2. Ozarks Technical Community College September 21, 2018
A+ and State Updates
Ozarks Technical Community College
September 21, 2018

3. Agenda Budget Outlook Legislative Recap A+ Updates State Aid Programs
MDHE Initiatives
Q&A

4. Budget Outlook

5. FY19 State Operating Budget, by Source

6. FY19 General Revenue, by Source

9. Revenue Outlook FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 5% increase over FY 2017
Ended year with budget surplus
FY 2019
Consensus revenue estimate – 2.5% increase
YTD – 6.8% decline
FY 2020
Continued modest growth (3% to 5%)
Continued downward pressure
Reduced personal income tax rates
Highway/Gasoline tax increase

10. Legislative Recap

11. Higher Education Legislation
SB 807 & 577 (omnibus)
Provisions related to public institutions of higher education:
Exempt from laws pertaining to state purchases
Community college districting
Campus mental health services reporting
Students must score min. 70% on Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Exam to graduate
Tuition increase limits
College Credit Disclosure Act
Disclosure at admission required if institution is not accredited by federally-recognized regional accreditor
Exempts federally recognized faith-related accreditors

12. Higher Education Legislation
SB 807 & 577 (omnibus)
New Access Missouri institution category added
Approved Virtual Institutions
Western Governor’s University (WGU)
Public Safety Officer program expanded
EMTs
Specified air ambulance personnel
Uniformed employees of the Office of the State Fire Marshal
A+ 3-year attendance requirement modified
Also passed in HB 1744

13. Higher Education Legislation
HB 1744 (omnibus)
Food allergies/medical dietary issues and meal plans
Tax exempt status retained when 529 account transferred to Missouri ABLE account
Similar provisions to SB 807 & 577:
Community college districting
Virtual Institutions (WGU)
A+ 3-year attendance requirement

14. A+ Updates

15. 3-Year Attendance Requirement Change
Effective 6/1/2018 for 2018 HS seniors
Students can attend an A+ designated HS for any three years prior to graduation
Removed “immediately prior” language
Students must still:
Graduate from A+ designated HS
Be enrolled for 80% of instructional days over the 3 years at an A+ designated HS
Separate from 95% attendance, which also still applies

16. 3-Year Attendance Requirement Change
Administrative rule change in progress
Approx. 6 month process
Full guidance in June 2018 e-distribution msg:
“Change to A+ Three-Year Attendance Requirement"

17. Delayed Release of EOC Scores
Release expected by end of fall 2018 term
Reminder: Provide a stamped transcript for students determined eligible after score release
E-distribution messages:
3/14/18: “A+ Eligibility and Delayed Release of Algebra I EOC Scores”
3/29/18: “Clarification of A+ Eligibility and Delayed Release of Algebra I EOC Scores”

18. A+ EOC Alternative 2018 & 2019 Seniors
ACT Math/HS GPA Sliding Scale:
Other options still under consideration
ACT Math Subscore
High School GPA
17 or greater
and
2.5 or greater 16
2.8 or greater 15
3.0 or greater

19. A+ Agreement Confusion about timing of signature
6 CSR (3)(A)4:
“To qualify for A+ tuition reimbursement, an initial recipient must meet the following criteria:…Enter into a written agreement with the A+ designated high school prior to high school graduation”
A+ policy should outline school-imposed deadlines

20. A+ Appeals
High school A+ policy may include appeal process for high school determined items
Attendance
GPA
What is included in calculation, not calculation itself
Good citizenship
Appeal determines if the student meets the requirement, not a waiver of the requirement.

21. A+ Reminder Why A+ does not equal two years of free college:
Pell must always be applied to tuition and fees before it can be applied to any other component of the cost of attendance.
Pell may reduce A+ award to zero
Only general fees (charged to all students) are covered
Fees specific to courses, programs, etc. are not covered
Reimbursement capped at the standard credit hour rate at State Technical College (or clock hour equivalent)
For = $170.75/credit hour or $4.60/clock hour
A+ will not pay for repeated courses, or coursework completed prior to HS graduation (dual credit, dual enrollment, AP, etc.).
A+ will pay not pay for withdrawn or dropped coursework if the completion requirement is met

22. Other MDHE Administered Student Aid

23. Major State Aid Programs
Access Missouri
Need-based program
FY19 Maximum Awards - $2,050/$940
Bright Flight
Merit-based program
FY19 Awards - $3,000/$0
Ross-Barnett
Part-time students/employed 20 hours
Awards based on tuition and fee costs

24. Other MDHE Aid Programs
Public Service Officer Survivor Grant
Wartime Veterans Survivor Grant
AP Incentive Grant
Minority and Underrepresented Environmental Literacy Program
Kids Chance

