By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

With nearly $2.8 million in federal stimulus money, Fort Hays State University has plans to provide students with tuition relief funds.

President Edward H. Hammond has announced two new programs to distribute more than half a million dollars to Kansas students.

"Two of the planning principles we've been following since this financial crisis began last fall are to keep costs down for students and to minimize negative financial impacts on the local community," Hammond said in a press release.

A Tuition Incentive Program will give current undergraduate students $5 for every credit hour completed this fall in an on-campus course. Students must earn a C or better to qualify.

The money will be electronically deposited into student accounts and can be used to help pay spring tuition.

Students who graduate after the fall or spring semester will be offered a voucher that can be used to purchase a Tiger license plate for their vehicle.

The idea is to help offset a tuition increase of $6.85 per credit hour, which the Kansas Board of Regents approved last week.

Another program is geared towards residents who have lost their jobs and need to be re-trained for the work force.

The Stressed Kansas Scholarship Program will pay full tuition and fees for six credit hours in on-campus courses for qualifying individuals.

FHSU also will help scholarship recipients obtain other forms of financial assistance and will provide needed career help and counseling through campus entities.

To qualify for admission, a person must meet admissions requirements and have been unemployed since Jan. 1.

For more information, visit www.fhsu.edu or call (800) 628-FHSU.

The remaining stimulus funds, totaling about $2.2 million, will be used for deferred maintenance projects. These projects include roof replacement for Rarick Hall, including the removal of outdated solar panels. The final phase of a utility tunnel replacement will be completed, and a multi-year project is planned to improve the campus' electrical system.

An additional $50,000 has been allocated to replace faculty computers.