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South Carolina Commission on Higher Education SCHOLARSHIP & GRANTS WORKSHOP 2017

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Page 1: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

South Carolina Commission on Higher

Education

SCHOLARSHIP & GRANTS WORKSHOP 2017

Page 2: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Please remember to sign-in

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Page 3: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Agenda

11:10am Welcome & Introduction11:15am Scholarship and Grant Workshop

◦ Grant Programs ◦ Scholarship Programs ◦ Transcripts◦ Year-Round Scholarships◦ Other◦ Legislative Updates

12:30pm Questions12:40pm Adjourn* After the final workshop, a copy of this presentation can be found on the CHE website *

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Page 4: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Funding SC Need-based Grant:◦ Funding increased $29,537,078 to $30,037,078 (excludes CTP)◦ CTP –Level Funding at $350,000

Lottery Tuition Assistance: ◦ Slight decrease from $51.5 million to $47,342,211◦ Once the student grant amounts have been established for 2017-18 this information will be

shared and updated on CHE’s website

The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows)◦ Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493

SC National Guard College Assistance Program (CAP)◦ Level Funding at $4.6 million

* June 6, 2017, ratified by General Assembly; not official until signed by Governor

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Page 5: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Notes of InterestThis presentation will place special emphasis on sections of the regulation that have produced multiple inquires from institutions, families and public officials.Much of this emphasis will come in the form of scenarios for you to consider. Please note that the institutional names and locations of the scenarios have been changed. However, if you recognize the scenario, please allow others a chance to provide insight.We will allow more time for discussion on certain sections if needed. However, please be mindful that we may need to move on from a topic in order to ensure the entire workshop is covered.

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Page 6: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Student Grant Programs

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Page 7: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Need-based Grants Foster YouthProviso 11.8 (CHE: Need-based grants for Foster Youth continues without change)

Enables additional need-based grant funds for youth in the custody of the Department of Social Services and attending an eligible South Carolina higher education institution

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Page 8: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

NBG Awarding ProcessSection 62-470 (F)Institutions must give first priority and award the maximum allowable NBG to Foster Care youth who are in the custody of DSS.

• This may include Foster Care youth who have aged out of the system.

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Page 9: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Additional NBG Funding/FCY Award Amount• Foster Care youth attending an eligible higher education institution

in S.C. are eligible for additional Need-based Grants funding of up to $2,000 above the $2,500 maximum.

• Institutions should not award the maximum amount if, by doing so, this causes the student to exceed the unmet need according to Title IV Regulations.

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Page 10: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Foster Care YouthNeed-based Grant for students in Foster care:Must complete the FAFSAMust submit verification & waiver to Institution and CHE (letter from DSS or court order)

Institution with eligible FCY must:Submit invoice to “Student Financial Support”{Please Include Student Name on Invoice}FCY Waiver:http://www.che.sc.gov/CHE_Docs/studentservices/needbased/files/FCY-Waiver-Form-2014.pdf

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Page 11: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Scholarship Programs

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Page 12: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Initial Eligibility Requirements For The State Scholarship ProgramsIn compliance with the established laws/regulations in place for the HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows Scholarship programs, a student must meet the initial eligibility requirements in order be a recipient of scholarship funds:

◦ A student must be a US citizen/legal permanent resident*◦ A student must be a South Carolina resident*◦ No felony convictions ◦ No second or subsequent alcohol/drug misdemeanors ◦ Not in default of any state or federal loans◦ Enroll in a degree-seeking program at an eligible SC institution

*This must be determined at the time of high school graduation

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Page 13: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Residency as it Pertains to State ScholarshipsTo be eligible for any State scholarships, students must: 1. Be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident that meets the definition of an eligible non-citizen under State Residency Statutes whose lawful presence has been verified at the time of enrollment at the institution; and2. Be a South Carolina resident* for in-state purposes at the time of high school graduation and at the time of enrollment at the institution;

*(As set forth by Section §59-112-10 – 140 and related R. 62.600-612)

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Page 14: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Palmetto Fellows• The process• Early Award vs. Late Award• State database

• Eligible, Fellow, Ineligible, Deny• Emails to students/Designation Forms• Transfers• Reapplications

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Page 16: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship(PFS)Late Award ◦ Application period closed June 15th

◦ Notifications will begin August 2017

Early Award ◦ Awarded 2,858 Palmetto Fellows Scholarships

◦ Increase of 513 awardees from the 2016 Early Award

◦ Designation Forms: 2,024 (As of July 12th) ◦ Still Need: 834

Transfers◦ Total Requests for Fall 2017: 47

Designation Form

https://www.applyweb.com/public/inquiry?s=scchinq

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Page 17: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Where are they going?

