges, and room and board.

(3) The EBP incentive applies to members who are accepted, enrolled and matriculated at state funded institutions on a full-time or part-time basis in an undergraduate degree-granting program. Members must meet the institution's eligibility requirements for admission in a degree-granting program before this incentive can be used. Members must be pursuing their first undergraduate degree.

(4) Minimum enrollment for a part-time student is at least 3, but less than 12, credit hours per semester. Minimum enrollment for a full-time student is at least 12 or more semester credit hours.

(5) An applicant must be a resident student of the state of Montana as defined by 20-25-501 (1) (d) , MCA in order to apply for the EBP.

(6) Members may receive the EBP award for no more than 8 semesters of full-time study, or the equivalent of 4 academic years, or, for no more than 16 semesters of part-time study in an approved undergraduate degree-granting program. Periods of federal active duty and activation by the governor of the state of Montana will be excluded from the above computation of the maximum period of eligibility. The adjutant general may, for exceptional circumstances, grant an extension of the eligibility period upon a written application from the member.

(7) The adjutant general may prioritize participation in this program in accordance with supplemental criteria deemed necessary to maintain readiness of the state military militia.