(a) As used in this section and § 10-220q:

(1) “Participating institution” means (A) an institution of higher education within the Connecticut State University System, or (B) any other institution of higher education in the state that enters into a memorandum of agreement with the Board of Regents for Higher Education in accordance with subsection (d) of this section.

(2) “Other institution of higher education” means an institution of higher education in the state that (A) is not within the Connecticut State University System, (B) is a nonprofit institution of higher education, (C) has graduated one hundred or more students with a bachelor’s degree each year for the preceding four years, (D) maintains eligibility to participate in financial aid programs governed by Title IV, Part B of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended from time to time, (E) has not been determined by the United States Department of Education to have a financial responsibility score that is less than 1.5 for the most recent fiscal year for which the data necessary for determining the score is available, and (F) is accredited as a degree-granting institution in good standing for ten years or more by a regional accrediting association recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education, and maintains such accreditation status.

(b) Not later than April 1, 2022, the Board of Regents for Higher Education, in consultation with institutions of higher education that are eligible to be participating institutions, shall (1) establish the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program, and (2) adopt rules, procedures and forms necessary to implement such program. Under the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program, a participating institution shall admit an applicant as a full-time, first-year student to an in-person bachelor’s degree program if such applicant (A) meets or exceeds the academic threshold established pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, (B) qualifies as an in-state student pursuant to § 10a-29, (C) is in his or her last school year before graduation and enrolled at a public high school in the state or a nonpublic high school in the state, approved pursuant to subsection (g) of this section, and (D) if required by a participating institution, earns a high school diploma, an adult education diploma, or other equivalent credential. A participating institution may conduct a comprehensive review of any application submitted by an applicant who applies through the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program, which may entail requesting additional application materials from such applicant or result in denying admission to such applicant. Each participating institution shall make an effort to minimize the number of students subjected to a comprehensive review if such student meets the requirements of subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subsection. Applicants admitted to a participating institution under the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program are not guaranteed admission into any specific bachelor’s degree program at such institution.

(c) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall create a simple online application form for students to apply to participating institutions under the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program. Such application form (1) shall require a student to verify that such student meets the qualifications specified in subsection (b) of this section, and (2) may require a student to provide such student’s state-assigned student identifier, if such student has a state-assigned student identifier pursuant to § 10-10a. Such application form shall not require an application fee or the submission of an essay or recommendation letters. Such application shall embed or link to information and resources regarding (A) college admissions and financial aid, and (B) the net cost of completing a bachelor’s degree program, graduation rates, average earnings for graduates of participating institutions and, if possible, common majors at each participating institution.

(d) Any other institution of higher education may enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Board of Regents for Higher Education to participate in the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program. Each such other institution of higher education shall use the online application form created pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and comply with the provisions of subsection (e) of this section. The Board of Regents for Higher Education may charge a reasonable fee to such other institution of higher education that is not a constituent unit of the state system of higher education for participation in the program. Such fee shall not exceed the board’s cost for including such other institution of higher education in the program or twenty-five thousand dollars, whichever is less.

(e) (1) The Board of Regents for Higher Education shall establish (A) a minimum class rank percentile for applicants to qualify for admission through the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program to each participating institution, and (B) a standardized method for calculating grade point average that shall be used to determine class rank percentile.

(2) Each participating institution shall establish an academic threshold for admission to such institution through the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program. Any other institution of higher education shall establish one or more of the following academic thresholds: (A) The minimum class rank percentile established by the Board of Regents for Higher Education pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, (B) a minimum grade point average calculated in accordance with the standardized method established by the board pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, or (C) a combination of a minimum grade point average calculated in accordance with the standardized method established by the board pursuant to subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection and performance on a nationally recognized college readiness assessment administered to students enrolled in grade eleven pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (c) of § 10-14n. Each state university within the Connecticut State University System shall establish the academic threshold set forth in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and may establish the additional academic thresholds set forth in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this subdivision. An applicant shall be deemed to have satisfied the academic threshold for admission to a participating institution through the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program if such applicant satisfies any one of the academic thresholds established by such institution.

(3) No governing board of a participating institution shall establish policies or procedures that require any academic qualifications in addition to the qualifications specified in subsection (b) of this section and the academic threshold established pursuant to this subsection for the purposes of the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program.

(f) No participating institution shall consider the admission of a student through the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program in determining such student’s eligibility for need-based or merit-based financial aid.

(g) The supervisory agent of a nonpublic high school in the state may submit an application to the Board of Regents for Higher Education, in the form and manner prescribed by the board, to participate in the Connecticut Automatic Admissions Program. The board shall approve any such application provided such nonpublic high school (1) is accredited by a generally recognized accrediting organization or is operated by the United States Department of Defense, and (2) complies with the provisions of § 10-220q.