Anderson University 47Bob Jones University 7Charleston Southern University 49Claflin University 1Clemson University 882Coastal Carolina University 26College of Charleston 87Columbia College 2Columbia International Univ. 3Converse College 8Erskine College 8Francis Marion University 11Furman University 38Lander University 9Limestone College 3Newberry College 1North Greenville University 30Presbyterian College 13South Carolina State Univ. 2Southern Wesleyan University 6The Citadel 11U.S.C. - Aiken 12U.S.C. - Beaufort 9U.S.C. - Columbia 479U.S.C. - Upstate 12Winthrop University 47Wofford College 53

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Page 18: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Out-of-state

The University of Alabama 17Duke University 8University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 7Vanderbilt University 6Georgia Institute of Technology 5University of Tennessee 4New York University 4University of Virginia 3University of Pennsylvania 3Cornell University 3Wake Forest University 3Liberty University 3Savannah College of Art and Design 3Boston University 3Emory University 3Rochester Institute of Technology 3Virginia Tech 2Colorado School of Mines 2University of Notre Dame 2Auburn University 2University of Wisconsin-Madison 2Texas A&M University 2Lipscomb University 2Brigham Young University 2Montreat College 2Tufts University 2Northwestern University 2United States Naval Academy 2George Washington University 2University of Central Florida 2Washington and Lee University 2University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 2West Virginia University 2Samford University 2Princeton University 2

169 students have opted to go out-of-state

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Page 19: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioI have a question - in order to receive the LIFE Scholarship, do students have to be SC Resident’s at time of HS gradation or by first day of enrollment at a SC college?

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Page 20: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ResponseStudents need to be a South Carolina resident for in-state purposes at the time of high school graduation and at the time of enrollment at the institution;

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Page 21: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Scenario• My son graduated high school May of 2016.

• He started at a 4 year University February of 2017 (because he joined the Marine Corps Reserves and was away at training all throughout Fall of 2016).

• He was eligible for and received $1400 for the Hope Scholarship.

• He failed all of his classes (due to overloading his schedule with work, Marine Corps and school, all online classes).

• He is now considering going to a Two-year school to save money and lighten the load (however I read that the scholarship will not transfer from a 4 year to a 2 year).

Questions:

1. Is the scholarship for the first year he is enrolled in school, or specifically the first Fall and Spring semesters after high school graduation?

2. If it is for the first year he is enrolled, would he even still qualify for Fall of 2017 since he essentially earned a 0 GPA? If he stayed at the 4 year school?

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Page 22: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Response1. SC HOPE is for the first year only, but when a student starts their first year in

a Spring term (sits out Fall) then they get one term and one summer to qualify for LIFE.

2. If the SC HOPE recipient student does not qualify for LIFE after that first Spring and then Summer, but returns to a four year institution for Fall, they can receive the 2nd term of SC HOPE for that Fall term. They would not be eligible for any state scholarship or grant funding in that following Spring though.

• If he transfers to a two year institution, he should be offered Lottery Tuition Assistance in the Fall. To qualify he would need to make sure he’s completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and that he is registered for at least 6 credit hours.

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Page 23: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioI have a student who started college for the 1st time during the spring 2017 semester. She enrolled in 6 credit hours of non-remedial classes and 6 credit hours of remedial classes. She was only required to take two remedial classes. Could I start her LIFE clock in the fall 2017 semester & award her LIFE scholarship beginning in the fall semester?

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Page 24: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ResponseBased on your email, student’s Spring 2017 would be “remedial term” and does not start the clock if the student has fewer than 12 non-remedial credits, and at least 3 remedial credits. If the student is full-time in non-remedial credits for Fall 2017, that would be term 1 of LIFE, and the student would have 4 total with you.

62-1200.10. Student Eligibility: LIFE Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship Enhancement.(I) “First-time entering freshmen attending an eligible two-year institution or technical college who enroll in fewer than twelve credit hours of non-remedial/developmental, including at least three hours of remedial/developmental courses during the first term(s) will not be eligible for Scholarship funds during this period. The student’s initial college enrollment will begin after a maximum of two terms of remediation at an eligible two-year or technical college only. The student will be eligible for the Scholarship for the term following completion of remediation.”

