1. Leroy Wade & Kelli Reed MO Dept. of Higher Education
A+ Check Up
Leroy Wade & Kelli Reed
MO Dept. of Higher Education

2. Agenda Updates GPA & Completion Requirements Reimbursable Coursework
Award Calculation
Common Reporting Errors
Q&A
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL!

3. Updates
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

4. Legislative Update Omnibus bills SB 807 & 577 HB 1744
Modified 3-year attendance requirement
Effective 6/1/18 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 an A+ designated HS
Be enrolled for 80% of instructional days over the 3 years at an A+ HS
Separate from 95% attendance, which also still applies
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

5. Legislative Update Administrative rule change in progress
Approx. 6 month process
Full guidance in June 2018 e-distribution message:
“Change to A+ Three-Year Attendance Requirement”
E-distribution message sign up:
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

6. EOC Score Update Release expected by end of fall 2018 term
Delay request of fall awards for affected 2018 seniors until eligibility known, if can
Retain funds if student later found to be ineligible
A+ stamped transcript required for certification after score announcement
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”
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

7. EOC Score Update EOC Alternatives for 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
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

8. Audit Response Update 2016 Audit Finding: Lack of Oversight
A+ award calculation not automated
Ineligible payments
Recommendation: Implement additional edit checks in FAMOUS, or establish other review procedures, to ID ineligible students/erroneous award amounts
Status: Feasibility study in progress
Cost
Resources
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

9. Completion Requirements
GPA &
Completion Requirements
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

10. GPA Requirements Initial Student
2.0 CGPA at end of fall term (summer or fall starts only)
2.5 CGPA at end of spring term (regardless of start date)
Renewal Student
2.5 CGPA
CGPA as calculated per institutional policy
May include credit for coursework earned in HS and in transfer
Check at end of term or academic year per SAP policy
Eligibility regained in term after 2.5 CGPA attained
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

11. Completion Requirements
Initial and renewal students must complete:
12 credit hours for fall/spring
6 credit hours for summer
6 credit hours if ADA disability
90% of clock hours required for the federal payment period
Ineligible until the difference between the completed hours and the completion requirement are satisfied at student’s expense.
If ADA student takes 9 hours, must complete 9
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

12. Completion Requirements
Only applies to students with a positive net disbursement for the term (received an award and funds not fully returned)
Complete = standard grades, including Fs but excluding grades at withdrawal prior to completion
Students qualifying for a FT enrollment exception must complete all hours enrolled
“Make up” credits must be accepted in transfer to apply to this provision
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

13. Completion Requirements
Example:
Student enrolls in 15 hours in fall
Completes 9 hours in fall (withdraws from 6)
Ineligible for spring or until completes at least 3 hours out of pocket
9+3=12
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

14. Reimbursable Coursework
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

15. Reimbursable Coursework
Completed coursework required for certificate/degree completion (standard grade assigned, includes remedial & incomplete)
Coursework for a subsequent, higher-level credential if related to the initial cert.
Withdrawn coursework IF student DOES NOT meet the completion requirement
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

16. Reimbursable Coursework
Not Reimbursable:
Coursework without a standard grade
Coursework from which the student was terminated
Repeat coursework
Withdrawn coursework IF student DOES meet the completion requirement
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

17. Reimbursable Coursework
Example 1
Withdrawn Coursework Reimbursed
Enrolled in 15 hours for fall
Completed 9 hours (withdrew from 6)
All 15 hours are reimbursable because student is ineligible for next term
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

18. Reimbursable Coursework
Example 2
WD Coursework Ineligible for Reimb.
Enrolled in 15 hours for fall
Completed 12 hours (withdrew from 3)
Only 12 hours eligible for reimbursement because student is eligible for next term.
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

19. Reimbursable Coursework
Example 3
Withdrawn from All Coursework
Option 1:
Student pays for all withdrawn coursework out of pocket (does not receive A+ positive net disbursement)
Eligible for next term
Option 2:
A+ pays for all withdrawn coursework
Ineligible for next term
Must complete 12 hours out of pocket to regain eligibility
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

20. Award Calculation February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

21. Award Calculation Treatment of Non-Reimbursable Withdrawn Coursework
If not paid
Omit the coursework from the current reimbursement request
If paid
Return the ineligible funds
Deduct from the next reimbursement request (Incomplete Dollar Amount field in FAMOUS)
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

22. Award Calculation Step 1: Calculate the reimbursement cap + Fees
Published standard per-credit hour rate at State Technical College
Announced annually
For : $170.75/credit hour or $4.60/clock hour
Waiver upon request and approval
Tuition based on cap rate
+ Fees
= Reimbursement cap
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

23. Award Calculation Step 2: Calculate standard reimbursement
Remaining costs of actual tuition and fees after any federal sources of funding have been applied and any deductions have been made for reimbursement of coursework for which a standard grade wasn’t assigned:
Tuition based on institutional rates
+ Fees
- Pell
- Incomplete Dollar Amount (if applicable)
= Standard Reimbursement Amount
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

24. Award Calculation Step 3: Compare and award the lesser amount
All 3 steps necessary, even if institutional rate is greater than cap rate
Provides greatest benefit to Pell students within program’s parameters
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

25. Award Calculation 1 Step 3 Steps Standard Calculation w/ Cap Rate
Step 1: Reimbursement Cap
$1,920 Tuition (12 hours x $170.75/hour)
+ $300 Fees
+$300 Fees
= $2,220 Tuition and Fees
= $2,220 Reimbursement Cap
- $2,000 Pell
Step 2: Standard Calc w/Inst. Rate
$220 A+ Award
$2,100 Tuition ( 12 hours x $175/hour)
$2,700 Tuition and Fees
=$2,000 Pell
$700 Standard Reimbursement
Step 3: Comparison
$700 < $2,200 = $700 A+ Award
Example:
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

26. Award Calculator Award Calculation February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

27. FAMOUS Reporting Errors
Failure to update Total Accumulated Hours field
Used to monitor 105%
Entry of total program hours in a term’s Total Hours Enrolled field
Information entered in a term panel must be specific to that term
Award components don’t support amount requested
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

28. Questions? Verification
Good faith effort = completing FAFSA – requirement met BUT need to complete verification to determine Pell. Students who fail to complete verification by institutional deadline must contact MDHE for case-by-case determination.
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL

29. Contact Us P.O. Box 1469 Jefferson City, MO 65102-1469
State Aid Questions General Questions
Connie Bestgen
Financial Aid Specialist
(800) , option 4
(573)
P.O. Box 1469
Jefferson City, MO
Phone: (573)
Fax: (573)
Info. Center (800)
Amy Haller
(573)
Kelli Reed
Senior Associate
(573)
February 22, 2019
MASFAP Conference I Keeping it REAL