(1) "Academic year" means a period of three hundred sixty-five days beginning with the first day of enrollment for a course of instruction by a National Guard member.

(2) "College assistance program" means the South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program.

(3) "Commission" means the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

(4) "Eligible institution" means:

(a) a public institution of higher learning as defined in § 59-103-5 and an independent institution of higher learning as defined in § 59-113-50; and

(b) a public or independent bachelor’s level institution chartered before 1962 whose major campus and headquarters are located within South Carolina; or an independent bachelor’s level institution which was incorporated in its original charter in 1962, was granted a license to operate in 1997 by the Commission on Higher Education, has continued to maintain a campus in South Carolina, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Institutions whose sole purpose is religious or theological training, or the granting of professional degrees do not meet the definition of ‘public or independent institution’ for purposes of this chapter.

(5) "National Guard" means South Carolina Army or Air National Guard.

(6) "Tuition and fees" means the amount charged for registering for credit hours of instruction, costs of textbooks, and other fees and charges associated with attendance at an eligible institution as approved by the commission.