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Page 25: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioWe have a student looking to transfer from a college in Florida (3 semesters there) to our institution for Spring 2017. She graduated from a HS in SC June 2015. She tells us she had Palmetto Fellows upon graduation from high school. She has a 3.9 GPA and 37 hours at end of first year at Florida. What can she qualify for if she starts in January?

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Page 26: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ResponseIf the student were Palmetto Fellows eligible out of high school, the student will need to complete a Reapplication Form for the Palmetto Fellows scholarship. IF they were eligible after their first academic year (verified by CHE staff), and enrolled full-time during the fall term, then the student can be awarded the Palmetto Fellows scholarship. They will have exhausted 3/8 terms while out-of-state.

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Page 27: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioI need your help with a Palmetto Fellow student. During the fall & spring terms, a student will be enrolled at our 4-year institution but will be allowed to take classes at the local technical college as a transient student as well. From what the parent is relaying to us, the student qualifies for Palmetto Fellows. I have two questions:

1. So, as long as he is enrolled in a full time load (at least 12 hours between both schools) he can receive the scholarship for 2017-18?

2. For 2018-19, he will need to earn 30 hours between both schools in 2017-18 and earn the 3.0 cumulative GPA (solely at the 4-year school). Correct?

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Page 28: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Response1. There is no scenario in which a student can use part time status at

multiple institutions to meet the full time requirement. Student has to be in at least 12 hours at one institution to be awarded.

2. The student would need to be enrolled in full-time status (at least 12 hours – or a reduced load as specified by the institutional disabilities services provider and financial aid) through your institution to remain eligible. They will need to have 30 credit hours (institutional & accepted transfer credit) and a 3.0 institutional GPA in order to maintain eligibility.

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Page 29: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Scholarship Enhancement

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Page 30: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Initial Eligibility Requirements For Enhancement

A student must meet ALL of the eligibility requirements for a Palmetto Fellows or the LIFE Scholarship;

Be a recipient of Palmetto Fellows or LIFE Scholarship;

Must be a declared math or science major;

Must have taken at least fourteen credit hours of instruction in mathematics and life and physical science courses before the end of their FIRST year in school.

*(CLEP), Dual Enrollment, Pass/Fail courses with a grade of “Pass” (only), Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory courses with a grade of “Satisfactory” (only), (IB) courses and (AP) courses in mathematics and life and physical sciences taken in high school in which the student scored a three or more on the advanced

placement test and received college credit may count toward the fulfillment of this minimum requirement.

* Students enrolled at two-year institutions are not eligible to receive a LIFE Scholarship Enhancement

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Page 31: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Eligible classes/ProgramsApproved lists of eligible majors and eligible courses to meet the fourteen credit hour course requirement for the Palmetto Fellows or LIFE Scholarship Enhancement are provided on the Commission’s website at www.che.sc.gov.

CIP codes have been approved by the Commission on Higher Education for eligible degree programs in the fields of mathematics and science.

If you’d like to add courses or degree programs to the list, please visit our website for more information on how to do so, or contact CHE directly. The link for instructions to the process is:

http://www.che.sc.gov/CHE_Docs/academicaffairs/2015-02-05_scholarship_enhancement_program_eligibility_process.pdf

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Page 32: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioWe have a few transfer students this semester who have come from two-year institutions, and meet all other criteria for the Enhancement (took the requisite 14 science/math courses freshman year, are in their 2nd year, are LIFE recipients, and a declared qualified majors at this point for the Spring). I have been assuming that if a student is transferring mid-year (Spring 2017) from a technical college, he/she would not be eligible for the LIFE Enhancement since they did not attend a four-year University at the start of Fall 2016, and therefore were not technically eligible for Enhancement at the time those awards would be made, since there was no way he/she could have declared a qualifying major, as they were enrolled at a two-year school. Is this correct?

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Page 33: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ResponseThe regulations state “…The student is a LIFE Scholarship recipient and transferring from a two-year institution to an eligible public or independent four-year institution mid-year (i.e., spring term). The student may be eligible to receive a LIFE Scholarship Enhancement for the spring term…”.

If the student(s) meet the requirements, they are eligible to receive the Enhancement for the Spring term.

