TASFAA ABC’s Pre-Conference Workshop October 8, 2014 Lyn Wheeler Kinyon Assistant Director, Grants and Special Programs Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

 Role of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board  General Overview of Financial Aid in Texas  General Overview of the Eligibility Requirements for the State Financial Aid Programs  Questions 2

 Institutional Administration Governing Board  Federal Department of Education (DOE)  State Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) 3

 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 Establish policies for the efficient and effective use of the state’s higher education resources 4

 Workforce, Academic Affairs and Research Academic Affairs and Research Planning and Accountability P-16 Initiatives  Finance and Administration Business and Support Services Business Office Grants and Special Programs (G&SP) * Loan Programs Operations (LPO) * Information Technology Human Resources * Main areas that work closely with colleagues in the financial aid community 5

 Provide customer service to students, families, and institutions  Provide training to institutions, high school counselors, etc.  Interpret legislation and develop rules  Allocate available funding and process funding requests  Process applications, collect student loan payments, and process benefits  Assist in the performance of program reviews and audits  Collect and provide information requested by the Legislature 6

 Legislature passes a statute authorizing a program  Legislature appropriates funds for the program – or not  THECB writes & adopts rules – if applicable  Programs are administered as: Decentralized (Campus-Based) - THECB allocates funding, applications submitted through the institution, institution selects recipients, THECB supplies funding, and the institution submits reports to the THECB. Centralized (THECB-Based) - applications submitted to the THECB, THECB determines eligibility, and THECB notifies institution of award. Solely at the institutional level - applications submitted through the institution, institution determines eligibility, and THECB supplies no funding. 7

State aid, just like federal, includes Grant, Scholarship, Loan, and Work Programs as well as Exemption Programs (exempt tuition and/or fees for certain groups of eligible students) and Waiver Programs (waive tuition rates for non-resident students) 8

 Eligible institutions: Are defined in statute Have signed agreements/MOU’s with the CB Administer programs via state statutes and CB rules Complete required funding processes and reports Are subject to audits and program reviews 9

 Eligible Student: Federal – citizen or eligible non-citizen State – resident of Texas  Shadowing of Federal Processes: Federal Methodology (FM) Calculation FAFSA – citizen or eligible non-citizen TASFA – non citizen or ineligible non-citizen, but resident of Texas Verification Guidelines/Requirements Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Guidelines/Requirements 10

 To aid in prioritizing 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 11

 Initial Year (IY) and Renewal Year (RY) eligibility requirements  Texas residency  Selective Service Registration  Calculated need or need component  Requirements for meeting and maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP) 12

 Provide grants to academically-prepared needy students at public universities  Funded through appropriations and gifts CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually  Student eligibility: Initial year (IY) “basic” eligibility requirements Initial year (IY) “priority model” eligibility requirements Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements  Maximum award amounts determined annually 13

14  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 EFC cap Enroll at least ¾-time as an undergraduate baccalaureate student in one of the four initial eligibility avenues

15 1.Incoming freshman who: Graduated from an accredited public or private high school in Texas after completing an appropriate high school program; and enrolls within 16 months from high school graduation having not accumulated more than 30 SCH’s. 2.Incoming freshman who: Graduated from an accredited public or private high school in Texas after completing an appropriate 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. 3.Incoming transfer 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. 4.Incoming transfer 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.

 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: 16 AREAREQUIREMENT(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 ReadinessMeet the Texas Success Initiatives (TSI) assessment thresholds or qualify for an exemption. Class StandingGraduate in the top one/third of the HS graduating class or have a B average. Advanced MathComplete at least one math course beyond Algebra II as determined by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

Maintain eligibility and meet SAP requirements:  GPA End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy End of successive years – minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA  Completion Rate End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy End of successive years –24 SCH’s successfully completed for the year  Maximum Time Frame (whichever comes first) 150 attempted SCH’s (not to exceed 150 while receiving the grant for HS graduates or 90 while receiving the grant for AD graduates) 5 years for a 4 year degree or 6 years for a degree requiring > 4 years; completion of a baccalaureate degree – whichever comes first 17

