1. State Scholarships and Grants Update
Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Fall 2017 Regional Workshop
Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA)

2. Agenda Legislative Activity 2017-18 Fiscal Year Appropriation
Website and Resources
Calendar Events

3. Legislative Activity

4. 2017 Legislative Activity Florida Bright Futures Scholarship –
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
Changes the FAS award amount to cover 100% of tuition and applicable fees at a public institution or comparable amount at a nonpublic institution.
Provides FAS recipients an additional $300 for textbooks and college-related expenses (fall and spring).
Provides 2018 summer funding for FAS award recipients.
See Bright Futures Scholarship Program Award Amounts Update memo that went out on July 12, 2017 for more information.
The Bright Futures Scholarship Program award amounts for the academic year are as follows:
Florida Academic Scholars
Florida Academic Scholars will receive an award amount equal to 100% of tuition and applicable fees at a public postsecondary institution, or a comparable amount at a nonpublic institution. This includes summer funding.
Applicable fees include: activity and service fee, health fee, athletic fee, financial aid fee, capital improvement fee, campus access/transportation fee, technology fee and tuition differential fee.
Florida Academic Scholars will receive an additional amount of $300 per semester (fall and spring only) for textbooks and college-related expenses.
Florida Medallion Scholars (Per Credit Hour)
4-Year Institutions ($77)
2-Year Institutions ($63)
Upper-Division Programs at Florida Colleges ($53)
Career/Technical Centers ($39)
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and CAPE Vocational Scholars (Per Credit Hour)
Career Certificate Program ($39)
Applied Technology Diploma Program ($39)
Technical Degree Education Program ($48)
Gold Seal CAPE Vocational Scholars (Per Credit Hour)
Bachelor of Science Program with Statewide Articulation Agreement ($48)
Florida College System Bachelor of Applied Science Program ($48)
The additional stipend for Top Scholars shall be $44 per credit hour.
Additional Questions and Answers
Florida Academic Scholars (FAS)
What will be the award amount for FAS students?
FAS recipients will receive 100% of tuition and applicable fees for the number of credit hours the student is enrolled at a public institution – university, Florida colleges, or technical center.
What is included in “applicable fees”?
Does the 100% award cover both initial and renewal students?
Yes, both current and pending FAS recipients will receive a 100% award?
What is the award amount for students attending a private institution?
Students attending a private institution will receive a flat award amount that is comparable to the 100% tuition and fees at a public institution.
When will private students be notified about how much the award will be for them?
Private award amounts will be posted to the website as soon as all tuition & fee information is received from State University System, Florida Colleges, and Workforce. It will likely be late summer before all this information is reported by these entities to OSFA.
What additional funds will FAS students receive?
FAS students – both INITIAL and RENEWAL – will receive a $300 award for additional educational expenses during fall and spring semesters ONLY.
Does Bright Futures cover summer terms?
Yes. Summer 2018 is funded for FAS students. Funding is NOT available for summer 2017.
Who may receive funding in summer 2018?
Only FAS students – both INITIALS and RENEWALS – will receive funding for courses enrolled in for summer 2018.
Do FAS students receive the $300 for summer term?
No.
What is the award amount for Academic Top Scholars (ATS)?
The ATS award amount is the same as in $44 dollars per credit hour, whether the student attends a public or a private institution.
Will ATS students receive their bonus award during the summer?
Yes.
Will FAS who participate in UF’s Innovation Academy receive year round BF funding?
No. These students are limited, by statute, to two terms of funding, one of which is summer.
Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS), Gold Seal Vocational (GSV) and Gold Seal CAPE (GSC)
What will be the award amount for FMS students?
The per credit hour award amounts stay the same as year for these scholarship awards. Students may be referred to the BF Handbook, Chapter 2 for the amounts, which are contingent upon where the student is enrolled in or what type of program they are enrolled in.
Can FMS/GSC/GSV receive an award during the summer term?