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Page 34: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioI have a student that will be transferring to another 4-year institution from our 4-year institution after this year. He will have finished 3 years here and will study engineering at the other school for 2 years. He will graduate with 2 Bachelor's Degrees. Physics degree from us and Engineering from the other institution.He has had Palmetto Fellows and the Enhancement while he has been here. Will he get to use PF and ENH for the 5th year??

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Page 35: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ResponseA student can receive 8 terms of the base scholarship and 6 terms of enhancement. Only students enrolled in an approved five-year program may receive additional terms. There are only three 5-year programs (defined below) that are approved with CHE for a total of 10 terms of Palmetto Fellows Scholarship. They are:

Clemson University:◦ Bachelor of Landscape Architecture

Charleston Southern University: ◦ Bachelor of Music Therapy

Limestone College: ◦ Bachelor of Arts, Music Education

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Page 36: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Transcripts

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Page 37: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Transcript Requirements:Scholarship Eligibility Purposes

ALL transcripts must identify SC UGP GPAAll state scholarships and grants are based on the SC UGP, therefore all transcripts must specifically state “SC UGP.” ◦ Any transcript that states, “Weighted and Unweighted GPA” OR “Total GPA” will not be accepted

for the purposes of awarding state scholarships as it must comply with the SC UGP.

All final official transcripts must be date calculated between the date of the high school graduation (+/- 2 or 3 days) and

no later than June 15th

The final grades/ranking cannot include grades earned after the official graduation date of the school year. Summer school grades earned after high school graduation cannot be used in the calculation.

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Page 38: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Transcripts Requirements for Eligibility for the State Scholarship Programs

In order to determine eligibility for the State scholarship programs, the financial aid office/institution and/or CHE for the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship must have an official transcript on file (electronic or otherwise) that demonstrates the following items:A valid signature (electronic or otherwise) from the Principal.* In the event that the Principal is not available, the Superintendent signature is acceptable.

SC UGP GPA must be demonstrated and rank (if applicable)

The date calculated date to be date calculated no later than June 15th (regardless of academic year)◦ For the LIFE Scholarship and the Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Late Award the transcript MUST demonstrate that it

is the final official transcript, as well as reflect a graduation date

*For SC Public high schools: Any questions regarding the setting up of transcripts fields, they need to contact their high school Powerschool coordinator and/or district Powerschool coordinator.

**For Independent/Private and home school students: The administrator, registrar, or an official from the home school/accountability group. Should provide letter stating designated school rep.

If a student is using rank as an eligibility criteria, the high school/home school association must have a policy on rank, and rank must be demonstrated on the official transcript (this also applies to rank reports when required)

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Page 39: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

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Page 40: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

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Page 41: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

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Page 42: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

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Signature HereSignature Here

Page 43: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Early Graduates

EARLY GRADUATE: STUDENT GRADUATES MID-YEAR

For scholarship eligibility the student can ONLY use SC UGP GPA◦ CANNOT use rank

SC HOPE/LIFE Scholarship◦ Complete Early Graduate application at

planned institution of attendance

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship ◦ Only ONE opportunity to apply◦ the Early Award application period of

their senior year◦ Can receive LIFE Scholarship only for the

1st semester*. Will receive the PFS the following terms of remaining eligibility.

GRADUATING EARLY: STUDENT GRADUATES ACADEMIC YEAR(S)EARLY

SC HOPE/LIFE Scholarship◦ Eligibility is based on the end of the

academic year with their “new” graduating class

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship ◦ Can apply during the Early or Late Award

application period◦ Early Award Application period can only use

end of the 10th grade GPA and rank◦ Late Award application period can use the

end of the 10th or 12th grade rank, must use end of the 12th grade GPA

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Page 44: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

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Page 45: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Out-of-State High Schools & Scholarship Eligibility Out-of-state schools must comply with SCUGP GPA reporting and ranking.◦ For those schools that have a grading scale that substantially deviates from the

SC UGP:◦ If the institution determines that a state-approved standardized grading scale

substantially deviates from the SC UGP, the grading scale must be submitted to CHE for further review

◦ If CHE confirms the grade scale deviation, a transcript conversion to the SC UGP must be completed

◦ If the institution is not converting the grades, the out-of-state high school must submit converted transcript in addition to the official out-of-state high school transcript◦ No handwritten or strikethrough edits can be demonstrated on the submitted transcript for

scholarship eligibility determination

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Page 46: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Out-of-State High Schools & Scholarship Eligibility ◦ If a student is attempting to use rank as an eligibility criterion from an out-of-state

high school:◦ The high school or home school association must have a policy on rank which has been

reviewed to verify compliance with the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy and established statutes and regulations for the State scholarship programs.

