Louisiana Go Grant

Go Grant Funding Survey (February 2018) The Governor’s proposed budget has Go Grant funded at 50% of its current level. If your campus’ award was reduced by half, what method of distribution would you use for the 2018-19 academic year?

Go Grant Funding Survey (February 2018) Fund the same number of students at a reduced award amount – 17 schools LSU System – 3 SU System – 1 UL System – 4 LCTC System – 4 LAICU System - 5

Go Grant Funding Survey (February 2018) Fund more students at a lower award amount (minimum annual award is $300) 3 schools LSU System – 0 SU System – 1 UL System – 0 LCTC System – 1 LAICU System – 1

Go Grant Funding Survey (February 2018) Fund fewer students at your school’s current annual award amount – 18 schools LSU System – 3 SU System – 1 UL System – 4 LCTC System – 8 LAICU System – 2

Go Grant Allocations Executive Budget Level

Go Grant Allocations Executive Budget Level

Go Grant Allocations Executive Budget Level

Go Grant Allocations Executive Budget Level

Go Grant Allocations Executive Budget Level

Go Grant Allocations Executive Budget Level

Go Grant Allocations Executive Budget Level

Go Grant Allocations Executive Budget Level

Go Grant Framework Eligibility Requirements Be a Louisiana resident File a FAFSA Receive a federal Pell Grant Be enrolled at least half time Semester - 6 hours Term – 4 hours Have a remaining financial need after deducting EFC and all federal/state/institutional grant or scholarship aid (gift aid) from student’s Cost of Attendance (COA)

Go Grant Framework Campus Allocations Annual allocation of funds to eligible participating campuses will be based on the annual legislative appropriation and will be proportionate to the institutions’ prior year Go Grant expenditures.

Go Grant Framework Award Amounts Award amounts to eligible students are based on the institution’s allocation and packaging policy. Awards may vary with each academic year. Awards will not be paid for summer sessions, quarters or terms. Minimum Annual Award - $ 300 Maximum Annual Award - $3,000 (Annual award amounts may vary based on your school’s Packaging Policy, but must not be less than $300 and must not exceed $3,000)

Go Grant Framework Award Calculations Institutions are expected to make a good faith effort to distribute their Go Grant allocation in a manner that reaches students with the most financial need to bring their maximum financial need met with gift aid to 60%.

Go Grant Framework Packaging Policy Institutions must have a written packaging policy for Go Grant Awards that provides the following: Institutionally set semester, quarter or term award amounts that are equal to the annual maximum amount Reason for institutionally set maximum award amounts that are less than the maximum established in the framework Priority for students who are 25 or over Award amounts for less than full-time students The institution’s packaging policy should be made available to students – website, handbook, etc.

Go Grant Framework Packaging Policy (continued) Procedures for identification of transfer and re-entering students that ensure such students receive awards on the same basis as continuing students Eligibility Criteria Effective date of policy NOTE: Eligibility criteria MAY NOT: Use any academic criteria other than Satisfactory Academic Progress for receipt of Title IV aid; or Automatically eliminate students receiving a TOPS award The institution’s packaging policy should be made available to students – website, handbook, etc.

Go Grant Framework Renewal Requirements Must file a FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA at least annually Continue receiving a Federal Pell Grant Have remaining financial need after deducting Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) and all federal/state/institutional grant or scholarship aid (“gift aid”) from Student’s Cost of Attendance (COA) Award can be renewed for subsequent years to a maximum lifetime award that correlates to that of the Federal Pell Grant

Award Calculation – Example #1 COA = $17,500 - EFC = $1,500 = Financial Need $16,000 60% of need ($16,000) = $9,600 - Federal Gift Aid $4325 = Go Grant Eligibility $5,275 Gift aid, inclusive of the Go Grant amount should not exceed $9,600 and would be capped at $3,000 program max or school’s Packaging Policy annual max. (Examples of gift aid include Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, TOPS, TOPS stipends and institutional scholarships.) Note: 60% is calculated BEFORE deducting gift aid Scholarships/Grants from outside entities such as private organizations, businesses, etc. are not deducted as gift aid. The semester/term award amount is determined by dividing the annual award (whether determined by the Go Grant eligibility calculation, the Program max or the institutionally set amount) by the number of semesters (or terms) at that institution.