5. 2017 Legislative Activity (Continued)
Minority Teacher Education Scholars Program
Allows a student to receive funds who is enrolled in one of Florida’s private colleges.
Requires the student to be admitted into a teacher education program before having earned more than 18 credit hours of upper-division-level courses in education.
Allows a student to use the scholarship to pursue a graduate degree with a major in education, leading to initial certification.
Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc.
Removes the following requirements:
New scholarships must be granted to students who are in their junior year; and
Renewal scholarships be granted to rising seniors.
For more information see the Minority Teacher Education Scholars Program memo that was sent out on July 17, 2017.
The Minority Teacher Education Scholars (MTES) Program received an appropriation of $917,798 for the academic year. This annual appropriation will be sent to the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc. (Foundation) in late August for fall disbursements and in late December for spring disbursements. The Foundation is provided a five percent administrative fee for the administrative duties and the required training for this program. The Foundation will be responsible for allocating the individual fund amounts.
Through passage of HB 7069 (Chapter , Laws of Florida), the 2017 Legislature made changes to the related program statutes. The following is a list of recent legislative changes that will impact the MTES Program and the Foundation.
Revises eligibility requirements for the minority teacher education scholarship program to include a student who is enrolled in one of Florida’s public or private colleges or universities.
Removes requirement that a student enroll in a qualifying program in his/her junior year and instead specifies that a qualifying student cannot already have earned more than 18 credit hours of upper-division-level courses in education.
Allows a student to use the scholarship to pursue a graduate degree with a major in education.
Requires that the annual budget projection submitted to the Department by the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers, Inc., conform to the new scholarship eligibility requirements.
Removes the requirement that new scholarships must be granted to students who are in their junior year and that renewal scholarships be granted to rising seniors.
The process for reporting remains the same as in past years.
The Foundation will provide the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) with the allocation amounts per eligible participating institution by September 15, If scholarships are transferred from one participating institution to another per Section (3), Florida Statutes, please notify OSFA.
The participating institutions will report MTES student specific disbursement data to OSFA each term via the State Student Financial Aid System as is done for administration of all other state programs. MTES institutions will be held to the 30 and 60 day after drop/add dates as deadlines for disbursement reporting and reconciliation.
Institutions that do not expend all of their allocated funds should return those undisbursed funds to the Foundation. Statute requires that by June 30th of each fiscal year, the Foundation shall remit to the Florida Department of Education any appropriated funds that were not distributed for scholarships, less the five percent administrative fee.

6. 2017 Legislative Activity (Continued)
Student Loan Debt
Requires a postsecondary institution that disburses state financial aid to annually provide each student receiving student loans with the following up-to-date information:
An estimate of the student’s total amount of borrowed student loans.
An estimate of the student’s total potential loan repayment amount.
An estimate of the student’s monthly loan repayment amount.
The percentage of the borrowing limit that the student has reached.
Provides that an institution does not incur liability for providing the specified information.
See Student Loan Debt: Frequently Asked Questions memo that went out on July 10, 2017 for more information.
On June 14, 2017, Governor Scott signed into law CS/SB 396, an act relating to federal student loan debt (Chapter , Laws of Florida). In order to assist postsecondary institutions in meeting the new legislative requirements on federal student loan debt, the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) has created a Frequently Asked Questions document. The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to postsecondary institutions in administering the new requirements.
Beginning with the academic year, a postsecondary institution that disburses state financial aid must provide annually, or once during each academic year, the following up-to-date information to each student receiving student loans in print or electronic format:
An estimate of:
Student’s total amount of borrowed student loans;
Student’s total potential loan repayment amount, including principal and interest, for the total amount of borrowed student loans;
Student’s monthly loan repayment amounts for the student’s total amount of borrowed student loans at the time the institution provides the student loan information; and
The percentage of the borrowing limit that the student has reached at the time the information was provided.
Postsecondary institutions will not incur liability for providing the specified information.
Students may use this information to consider various financial aid options, including borrowing student loans, and in planning to pay for education-related expenses.