◦ If the high school or home school association does not rank as a policy, or the student does not meet the rank eligibility requirement once a conversion of the grades to meet the SC UGP GPA and rank requirement then student must use the Alternate Criteria for eligibility (SC UGP GPA and SAT/ACT score).

◦ If using rank, the entire academic class must be converted to the SCUGP and a ranking report that reflects all students in that academic class, the out-of-state GPA, the SC UGP GPA, and the rank based on the SC UGP GPA must be included in order to determine eligibility and award a State scholarship.

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Page 47: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioThere is a an incoming freshman who does not have the test scores to qualify for the LIFE scholarship, but swears she would qualify if we accepted her out-of-state high school rank. Her parents live in SC, but she attends a small, Christian High School. The mother is up in arms angry that our college refuses to use her class rank (though we have no way of knowing at this point what it is), since her sister who attended another SC institution and also did not have the test scores to qualify was able to receive the LIFE scholarship.

My question is this: what would we need to receive from the high school in order to consider her class rank?

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Page 48: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Response1. Ranking Policy: You will need to verify they do in fact rank; and

2. Ranking Report: They will have to convert over the entire graduating class to the SC UGP. The ranking report must have their out-of-state GPAs, their new SC UGP GPAs, and the rank based on SC UGP.

If they are unwilling to provide a rank report, the student must use the Alternative Criteria.

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Page 49: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioWe received transcripts from a private school with a calculated date that was the day prior to the graduation date, do we contacted the school for corrected transcripts?

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Page 50: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ResponseYes, contact that high school. Get a letter of verification stating that no grades/GPAs/ranks were updated or changed between the date calculated and the high school graduation date.

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Page 51: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Scenario• We have a student here who was an incoming freshman fall 2016.

He is technically a sophomore according to his earned hours.

• He would like to use a stipend of his Palmetto Fellows for the summer session.

• How much would he get? As for Enhancement, since he is technically a sophomore, has a STEM major, and will be receiving the full Enhancement by fall 2017, does that mean he qualifies for the $2,500.00 Enhancement this summer as well?

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Page 52: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ResponseIf the student is eligible at the end of Spring term, yes they can use a Summer stipend (Summer would be his 3rd term, so he’s eligible for the $3,750).

Per our year-round guidelines, as long as the student has their 30 credits/3.0 GPA, 14 credits of Math/Science, and declared the eligible major by the end of Spring, they can use the Enhancement over the summer.

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Page 53: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Year-Round Scholarships

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Page 54: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Eligible Students: Year-round scholarship visual

End of Spring TermStudent is eligible

for Fall Term *Also eligible for summer

Summer Term*Using scholarship

Fall TermStill eligible for

scholarship based off spring

Summer Term*NOT using scholarship

*Credit hours and GPA earned during summer will be used to determine eligibility the following spring term

*Credit hours and GPA earned during

summer will be used to determine eligibility the

following spring term

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Page 55: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Ineligible Students:Year-round scholarship visual

Summer TermStudent can take summer courses

to get the required credit

hours and/or GPA

End of Spring TermStudent is NOT eligible for

Fall Term *student cannot use

scholarship for summer

Fall TermStudent is reevaluated after summer term and student is now eligible

for scholarship

Fall Term*Student is reevaluated after summer term and student is still ineligible

for scholarship

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Page 56: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ScenarioAm I correct that students who enroll mid-year (Spring Starts) are NOT eligible for summer LIFE by meeting 15 credit hours and a 3.0 GPA? My understanding is that students must start in the Fall and end Spring with 30 non-remedial CH and a 3.0 LIFE GPA.

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Page 57: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

ResponseThe Year Round Guidelines actually don’t prevent a student who begins mid-year from beginning the Summer award in the Summer of their initial academic year. The student simply needs to be eligible at the end of Spring for the next year (3.0 LIFE GPA and 15 credit hours) and enrolled in 12 credit hours for the Summer term.

They are prevented from Summer BEING their first term of year round funding (so a student couldn’t start in the Summer even if they had 15 hours of AP/IB or dual enrollment coursework), but if their first term of attendance and LIFE is a Spring term, then they are able to receive Summer LIFE.

