1. FY 2017 State Program Regulations
Pennie Strong
Vice President, Student Aid Services
GASFAA Spring Conference 2016
June 1, 2016
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

2. Agenda FY 2016 and FY 2017 Budget Changes to all Regulations
Changes to Specific Program Regulations
FY 2016 Invoicing and Year-End Reconciliation Deadlines
FY 2017 Invoicing and Year-End Reconciliation Deadlines
GAfutures and SURFER Dates
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

3. Georgia Student Finance Commission
Budget
Georgia Student Finance Commission
FY 2016 Budget
Amended FY 2016 Budget HB 750
FY 2017 Budget HB 751
HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarships- Public
$ 463,360,413
$ 493,686,600
$ 522,496,534
HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarships- Private
$ ,916,330
HOPE Grant, Zell Miller Grant, SIWDG
$ 109,059,989
HOPE GED Grant
$ ,930,296
Total
$ 622,267,028
$ 652,593,215
$ 681,403,149
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

4. Georgia Student Finance Authority
Budget
Georgia Student Finance Authority
FY 2016 Budget
Amended FY 2016 Budget HB 750
FY 2017 Budget HB 751
Tuition Equalization Grant
$ ,762,344
$ ,762,344
$ ,224,952
University of North Georgia ROTC Grant
$ ,237,500
University of North Georgia Military Scholarship
$ ,308,168
$ ,833,976
$ ,037,740
Georgia Military College Military Scholarship
$ ,203,240
HERO Scholarship
$ ,000
$ ,000
Scholarship for Engineering Education
$ ,029,000
$ ,060,500
Scholarship for Engineering Education for Minorities
$ ,700,000
$ ,200,000
Student Access Loan
$ ,000,000
$ ,000,000
Georgia National Guard Service Cancelable Loan -
$ ,000
Animal Veterinarian Loan Repayment Program
Move On When Ready
$ ,892,039
$ ,125,863
$ ,318,219
REACH Georgia Scholarship
$ ,000,000
$ ,750,000
Total
$ ,932,291
$ ,691,923
$ ,932,151
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

5. Changes to All Regulations
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

6. Changes to All Regulations
Revised “Defaulted Loan or Refund Due” section of each regulation to distinguish between the resolution of default status for federal loans and Georgia loans
Federal default status may be cleared in five ways:
New: satisfactory repayment plan as resolution for a federal defaulted loan
Completing an acceptable rehabilitation plan
Having the loan repurchased by the original lender and the default status reversed
Consolidating the loan out of a default status
Receiving an approved Title IV debt settlement, to include a compromised settlement
State default status may be cleared:
Paid in Full
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

7. Regulation Changes to All HOPE & Zell Miller Programs
HOPE Scholarship, Zell Miller Scholarship, HOPE Grant, and Zell Miller Grant
Military Personnel, attending a USG or TCSG institution, granted an Out-of-State Tuition Waiver or Exemption meet Georgia Residency Requirements
Clarified that students who graduate from high school pursuant to a petition to the school board pursuant to O.C.G.A. § are not eligible to receive retroactive payment for postsecondary coursework taken prior to the student’s petition date
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

8. Regulation Changes to HOPE & Zell Miller Scholarships
HOPE & Zell Miller Scholarship at Public & Private Institutions
Added certain advanced computer science classes selected by the Georgia Department of Education to the list of coursework accepted for purposes of Academic Rigor (HB 801)
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

9. Regulation Changes to HOPE & Zell Miller Scholarships
HB 801 effective Fall Term 2017 (FY 2018)
Specific science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) postsecondary coursework identified by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in consultation with the Technical College System of Georgia, the Department of Economic Development and private Eligible Postsecondary Institutions
Academically rigorous and required for or leading to employment in high demand fields in Georgia in science, technology, engineering and mathematics
Grades of B, C or D given an additional 0.5 point
The approved course list will be posted on the website
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

10. Regulation Changes to HOPE Scholarship
HOPE Scholarship at Public & Private Institutions
Changed the eligibility requirements for Home Study students, graduates from a high school that is not an Eligible High School, and GED Recipients who apply for HOPE Scholarship at the first tier by reducing the required percentile test score on the ACT or SAT from 80th to 75th (HB 798)
No change to the HOPE Award Amounts
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

11. Regulation Changes to Zell Miller Scholarship
Zell Miller Scholarship at Public & Private Institutions
Extended eligibility for the Zell Miller Scholarship to students graduating from high school that is not an Eligible High School or complete a Home Study program who score in the 93rd percentile on the ACT/SAT (HB 798)
Previously only available retroactively for students who complete a Home Study program
No change to the Zell Miller Scholarship Award Amounts
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

12. Regulation Changes to Georgia HERO Scholarship
Clarified Out-of-State Tuition Waiver granted by USG or TCSG institutions does not fulfill Georgia Residency Requirement for HERO eligibility
Student must be a Georgia Resident for 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of the term for which funds are sought
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