7. 2017-18 Fiscal Year Appropriation
Ch , L.O.F.

8. Appropriation: Three-Year Comparison
Program
Appropriation
Appropriation
Appropriation
ABLE
$5.67
$5.01
$6.83
Benacquisto
$8.38
$12.92
$14.28
Bright Futures
$239.80
$217.30
$397.28
FRAG
$115.27
$115.26
$125.45
FSAG
$148.74
$148.44
$269.39
Florida Bright Futures- $397,282,030
FSAG- $269,
FRAG- $125,449,500
ABLE- $6,832,500
Benacquisto- $14,282,138
* Amounts shown in millions.

9. 2017 Award Amounts Access to Better Learning and Education (ABLE) Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG)
Type
Maximum
ABLE
$2,500
FRAG
$3,300

10. 2017 Award Amounts Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) Florida Medallion Scholars (FMS)
Institution Type
FAS (Semester)
FMS (Semester)
4 Year
100% tuition/fees
$300 fall/spring textbooks, college-related expenses
$77
2 Year
Same as 4 Year
$63
College - BA
$53
Career/ Technical Centers
$39
From the funds in Specific Appropriation 4, $39,465,544, along with
any unexpended funds from the fall and spring term award disbursements,
is provided for 2018 summer term awards for Academic Scholars only at
100 percent of tuition and applicable fees.
From the funds in Specific Appropriation 4, the Bright Futures
award per credit hour or credit hour equivalent for the
academic year shall be as follows:
Academic Scholars shall receive an award equal to 100 percent of tuition
and applicable fees, and an additional $300 each fall and spring
semester for textbooks and college-related expenses.
Medallion Scholars
4-Year Institutions $ 77
2-Year Institutions $ 63
Upper-Division Programs at Florida Colleges....$ 53
Career/Technical Centers $ 39
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and CAPE Vocational Scholars
Career Certificate Program $ 39
Applied Technology Diploma Program $ 39
Technical Degree Education Program $ 48
Gold Seal CAPE Vocational Scholars
Bachelor of Science Program with Statewide
Articulation Agreement $ 48
Florida College System Bachelor of Applied
Science Program $ 48
The additional stipend for Top Scholars shall be $44 per credit hour.

11. 2017 Award Amounts Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Gold Seal CAPE Scholars(GSC) Gold Seal Vocational Scholars(GSV)
Program Type
GSC
GSV (Semester)
GSV (Clock Hours)
PSAV
$39
$1.30
ATD
AS, AAS, CCC
$48
$1.60
Bachelor Science Program
N/A
Bachelor Applied Science Program
From the funds in Specific Appropriation 4, $39,465,544, along with
any unexpended funds from the fall and spring term award disbursements,
is provided for 2018 summer term awards for Academic Scholars only at
100 percent of tuition and applicable fees.
From the funds in Specific Appropriation 4, the Bright Futures
award per credit hour or credit hour equivalent for the
academic year shall be as follows:
Academic Scholars shall receive an award equal to 100 percent of tuition
and applicable fees, and an additional $300 each fall and spring
semester for textbooks and college-related expenses.
Medallion Scholars
4-Year Institutions $ 77
2-Year Institutions $ 63
Upper-Division Programs at Florida Colleges....$ 53
Career/Technical Centers $ 39
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars and CAPE Vocational Scholars
Career Certificate Program $ 39
Applied Technology Diploma Program $ 39
Technical Degree Education Program $ 48
Gold Seal CAPE Vocational Scholars
Bachelor of Science Program with Statewide
Articulation Agreement $ 48
Florida College System Bachelor of Applied
Science Program $ 48
The additional stipend for Top Scholars shall be $44 per credit hour.