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Other

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Page 59: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Military Mobilization62-1200.45. Military Mobilization: LIFE Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship Enhancement.

• 62-1200.60. Institutional Policies and Procedures for Awarding: LIFE Scholarship and LIFE Scholarship Enhancement• O. The institution must retain annual paper or electronic documentation for each LIFE Scholarship and

LIFE Scholarship Enhancement award to include at a minimum: • 12. Military mobilization orders (if appropriate

62-351. Military Mobilization (Palmetto Fellows)

• 62-325. Palmetto Fellows Scholarship Selection Process. • J. The institution must retain annual paper or electronic documentation for each award to

include at a minimum:• 10. Military mobilization orders (if appropriate)

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Page 60: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Scholarship AppealsThe 2017-18 Appeals Cycle for the Palmetto Fellows, LIFE, and SC HOPE scholarship opened May 1, 2017. All appeals materials must be in receipt of the CHE by the deadline close of 5:00 pm on September 22, 2017.

Students are encouraged to review the Guidelines for Appeal on the CHE website to determine if their circumstance truly meets the definition of an extraordinary circumstance or a traumatic event.

Students should be advised that their appeal is not guaranteed to be granted, nor is it a guarantee that a decision will be rendered prior to the due date of their college bill. Students should make arrangements with the institution for payment.

The link to the appeals information and application is:http://www.che.sc.gov/Students,FamiliesMilitary/Appeals.aspx

Correspondence will be electronic; both to students and institutions. Initial emails will go to Financial Aid Directors, who can then inform us if there is a more appropriate contact.

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Page 61: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Final Senior Transcripts• SCDE contacted CHE on June 7th to indicate that all

districts had some variation of errors when calculating final GPAs/Ranks. • Please check out website for validation date

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Legislative Updates

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Page 63: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Legislative UpdatesA 2017 Session Legislative Wrap-Up for higher education with summary information on the FY17 and legislation passed during the 2017 Legislative will be available shortly.A few notes of interest relating Student Financial Aid/Tuition:

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H. 3034 Amend eligibility for in-state college tuition rates of veterans 05/04/19: Ratified R 38

H. 3035

Amend in-state tuition rates at Public Institutions for armed services; revise residency requirements w/o having

established a physical presence in state

02/14/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education

H. 3042Institutions shall provide certain written notice to students before terminating or

reducing scholarships

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

Page 64: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

Legislative UpdatesH. 3056 Leadership Scholarship

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works; Committee Meeting

Thursday 3/9

H. 3063

HS students who attend HS for 3 or more years in the state, graduate from HS in the state, or receive the equivalent to a diploma would be

exempt from paying out of state tuition and be eligible for certain state sponsored scholarship and tuition assistance; also students who are

lacking lawful immigration status.

01/10/17 House: Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

H. 3583 PF 1 year GAP 02/22/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education

H. 4032 Revise the LIFE Scholarship as to only include students in the top 30% of graduating class

03/22/17: House: Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

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Legislative Updates

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S.262 Textbook Policy 3/21/17: Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Public Works

S. 339 Palmetto Promise Scholarship 2/01/17 Senate: Referred to Committee on Education

S. 711

To provide that a South Carolina resident who otherwise qualifies for the LIFE, HOPE,

or Palmetto Fellows scholarship but who attends school in another state because no

public college or university offers his chosen major shall receive the scholarship

for which he qualifies to be used for payment of tuition at the out-of-state

institution.

5/8/17: Senate: Read the first time and referred to the Committee on Education.

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Regulations

SC Residency Regulations remain active.120 clock has begun.

Tuition for 60 and over, and National Guard

Regulations approved by General Assembly.

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Questions

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Page 68: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education...The Merit Scholarships (SC HOPE, LIFE, and Palmetto Fellows) Funding increased from $270 million to $300,229,493 SC National Guard College

CHE Contact InformationDr. Karen Woodfaulk

Director of Student Services

(803) 737-2244 or [email protected]

Mr. Gerrick HamptonScholarships and Grants Program Manager

(803) 734-4397 or [email protected]

Ms. Tanya Weigold, Scholarships and Grants Program Manager

(803) 737-2262, Email [email protected]

Ms. Leslie Williams

Program Assistant, Scholarships and Grants

(803) 737-2290 or [email protected]

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