 Provide grants to needy students at public 2-year institutions  Funded through appropriations CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually  Student Eligibility: Initial year (IY) eligibility requirements Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements  Maximum award amounts determined annually prorated to enrollment status as of the census date 18

 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 via a 9-month EFC cap  Enroll at least ½-time as an entering undergraduate student having not accumulated more than 30 SCH’s (excluding credits for dual enrollment or by examination) 19

Maintain eligibility and meet SAP requirements:  GPA End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy End of successive years – minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA  Completion Rate End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy End of successive years –75% annual completion rate  Maximum Time Frame 4 years, 75 SCH’s attempted while receiving the grant, or an associate’s degree – whichever comes first 20

 Provide grants to needy students at private/independent non-profit institutions  Funded through appropriations CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually  Student eligibility: Initial year (IY) eligibility requirements Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements  Maximum award amounts determined biennially 21

 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 currently receiving an athletic scholarship  Demonstration of financial need  Required to pay more tuition than is required at a comparable public institution  Enrolled at least ¾-time 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  Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements 22

 GPA End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy End of successive years – minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA  Completion Rate End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy End of successive years – minimum 75% annual completion rate, and 24 SCH’s successfully completed annually for an undergraduate or 18 SCH’s completed annually for a graduate  Maximum Time Frame 5 years for a 4-year undergraduate degree 6 years for a 5-year undergraduate degree No limit for a graduate degree 23

 Statutory Tuition Set-Aside Program – Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG) Provide grants to needy students at public institutions Funded through statutory tuition set-asides at the institutional level Eligibility requirements: Financial need and Selective Service Registration Institution’s policies and procedures  Designated Tuition Set-Aside Program – named by the institution Provide need-based financial aid at public universities Funded through designated tuition set-asides at the institutional level Eligibility requirements: Financial need and priority to students whose tuition/fee costs are not met through other non-loan programs Institution’s policies and procedures 24

 Encourage outstanding high school graduates in the top 10 percent of their class to attend a public institution in Texas  Funded through appropriations No allocation to institutions/funding administered centrally  Student eligibility: Initial year (IY) eligibility requirements Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements  Award amounts determined annually 25

 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 and 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)  Meet the need component (COA – EFC – PELL > $0)  Enroll full-time in the fall semester immediately following high school graduation and maintain full-time enrollment through the census date  Meet SAP requirements for continuation: 3.25 GPA, complete 30 SCH’s, and 75% of SCH’s attempted 4 years or completion of a Bachelor’s degree – whichever comes first 26

 Provide eligible Texas students no-interest loans and/or loan forgiveness upon graduation for meeting specific goals  Funded through appropriations and designated tuition set-asides CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually  Eligibility requirements: Texas resident enrolled full-time and eligible for federal aid  Eligibility continuation: End of 1 st year – institution’s SAP policy Thereafter, overall GPA of 2.5; 75% completion 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 time frame, GPA, and number of hours are within program guidelines – or 0% interest if not eligible for forgiveness 27

 Provide alternative loans to Texas students who are unable to meet the cost of attendance at public and private/non-profit institutions.  Funded through the sale of state bonds CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually  Eligibility requirements: Texas resident enrolled at least ½-time Receive a favorable credit evaluation or provide an eligible cosigner who has a favorable credit standing (VantageScore≥591) Meet the institution’s SAP policy 28

 Provide eligible Texas students employment as a means to fund their education at public and private institutions  Funded through appropriations and subject to matching – unless proof is provided that matching is waived for FCWS  Eligibility requirements: Enrolled at least ½-time 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 29

Complete Listing: 30 Exemption ProgramsWaiver Programs Hazlewood Highest Ranking HS Grad Police Officers Firefighters Foster Care Dual Credit Etc. Competitive Scholarship Military Teaching/Research Assistants Good Neighbor Scholarship Border County Border States Etc.

Direct Contact Information: or x6393 General Contact Information : or General Website: G&SP Site: Distribution List: 31

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