(a) There is established a Go Back to Get Ahead program, administered by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, for the purpose of encouraging individuals who previously enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program, but left such program prior to its completion or who received an associate’s degree and seek to advance their educational attainment, to return to an institution of higher education to earn a degree.

(b) Subject to the guidelines established by the Board of Regents for Higher Education, the Go Back to Get Ahead program shall provide, within available resources, an incentive of up to three free three-credit courses necessary for the completion of an associate’s or bachelor’s degree to any resident of this state who previously enrolled in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program at any public or independent institution of higher education, who either (1) left such program prior to completing it, or (2) received an associate’s degree and seeks to enroll in a bachelor’s degree program, and who has not attended any institution of higher education for at least eighteen months as of June 30, 2014. Said program shall be limited to individuals who enroll, not later than September 30, 2016, in an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program at a state college within the Connecticut State University System, a regional community-technical college or Charter Oak State College.