Award Calculation - Example #2 COA = $18,000 - EFC = $ 0 = Financial Need - $18,000 60% of Need ($18,000) = $10,800 - Federal/State Gift Aid = $ 9,850 = Go Grant Eligibility $ 950 (Annual Go Grant Award - $950)

Award Calculation - Example #3 COA = $18,000 - EFC = $ 5,273 = Financial Need - $12,727 60% of Need ($12,727) = $ 7,636 - Federal/State Gift Aid = $ 7,361 = Go Grant Eligibility $ 275 (No Go Grant award - eligibility less than $300 annual minimum)

Tips for Successful Go Grant Billing Submit payment requests ASAP via web entry or batch file (use correct batch file formatting) Edit/delete payment requests while in Pending status Review Payment Roster Follow-up on missing payments by checking the following rosters: Payment Error Roster Payment Requests in Awaiting FAFSA Status Payment Requests in Hold Status Submit payment corrections timely Adhere to ALL billing deadlines Use ALL of your allocation Complete billing by the Spring deadline!!! Keep a record of eligible students in excess of your allocation Submit payment requests as soon as possible to allow ample time for billing, but as with other LOSFA programs, NOT until the 15th class day for semester schools or 10th class day for term schools. Payments are processed on Thursday afternoons and all processing reports: Payment Roster, Error Roster, Awaiting FAFSA Status and Hold Status are available on the Award System when processing is completed. Payment Roster is a listing of all students that processed successfully Awaiting FAFSA Status report – Payment requests received for students whose FAFSA had not loaded. The billing prompts the FAFSA to load. These payment requests do not need to be reentered. They will process automatically the next week after the FAFSA loads. Payment Requests in Hold Status – Payment requests for students that already have received a payment for the same semester/term. Contact LOSFA if this payment request was intended to be an “additional” payment. Payment Error Roster – Payment requests that rejected with an error. Type of error is noted on the roster. These payment requests must be resubmitted correctly for processing. Contact LOSFA if assistance is needed. Work error reports as soon as possible because some errors may be time consuming if they require getting documentation from students or FAFSA corrections. Use ALL of your allocation by the deadline in order to be considered for additional funding should there be unused funds for reallocation. If funds are available, you will be notified by LOSFA’s Scholarship and Grant Office.

Go Grant Billing Deadlines Fall Semester/Term – November 1 (billing corrections – November 16) Winter Term – January 17 (billing corrections – February 1) Spring Semester/Term – March 24 (billing corrections – April 11) Deadlines will be the next business day if scheduled deadlines fall on a weekend or holiday. Late billings require approval Late billing requires approval and is not guaranteed. Reminder --- Spring billing deadline is Monday, March 26 (because the 24th is a Saturday)! If your school has funds remaining after completing all Spring billing, you may go back and award eligible students that were not awarded for the Fall semester. Please note that these students MUST also be enrolled for the Spring semester.

Go Grant Quick Links Program Rules (Chapter 12) Program Framework http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/ProgramRules_PartIV.pdf Program Framework http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/S2013-01.pdf Allocations for 2017- 2018 http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/S2017-1.pdf Payment Request File Format http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/references/Go_Grant_PayReq_Import_def.pdf Q&A http://www.osfa.la.gov/MainSitePDFs/GOGrantQAs.pdf Go Grant Program Rules are located in Chapter 12 – this is the Go Grant “bible” by which we administer the program The current Go Grant Framework has been in effect since the 2013-2014 academic year and can be found in Student Financial Aid Bulletin S2013-01 2017-2018 Allocations amounts were announced in July 2017 and can be located in Student Financial Aid Bulletin S2017-1. Allocations for 2018-2019 are contingent upon funding and will be announced after the conclusion of the legislative session once the state budget has been approved. The Payment Request File Format used for submitting batch file payment requests is located on the web at this link The Go Grant Q&A has been revised and will be posted on LOSFA’s website as soon as it has received final approval. Additional questions have been added to these sections of the Q&A: Residency, Methodology, and Billing.

Questions or Comments?

LOSFA Scholarship & Grant Special Programs Contacts Joanna Brumfield (Go Grant, Rockefeller, STEP Adult and Vocational Education) Student Financial Aid Specialist 225-219-7708, Joanna.Brumfield@la.gov Caleshia Clark (Chafee ETV, John R. Justice, TOPS Tech Early Start) 225-219-7707, Caleshia.Clark@la.gov

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