State Financial Aid In Texas TASFAA New Aid Officers Workshop May 12, 2015 Shebah Spears Program Specialist, Grants and Special Programs Texas Higher Education.

State Financial Aid In TexasTASFAA New Aid Officers WorkshopMay 12, 2015

Shebah SpearsProgram Specialist, Grants and Special ProgramsTexas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Topics

Role of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) General overview of financial aid in Texas General overview of the eligibility requirements for the state financial aid

programs Questions

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Role of The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)

Created by the Texas Legislature in 1965 Purpose:

Provide leadership and coordination for the Texas higher education system

Responsibilities: Assess the state of higher education in Texas; Develop recommendations to the Legislature, Governor, and institutions for its

enhancement; and Establish policies for the efficient and effective use of the state’s higher education

resources.

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Role of The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Continued

Provide customer service to students, families, and institutions Provide training Interpret legislation and develop rules Allocate available funding and process funding requests Process applications, collect student loan payments, and process benefits Perform program reviews and audits Collect and provide information requested by the Legislature

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3 Type of State Programs

Grant, Scholarship, Loan, and Work Programs

as well as

Exemption ProgramsExempt tuition and/or fees for certain groups of eligible students

and

Waiver Programs Waive tuition rates for non-resident students

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Federal vs. State – Eligibility Comparison Eligible Student:

Federal – citizen or eligible non-citizen State – resident of Texas

Shadowing of Federal Processes: Federal Methodology (FM) Calculation

o FAFSA – citizen or eligible non-citizeno TASFA – non citizen or ineligible non-citizen, but resident of Texas

Verification Guidelines/Requirements Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Guidelines/Requirements

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Sources of Aid in Texas

Institutional13.0%

Other8.4%

State6.3%

Federal72.3%

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Federal $6,683,059,787

State $580,516,883

Institutional $1,199,739,412

Other $778,462,271

Total $9,241,778,353

(Source: FY13 Report on Student Financial Aid in Texas Higher Education)

State Financial Aid Priority Deadline – March 15

To prioritize the limited funding to eligible students and to provide consistency for Texas students at Texas institutions.

Though all institutions are encouraged to advertise and implement, implementation of the priority deadline is required at the General Academic Teaching Institutions or GATI’s (public universities, Lamar-Orange, and Lamar-Port Arthur).

Institutions have the flexibility to define what it means to meet the deadline – except for the Top 10 Percent Scholarship Program which is defined in rule.

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Towards EXcellence, Access, & Success (TEXAS Grant )

Provide grants to academically-prepared needy students at public institutions Public 2-year institutions can only make renewal year (RY) awards to eligible

students with an initial year (IY) award at a 2 year prior to fall 2014

Student eligibility: IY “basic” eligibility requirements IY “priority model” eligibility requirements RY or continuation eligibility requirements

Maximum award amounts determined annually

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TEXAS Grant – IY Basic Eligibility

Basic Requirements: Classified as a Texas resident by the institution Registered with selective service, or exempt No felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance Demonstration of financial need and Expected Family Cost (EFC) cap

o 9-month EFC cap for 15/16 = $4,800 Enroll in at least 9 semester credit hours (SCH) as an undergraduate

baccalaureate student who is in one of the four initial eligibility avenues

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TEXAS Grant – IY Basic Eligibility

1. Incoming student who:Graduated from an accredited public or private high school in Texas after completing the

Foundation, Recommended, or Distinguished Achievement high school program or the equivalent; and enrolls within 16 months from high school graduation having not accumulated

more than 30 SCH’s (excluding credits for dual enrollment or by examination).

2. Incoming student who:Earned an associate’s degree from a public or private nonprofit institution of higher education in

Texas, and enrolls within 12 months after receiving the associate’s degree.

3. Incoming student who:Graduated from an accredited public or private high school in Texas May 1, 2013 or later after completing the Foundation, Recommended, or Distinguished Achievement high school program

or the equivalent; enlisted in military service within 12 months of high school graduation; and enrolls within 12 months of receiving an honorable discharge.

4. Incoming transfer student who:Transfers into a public university in Texas with at least 24 SCH’s and a 2.5 GPA; and received an

initial year (IY) Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) in Fall 2014 or later.

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TEXAS Grant – IY Priority Model

Priority Model Requirements: Meet the basic IY eligibility requirements Meet the state priority deadline Meet the requirements in at least 2 of the following 4 areas:

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AREA REQUIREMENT(S)

Advanced Academic Program

12 hours of college credit (dual credit or AP courses), complete the Distinguished Achievement Program (DAP), or complete the International Baccalaureate Program (IB).

TSI Readiness Meet the Texas Success Initiatives (TSI) assessment thresholds or qualify for an exemption.

Class Standing Graduate in the top one/third of the HS graduating class or have a B average.

Advanced Math Complete at least one math course beyond Algebra II as determined by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

TEXAS Grant – RY Eligibility

Enroll in at least 9 SCH’s as: an undergraduate student who previously received an IY award prior to fall

2014; or an undergraduate student enrolled in a baccalaureate program who received

an IY award fall 2014 or later. Maintain:

classification as a resident of Texas registration with Selective Service, or exemption no felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance financial need (no EFC cap)

Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements

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Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG)

Provide grants to needy students at public 2-year institutions

Student Eligibility: Initial year (IY) eligibility requirements Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements

Maximum award amounts determined annually Proration Required:

o 12 or more SCH’s through census date – 100% of maximum awardo 9 to 11 SCH’s through census date – 75% of maximum awardo 6 to 8 SCH’s through census date – 50% of maximum award