12. 2017 Award Amounts Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG)
Type
Minimum Award
Maximum Award
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Maximum
Public
$200
$2,610
5273
Private
6080
Postsecondary
5542
Career Education
N/A

13. What You Need to Know

14. What You Need to Know Financial Aid Applications
Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) opens on October 1
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens on October 1

15. What You Need to Know FFAA Deadline
Submit a completed FFAA online by August 31 after high school graduation for Bright Futures and by April 1 for:
José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant
Rosewood Family Scholarship Program
Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans

16. What You Need to Know FAFSA State Deadline
Complete and submit the FAFSA online and be processed error-free on or before May 15 for:
Rosewood Family Scholarship Program
José Martí Scholarship Challenge Grant

17. What You Need to Know State Calendar
Term 1 Disbursement – Reported on the DER 30 days after last day of drop/add
Term 1 Reconciliation – Refunds/ reconciliation due to OSFA within 60 days after last day drop/add
Bright Futures Refunds – Dropped/withdrawn (D04) funds are due within 30 days of last day of each term
Report ‘Otherwise Eligible’ Students (C99) – FSAG

18. What You Need to Know Database Security
Login Module
Requiring stronger password
New password requirements include:
8-30 characters in length
One uppercase letter
One lowercase letter
One number
One special character (e.g., #, $, etc.)
The login module is scheduled to go into production some time in November prior to the opening of the state application (on December 1). Watch for notifications.
This login module is for both students and postsecondary partners.
For students, an address will be required in order for them to receive information regarding eligibility and disbursement details.

19. What You Need to Know Database Security
Login Module (Continued)
Initially, you will be asked to update your login information
Enter your existing password and then create a new one
Enter and then confirm your address
Select 2 security questions
To retrieve a forgotten password, you will answer your security questions
After the initial set up, you will proceed as usual by entering your user id and newly created password.

20. What You Need to Know Program Administration Reminder
Bright Futures GSV
Gold Seal Vocational Scholars awards may only be used to fund:
Applied Technology Diploma, up to 60 credit hours or equivalent clock hours
Technical Degree Education Program, not to exceed 72 hours or equivalent clock hours
Career Certificate Program, not to exceed 72 credit hours or equivalent clock hours
The Florida Legislature amended the GSV award in 2012 to better reflect the original intent of the program, which was to award students who intended further postsecondary study in a vocational/technical field. Students who earned sequential coursework in a vocational area are awarded GSV. ACT and SAT score requirements are lower than for the Florida Medallion Scholars award or the Florida Academic Scholars award.
Students are provided with the information in their award notifications.

21. What You Need to Know Program Administration Reminder
Bright Futures – Restoration
Students may only use summer coursework to raise the GPA for a one-time restoration at the end of the first year of funding only
If the student did not earn the GPA after the first year of funding, restoration is not permitted
If the student did not earn the hours, regardless of year of funding, restoration is not permitted
Although students do use the summer to raise their GPA or to make up any coursework, these summer terms may only be used for Bright Futures renewal purposes in certain situations.
If the freshman student (or student who receives funding for the first time) doesn’t earn the required GPA by the end of the spring term, he may use the one-time restoration opportunity by trying to raise the GPA in the summer. The school then will submit a “summer G&H report”, available July 1-September 30.
However, if the student doesn’t earn all the hours in which he enrolled, he may not renew, nor may he restore. He no longer can receive Bright Futures.
If the student in years 2 and above years of funding doesn’t meet the hours and/or the GPA requirement, no restoration is permitted. He no longer can receive Bright Futures.

22. What You Need to Know Program Administration Reminder
Bright Futures – Reinstatement
Reinstatement is only for students who, although eligible, were not funded in the prior academic year
Students who did not receive funding in the academic year immediately following high school graduation are required to apply for reinstatement of their award within 2 years of high school graduation
Students must complete a Reinstatement/Restoration Application available on the OSFA website
Students tend to mis-use the terms restoration and reinstatement. Remember, if a student was not initially eligible, he may not restore or reinstate!