13. Regulation Changes to Public Safety Memorial Grant
Expanded the definition of eligible “Public Safety Officers” to include “Highway Emergency Response Operators (HERO) of the Department of Transportation” and “Paramedics” (HB 54)
“Public Safety Officer” means a Law Enforcement Officer, Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Highway Response Operator of the Department of Transportation, or Prison Guard employed by the State of Georgia or other Public Employer thereof.
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

14. Additional programs approved
Regulation Changes to Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant (SIWDG)
Additional programs approved
12 career groups and 226 programs of study or majors
Approved programs list is on the website
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

15. Regulation Changes to Student Access Loan (SAL)
Revised Application Selection process
Priority Group to include prior year SAL recipients, in good standing, along with current HOPE and Zell Miller Scholars
Priority group will be processed the first three weeks of the application cycle
Selection will be first come, first served, processed daily
Application will remain open based on funds available
Revised Keep-In-Touch (KIT) payment option
Allow borrowers to pay more than the standard payment and to be applied to subsequent months
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

16. Regulation Changes to Move On When Ready (MOWR)
Revised application deadline
Completed three part applications are due on or before the last day of the postsecondary term, semester or quarter, or the student’s withdrawal date, which ever occurs first
Clarified book allowance not included in refund policy
Clarified PSIs may apply a written SAP Policy for high school students
Clarified 9th grade officially begins Fall term of the student’s 9th grade year
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

17. Regulation Changes to REACH
Create REACH Connections Scholars
REACH Students in Foster Care chosen in coordination with the Division of Family and Children Services
All funds are paid by GSFA and/or REACH Foundation GA, no local fundraising requirement
REACH Connections Scholars do not lose eligibility if they move to a school system which does not participate in REACH
New REACH Scholar section being added to STARS
REACH Coordinators will enter student information
REACH Scholars to be identified in SURFER similar to HOPE/Zell Scholars
First high school graduates will be in 2017
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

18. Georgia National Guard Service Cancelable Loan (GNG SCL)
Funded for FY 2017 (previously ), Updated eligibility (HB 1072)
Eligibility
May be receiving HOPE Scholarship or Grant
Programs: certificate, diploma, associate degree or baccalaureate degree
Must be enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) per term
Must maintain good standing with the Georgia National Guard
Application (pdf) on the website
Includes section to be completed by National Guard and Postsecondary Institution for eligibility certification
Includes promissory note
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

19. Georgia National Guard Service Cancelable Loan (GNG SCL)
Awards made on a first-come, first-served basis
Award is applied to Tuition only
Award amount at public postsecondary institutions
Standard undergraduate rate
Award amount at private postsecondary institutions
Full-time: $2,174 per semester, $1,450 per quarter
Half-time: $1,087 per semester, $726 per quarter
Award available Fall, Winter and Spring terms (not Summer)
Award Limit: 10 semesters or 15 quarters
Based on funds available
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

20. Georgia National Guard Service Cancelable Loan (GNG SCL)
Interest Rate: Prime Rate plus one percentage point
Service Cancellation Requirements
Complete the Service Cancelable Verification Form
Maintain a 2.0 Cumulative Postsecondary GPA for the terms of the GNG SCL
Maintain good standing with the Georgia National Guard
At the end of the loan period
Student must submit the Service Cancelable Verification Form
National Guard verifies good standing and the Postsecondary Institution verifies the GPA requirement
The loan amount for the period will be canceled
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

21. Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG)
No change to the TEG award amounts
$450 per semester
$300 per quarter
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

22. FY 2016 Invoicing Year-End Reconciliation
Reminder - FY 2016 Invoices & Year-End Reconciliation
June 8 - Last date to request an extension for any FY 2016 term invoices –
June 20 - Last day of any extension
July 15 - Year-End Reconciliation deadline for all programs
August 15 - Return of funds deadline
Note: if June 8, July 15 or Aug 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline is automatically the following Monday
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

23. All State Scholarship & Grant Programs
FY 2017 Invoicing
Term Invoicing Deadlines
Included in the Dear Colleague Letter
July 15 - Year-End Reconciliation
August 15 - Return of Funds Deadline
All State Scholarship & Grant Programs
Term
Invoice Deadline
Summer
October 28, 2016
Fall
February 17, 2017
Winter
April 21, 2017
Spring
June 8, 2017
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

24. GAfutures Update July 20 at 5 p.m. GAcollege411 will go down
July 26 GAfutures will launch (replacing GAcollege411)
During the down time - July 20 at 5 p.m. – July 25
SURFER and STARS will not be available
All state program applications will not be available
All college admissions application processing will not be available
HOPE GPA files – provided weekly through July 18 then again on Aug 1. Between July 19 and July 30 no file will be provided
July 26 - SURFER will be accessible through GAfutures
GAfutures Session Thursday at 4:35 p.m.
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

25. Contact Us Student Aid Services
Postsecondary Services (one-on-one training, brochures, etc.) Participation Agreements (Institutional and MOWR)
Program Regulations -
Eligibility, Origination and Disbursement -
SAL for Financial Aid Professionals -
SAL for students -
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference

26. Contact Us Student Aid Services Pennie Strong pennies@gsfc.org
9/16/2018
2016 GASFAA Conference