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TEOG – IY Eligibility

Classified as a Texas resident by the institution Registered with Selective Service, or exempt No felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance Demonstration of financial need

9-month EFC cap for 15/16 = $4,800 Enroll in at least 6 SCH’s as an entering undergraduate student having not

accumulated more than 30 SCH’s this includes all hours earned that are being accepted by your institution (excluding credits for dual enrollment or by examination)

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TEOG – RY Eligibility Enroll in at least 6 SCH’s as:

An undergraduate student who previous received an IY TEOG award Maintain:

classification as a resident of Texas registration with Selective Service, or exemption no felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance financial need (no EFC cap)

Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements

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Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG)

Provide grants to needy students at private/independent non-profit

institutions

Student eligibility: First award (formerly known as “IY”) eligibility requirements Subsequent award (formerly known as “RY”) eligibility requirements

Maximum award amounts determined every 2 years

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TEG – Eligibility

Classified as a Texas resident by the institution, or a National Merit Finalist with

at least $1,000 in scholarships

Registered with Selective Service, or exempt

Not concurrently receiving an athletic scholarship

Demonstrate financial need

Required to pay more tuition than is required at a comparable public institution

Enroll in at least 9 SCH’s as an undergraduate or graduate student working on

the first associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degree that does not

lead to ordination or licensure to preach

Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements

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Tuition Set-Aside Program – Texas Public Education Grant

Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG) Provide grants to needy students at public institutions Funded through statutory tuition set-asides

o Allocated at the institutional level Eligibility requirements:

o Financial need o Register with Selective Service or be exempt (not required of community colleges)

Awarded based on institution’s policies and procedures Eligibility continuation:

o Renewal awards occur at the institution’s discretiono No statutory end to student eligibility

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Tuition Set-Aside Program - Designated

Institution designated Tuition Set-Aside Program – named by the institution Provide need-based financial aid at public universities Funded through designated tuition set-asides

o Allocated at the institutional level Eligibility requirements:

o Financial need o Priority to students whose tuition/fee costs are not met through other non-loan

programs Awarded based on institution’s policies and procedures Eligibility continuation:

o Renewal awards occur at the institution’s discretiono No statutory end to student eligibility

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Top 10 Percent Scholarship Encourage outstanding high school graduates in the top 10 percent of their

class to attend a public institution in Texas

Student eligibility: Initial year (IY) eligibility requirements Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements

Award amounts determined annually

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Top 10 – IY Eligibility

Classified as a Texas resident by the institution Registration with Selective Service, or be exempt Graduation from a public or private accredited high school in Texas in the

top 10 percent of the HS graduating class Completion of the Recommended or Distinguished (or the equivalent)

curriculum Submit the FAFSA in time to generate the CPS results in a non-rejected status

by the state priority deadline (March 15), or the TASFA to the institution by the state priority deadline

Meet need component (COA – EFC – PELL > $0) Enroll full-time (enrolled in at least 12 SCH’s) in the fall semester

immediately following high school graduation and maintain full-time enrollment through the census date

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Top 10 – RY Eligibility Submit the FAFSA in time to generate the CPS results in a non-rejected

status by the state priority deadline (March 15), or submit the TASFA by the state priority deadline

Meet need component (COA – EFC – PELL > $0) Enroll full-time in the fall semester and maintain full-time enrollment

through the census date of the semester Meet SAP requirements

Maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA, successfully complete at least 30 SCH’s in the previous year, and successfully complete of at least 75% of the SCH’s attempted in the previous year

End of Eligibility 4 years or completion of a Bachelor’s degree, whichever comes first

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Texas College Work-Study (TCWS)

Provide eligible Texas students employment as a means to fund their education at public and private institutions

Eligibility requirements: Enroll in at least 6 SCH’s Texas resident as determined by the institution Financial need Registered with Selective Service (or exempt) Not receiving an athletic scholarship Not enrolled in a seminary or other religious program

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Exemption/Waiver Programs

Complete Listing: http://collegeforalltexans.com/

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Exemption Programs Waiver Programs

HazlewoodHighest Ranking HS Grad

Police OfficersFirefightersFoster CareDual Credit

Etc.

Competitive ScholarshipMilitary

Teaching/Research AssistantsGood Neighbor Scholarship

Border CountyBorder States

Etc.

Texas B-On-Time Loan (BOT) Provide eligible Texas students no-interest loans with forgiveness

provisions if specific graduation goals are met

Eligibility requirements: Texas resident enrolled full-time and eligible for federal aid

Eligibility continuation: End of 1st year – institution’s SAP policy Thereafter, overall GPA of 2.5 and 75% completion rate in the most recent

year Eligibility ends with completion of a baccalaureate degree or 150 attempted

SCH’s while receiving the loan

Repayment benefits: Loan forgiveness if graduation goals are met, or 0% interest if not eligible for

forgiveness

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College Access Loan Program (CAL)

Provide alternative loans to Texas students who are unable to meet the cost of attendance at public and private/non-profit institutions

Current interest rate of 5.25% fixed, proposed reduction to 4.5% for 2015-2016 academic year

Eligibility requirements: Texas resident enroll in at least 9 SCH’s Receive a favorable credit evaluation or provide an eligible cosigner who

receives a favorable credit evaluation Meet the institution’s SAP policy

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Contact InformationDirect Contact Information:

[email protected] 512.427.6332 or 800.242.3062 x6332

General Contact Information: [email protected]

512.427.6340 or 800.242.3062

General Website: www.collegeforalltexans.com

G&SP Site: https://www1.thecb.state.tx.us/apps/SpecialPrograms/

Distribution List: http://lists.state.tx.us/mailman/listinfo/txgnsp-l

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QUESTIONS?

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