23. What You Need to Know Credit Hour Tool

24. What You Need to Know Resources and Training
Website Resources
Postsecondary Institutions/Log in
Institutional Information
Publications
Program Contacts
Training Resources
Under Institution Information, institutions may:
View the programs they participate in for state programs
View the fee details or the tuition costs they provided to OSFA on the renewal or initial participation applications
Update their contact information
Maintain their security user accounts
Reset their PIN
Under the Publications heading, institutions may view:
Annual calendar of activities
The postsecondary institutions resources guide – a chapter for each reporting activity
The state policy manual
All memos that have been sent since July 1, 2015
An archive of all memos sent in prior academic years
Program contacts – all names/programs/phone numbers of directors
Contact Hortensia Campbell at

25. Website and Resources

26. Navigating to State Programs
Visit
Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications

27. Website Resources Your Reporting/Sources FACT Sheets
All the information we cover can be accessed through the State Programs website, seen here.
Note the resources for students…the Student Financial Aid History screen. Students can update their choice of institution, see the Grade and Hours you reported for them, see their state disbursements, see their scholarship status (eligible, ineligible, hours or terms remaining on the program), view their EFC, and view all communications from our office.
Note the resources for Administrators. Your auditors will find their information behind the Program Compliance Audit. You may access your reporting tab from this section or by selecting the Postsecondary Institutions tab from the top of the page.

28. Postsecondary Menu
Once you select the Postsecondary Institution tab or link under Administrators, you will be taken to the pre-login page.
Under Eligible Institution Information, your students can view lists of participating institutions for each program or pull down the name of an institution to see their program participation.
Your auditors may access their information here, as well.

29. Postsecondary Institutions Menu
Your institution’s details
You need security credentials to login to the Postsecondary menu. Here, you will find all your reports….such as the reconciliation and grade and hours….and the eligibility lists….such as the MEL. We will review those later in this presentation.
Now, let’s look at the resources available to you.
Under Institution Information, you can find not only a list of programs for which you are eligible, but also will find links on that site to PDFs of your institution’s eligibility letters. Sometimes, an auditor will need these.
You have the ability to update any contact information if staff has moved or responsibilities have changed and the security designee at your institution has the ability to change staff access to the State Student Financial Aid Database (SSFAD).
The calendar, Postsecondary Institution resources, and Policy Manual are here for your use. All memos sent are provided as well. If you still have questions, feel free to use the Program Contacts list.
HELP is on the way!

30. Statutes, Rules & Reports
Don’t forget to look at the State Programs Link tab.
This tab provides:
Current and prior year Annual Report to the Commissioner
Current and prior year End of Year Reports regarding state programs
Bright Futures Statistical Reports
And links to the Florida Statutes
And the State Board of Education Rules

31. Calendar Events

32. Calendar Events Month July 1
New fiscal year begins for state scholarship and grant programs.
July
Summer Grade and Hours (G&H) report open for Bright Futures (BF).
August
Program funds sent to eligible PSIs for Term 1.
August 31
The current year Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) closes.
September 30
G&H Report deadline for current summer term.
September/ October
Term 1 Disbursement Eligibility Report (DER) is due to OSFA 30 days after the last day of drop/add.
October 1
The Florida Financial Aid Application opens.

33. Calendar Events
Again, the Postsecondary Institutions web page is where all your reporting and information is held. The reports on this page are your tools we have provided for you to complete your administrative responsibilities.
I will go over a brief description of each section now, but I will review the sections in more details by Calendar Event dates.
The institution Renewal Application link allows institutions to apply for continued participation in State Scholarship and Grant Programs by submitting the Renewal Eligibility Application for Institutional Participation. Before accessing this application, applicants should review the “Before You Begin” help screens. The materials available on these screens provide detailed information and directions about completing the application process.
When the Renewal Eligibility Application is completed and submitted each year, your institution is evaluated for all Scholarship and Grant Programs administered by the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). Should the institution’s information change, program eligibility may change accordingly, as it meets, or does not meet, different program statutory eligibility requirements.
The Reconciliation of Funds Disbursed to Institutions section has the Reconciliation Report, which provides users a summary, by term, of all students disbursed for a particular program at their postsecondary institution for an academic year; and the Payment Summary.
Under Student Certifications, Submit Grade & Hours Report consists of both the GPA and the credit hours earned by all disbursed students during a specified academic year.

