Georgia Student Finance Commission

HOPE and State Aid

Darryl WatsonK-12 School Representative

HOPE Scholarship

• Prior to Fall 2011

– Academic requirement

• College Prep – 3.0

• Career Tech – 3.2

– Award

• Tuition

• HOPE-approved mandatory fees

• Book stipend

– Quarter System - $100 per quarter

– Semester System - $150 per semester

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HOPE Grant

• For students seeking a certificate or diploma

– Technical System of Georgia or University System of Georgia

• Prior to Fall 2011

– Requirement

• No GPA requirement

• Meet Georgia residency policy

– Award

• Tuition

• HOPE-approved mandatory fees

• Book stipend

– Quarter System - $100 per quarter

– Semester System - $150 per semester

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HOPE Changes Summary

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HOPE Scholarship

• Basic eligibility requirements:

– Unchanged for current seniors

• College Prep Diploma – 3.0 GPA

• Career Tech Diploma – 3.2 GPA

• Single diploma type – 3.0 GPA

– Academic Rigor (New Section)

• Requires that students graduating in 2015 must pass at least 2 courses from a list of academically rigorous courses in order to meet the requirements to be a HOPE Scholar upon high school graduation

• Students graduating in 2016 must pass at least 3 courses from the list

• Students graduating in 2017 beyond must pass at least 4 courses from the list

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HOPE Scholarship

• Rigor Requirements:

– Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an equivalent or higher course;

– Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or higher course;

– Advanced placement courses in core subjects;

– International baccalaureate courses in core subjects;

– Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses; or

– Advanced foreign language courses.

GSFC will be providing a list of classes to further define each category.

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HOPE Scholarship

• Maintaining HOPE

– Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA at all checkpoints.

– The student may only regain eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship one time.

– A student can regain eligibility at the 30, 60 or 90 semester hour check point or equivalent quarter hour check point.

• Courses eligible

– Only degree level courses will be paid for under the HOPE Scholarship.

– The HOPE Scholarship will not pay for remedial or developmental courses.

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HOPE Scholarship

• Eligibility for HOPE occurs until:

– The student has earned a baccalaureate or first professional degree; or

– The student has attempted or received a total of combined payment of 127 semester hours; or

– A period of seven years from high school graduation or equivalent.

• Exceptions for Military Service

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HOPE Scholarship

• Seven Year Limit

– Effective beginning with the Fall 2011 term.

– A student receiving HOPE for the first time beginning summer 2011 is eligible for 7 years beyond the date of their high school graduation.

– A student that served on military active duty following high school graduation, or equivalent, may request that time be added back their eligibility.

HOPE Scholarship

• The HOPE Scholarship will pay:

– Eligible Public Institutions

• Percentage of previous year’s HOPE award

– Eligible Private Institutions

• Percentage amount of the HOPE award for private colleges

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HOPE Scholarship

• HOPE Scholarship at Public/Private Institutions

– Factor Rate: Percentage determined annually by the Commission against which the previous year’s HOPE Award Rate amount is multiplied.

– HOPE Award Rate: The rate equal to the previous year’s HOPE Award Amount multiplied by the Factor Rate.

– HOPE Award Amount: The HOPE Award Rate multiplied by the number of credit hours, up to a maximum of 15 hours.

• A payment chart for HOPE award is available on GAcollege411 under the HOPE Scholarship Information page.

HOPE Scholarship

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HOPE Scholarship

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Zell Miller Scholarship

• New Scholarship Program for 2011

• Must meet HOPE Scholarship requirements, plus:

– Minimum 3.7 GPA in academic core classes, and

– 1,200 combined critical reading and math on SAT* or

– 26 composite ACT.

– Graduate from an eligible high school as the valedictorian or salutatorian.

*Test requirements must be met in single test administration.

Zell Miller Scholarship

• Maintaining Zell Miller Scholarship

– Maintain at least a 3.3 GPA at all checkpoints.

• The student may only regain eligibility for the Zell Miller Scholarship one time.

• A student can only regain eligibility at the 30, 60 or 90 semester hour check point or equivalent quarter hour check point.

– To be eligible, a student must meet requirements at High School Graduation.

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Zell Miller Scholarship

• The Zell Miller Scholarship will pay:

– Eligible Public Institutions

• Full standard tuition for the current academic year

– Eligible Private Institutions• Award will be $4,000 per academic year for full-time

study

– Rate tables are available on Zell Miller Program Information page on GAcollege411.

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HOPE Grant

• Postsecondary GPA

– No initial GPA requirement.

– Student must have at least a 3.0 GPA on all paid coursework at 30 hour checkpoint.

– If a student loses eligibility at the 30 hour checkpoint, they may regain eligibility with at least a 3.0 GPA at the 60 hour checkpoint

– Covers up to 63 semester hours or 95 quarter hours

• Students with a baccalaureate degree are not eligible to receive the HOPE Grant.

HOPE Grant

• HOPE Grant will pay:

– Percentage of previous year’s HOPE Grant award.

– Students can use the chart posted on GAcollege411 to determine the exact amount of HOPE Grant.

– HOPE Grant will pay $60.75 per hour

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Dual Enrollment

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Accel Program

• For students completing core classes for high school and college credit.

• Award amounts (tuition, fees, book stipend) and program eligibility are unchanged.

• Effective this year (2011-2012), the program is funded by State Appropriations.

• Accel courses taken in Fall 2011 or later will no longer count against the HOPE paid hours.

• Any courses taken prior to Summer 2011 will be counted as HOPE paid hours.

• The Accel course directory is posted on GAcollege411.org

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Dual Enrollment

• Students who will be attending classes at a Technical College System of Georgia Institution.

• Students do not have to take only core classes.

• Funding is through HOPE Grant.

• Dual Enrollment courses are NOT counted against HOPE attempted hours.

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The Student Access Loan

• The interest rate on the loan is 1%

• Funding of last resort or “gap financing”

• Able to borrow up to $10,000 per year

• Applications are randomly selected from all applicants

• Must reapply (Renewal not guaranteed)

• Application for Student Access Loan can be found on GAcollege411

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Contact Us

• Call GSFC at 1-800-505-4732

• www.GAcollege411.org

• Email: clientservices@gsfc.org

Darryl Watson

Georgia Student Finance Commission

darrylw@gsfc.org

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Questions?

Thank you!

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