25. MDHE Initiatives

26. https://journeytocollege.mo.gov/ Student focused website highlighting—
Postsecondary preparation
Planning for postsecondary education
Paying for postsecondary education
Persisting to graduation
MDHE supported activities/initiatives
Additional components under development

27. Journey to College Enhancements
4 Phase Project:
Updated College and Degree Search
New College Transfer Tracker
Updated financial aid portal
New student workspace

28. Journey to College Enhancements
Updated college and degree search
Select search criteria for up to 4 school comparison:
Type
Location
Cost
Area of interest/career
Degree Type
Other
Journeytocollege.mo.gov
Plan/Search Missouri colleges and degrees
Direct URL:

29. Journey to College Enhancements
Course Transfer Tracker
Search all CORE 42 courses
Transfer as equivalent credit at all MO public colleges & universities
Enter general education courses taken to see how they’ll transfer
Coming soon

30. Journey to College Enhancements
Updated financial aid portal
Student-centered and streamlined
Incorporation of smaller programs
On-line eligibility estimator/application
Electronic letters
Dynamic
Reach more students
Available for 2020 seniors

31. Journey to College Enhancements
New student workspace
Save and organize college-related information from a variety of sources:
College cost and course transfer comparisons
Financial aid
State aid eligibility/award comparisons
Institutional award letters
Tools:
Calendar of scheduled college visits and deadlines
Net price calculator
Loan calculator
Notes about college visits
Available for 2020 seniors

32. State Aid Review Blueprint for Higher Education Affordability Strategy
Task force to recommend changes for a more balanced, responsive & efficient state aid system by evaluating:
Effectiveness of current programs
Balance between need & merit
Alignment of state aid programs w/state goals
State Aid Review Info:

33. State Aid Review
Coordinating Board approved three phase approach in 3/2018:
Taskforce to set policy goals
State student financial aid committee to design programs
Implementation

34. State Aid Review Phase 1 Policy task force met April – June 2018
Report approved by CBHE June 2018
Highlights of 12 recommendations:
Need v. merit
Flexibility to serve adult/part-time students
Institutional & workforce partnerships to create an educated citizenry & highly skilled workforce
Marketing
Sufficient funding

35. State Aid Review Phase 2 Phase 2 – Program Review
State Student Financial Aid Committee
Meetings from June – Nov. 2018
Final recommendation to CBHE in Dec. 2018
Phase 3 - Implementation
Regulatory and statutory changes
System updates
Marketing

36. FAFSA Completion Project
Goal: Increase the number of MO students who successfully complete a FAFSA
148 participating districts
193 high schools
577 authorized users

37. FAFSA Completion Project
Aggregate completion information on project home page
Limited to public high schools
* if less than 5 in any category
Number of FAFSAs Completed updated daily
Number of Seniors rcvd. periodically from DESE
Historical information available

38. FAFSA Completion Project
Student-specific HS FAFSA Report:
Complete
Error
No Signature
Selected for Verification
DOB range limits to high school seniors only
Reasons students not on rpt. at top in red
Available to public or private HS’s Oct. - June

39. FAFSA Completion Project
Participation is a 2-step process
Step 1: Superintendent completes FAFSA Data Access Agreement
Identifies district contact responsible for data
Identifies authorized users
Must be a district employee
Outlines handling of PII
Can’t share with third party
Data destruction, etc.

40. FAFSA Completion Project
Step 2: Authorized user registers for user ID/password
Instructions on Participate page of website (
Recommend register before the agreement is submitted
If register after, when submit registration to expedite
User ID & system-generated password ed from DHESecurity

41. FAFSA Completion Project
Customer satisfaction survey May 2018
Ease of Process
74% agreed or somewhat agreed
Helpful in Identifying Students Needing Assistance
87% agreed or somewhat agreed
Website Quality
82% agreed or somewhat agreed

42. FAFSA Completion Project
Requested Areas of Improvement
Communication
Interaction of FAFSA Frenzy and FAFSA Completion Project
High School FAFSA Report
DOB range
Addition of date FAFSA completed
For previous year (summer as trailer)

43. FAFSA Completion Project
On the horizon:
Annual verification of contact, district & user information
Would require changes to FAFSA Data Access Agreement
Contact information (from page 6 to Attachment B)
District information (from page 8 to Attachment B)
User access information (remains in Attachment B)

44. Questions State Aid Questions General Questions
Connie Bestgen
Financial Aid Specialist
(800) , option 4
(573)
Amy Haller
(573)
Kelli Reed
Senior Associate
(573)
P.O. Box 1469 Jefferson City Phone Fax: (573) Info. Center: (800)