34. Term Refunds/Reconciliation
Due within 60 days after the last day of drop/add.
Reconciliation Report allows you to view your Disbursement Eligibility Report activity by year, term, program, and student.
The first calendar event this spring, is to reconcile any term 2 funds. Institutions reconcile at the end of each term and again at the end of the academic year, after the spring term.

35. Term Refunds/Reconciliation
Payment Summary screen displays tracked institutional funds from the state by year, program and term.
Only by reconciling and checking the “I agree,” box will OSFA know that your institution needs additional funds.
You might regard the payment summary screen as a giant checkbook ledger for your institution’s state scholarship and grant allocation and funding activities. Let’s look at the next two slides for a sample payment summary.

36. Payment Summary
Section 1 of the screen provides totals and a balance.

37. Payment Summary (Continued)
Section II:
In section two, notice the totals in the last row. If you owe funds to OSFA, submit a completed Refund Transmittal Form.

38. Program Compliance Audits
March 31 – Audits due from private institutions
See Memo OSFA-STATE: #17-18:01
Audits are required of each institution that disburses state scholarship and grant funds. The Audit site, found from the State Programs home page, provides a copy of the memo, instructions for auditors, a link to the Reconciliation Report Request Form (which the auditor submits to OSFA) and a link to the Florida Statute and State Board of Education Rule governing state financial aid audits.
Postsecondary institutions that participated in and disbursed state scholarship and grant funds are required to comply with the Program Compliance Audit for State Student Financial Assistance Programs for the fiscal year Audit compliance is mandated under:
Section , Florida Statutes, Florida Single Audit Act
Chapter , Rules of the Auditor General
Chapter 6A , Florida Administrative Code
Guidance for Program Compliance Audits may be found on the Florida Student Scholarship Grant Program website at under Administrator Quick Links select Program Compliance Audits.

39. Institutional Renewal
Institutions required to apply for renewal to participate in state financial aid annually
Online application opens May 1
Most data prefilled
Update any changes
Private institutions provide term dates, Cost of Attendance and tuition/fees for
You will need to verify that the prefilled data is still correct – contacts, licensure, ownership, accreditation.
Make changes to update if needed.
Private postsecondary institutions provide: term dates, cost of attendance and tuition and fees for Remember, you have only until June 6. After that date, the application is taken offline and your institution will not be able to receive state funds next year.

40. Bright Futures Drop/Withdrawal Funds
Students are required to repay the Bright Futures portion of the cost of any courses dropped or withdrawn after the last day of drop/add
Students repay the institution
The institution is required to remit funds to OSFA within 30 days of the institution's last day of each term, regardless if the student has repaid the institution

41. Grade & Hours Report
Due 30 days after the end of spring term, no later than June 30
Submit institutional undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) and earned hours for all disbursed students for the fall and spring terms of the academic year
G&H Report populated with same students you submitted on your DERs at the beginning of each term
Although you have until June 30 to complete your Grade and Hours reporting, please know that the earlier you turn these into OSFA, the sooner OSFA can determine renewal eligibility for students receiving the Rosewood Family Scholarship, the Jose Mart Scholarship, the Scholarships for Children/Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans, or Bright Futures. Most institutions have completed their academic year in May and can send this report earlier.
If your 30 days after the end of the spring term is after June 30, your institution is still required to meet this statutory deadline.
OSFA posts all renewal notification on the students’ online Financial Aid Recipient History screen.

42. Final Reconciliation
Reconciliation of all monies for the academic year due by June 1
Same process as reconciliation for end of term
All monies for the academic year are reconciled
Carry-over of funds to next academic year not permitted

43. Contacts Customer Service 1-888-827-2004 Correspondence OSFA@fldoe.org
For contact information remember on the Postsecondary Institutions page, scroll to the bottom for the Program Contacts list.