SC Tuition Grants Update and Program Administration

2014 SCASFAA
Annual Conference
April 1, 2014
“South Carolina Tuition Grants:
Giving South Carolina
Students a Choice”
SC TUITION GRANTS STAFF
Earl Mayo, Director
Katie Harrison, Deputy Director
Jessica Bagwell, Financial Aid
Counselor
Gena Miles, Staff Accountant
QUICK FACTS
• South Carolina Residents Only
• Need-Based Grant
• Full-time Undergraduates Only (can be
traditional undergrad or non-traditional
evening students)
• 21 eligible SC Independent Colleges
• Must apply annually by June 30 deadline
via the FAFSA
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
First-time Freshmen must:
Rank in top 75% of graduating class OR
Score 900 on SAT (Math & Critical Reading) OR
Score 19 Composite on ACT OR
Graduate from a South Carolina high school with a final
GPA of 2.0 on the Uniform Grading Policy.
Continuing students must:
Pass 24 credit hours per year AND
Meet the college’s Federal SAP Standards.
REVIEW OF 2013-2014 AND
2014-2015 AWARD YEARS
FUNDING
SOURCES:
AVAILABLE FUNDS
2013-2014
PROJECTED FUNDS
2014-2015
State Recurring:
Children’s Education
Endowment:
State Funds Interest:
State Lottery Funds:
$23,358,622
$23,617,386
$4,028,820
$6,591
$7,930,000
$4,316,000
$10,000
$7,930,000
Total Funding
$35,324,033
$35,873,386
REVIEW OF 2013-2014 AND
2014-2015 AWARD YEARS
Funding Cutoff Date:
2013-2014
2014-2015
June 30, 2013
June 30, 2014
Applications Received:
35,019
35,369
(Estimate)
Commitments Made:
29,026
29,316
(Estimate)
Grants Realized:
13,503
13,639
(Estimate)
Average Grant:
$2,650
$2,660
(Estimate)
2014-2015 STATE
LEGISLATIVE REPORT
BUDGET REQUEST:
Increase funding by $1.275 million in recurring funds to
increase Maximum Grant by $100 to $3,000.
Current Status: Sufficient increase recommended by Governor
in Executive Budget ($258,784) to increase by $100 and
included in State Budget passed by House. Budget request
presented to Senate Finance Higher Education Subcommittee on
March 27. Awaiting results of Senate Finance Committee.
2014-2015 MAXIMUM GRANT
Maximum Grants for 2014-2015 have been
approved at $3,000 for all Traditional Program
students at all colleges.
Grant amounts for approved Non-Traditional
programs at participating colleges/universities
range from $630 - $3000.
ELECTRONIC ELIGIBILITY NOTICES
TOTAL NOTICES SENT TO DATE: 12,882
(thru 3/25)
(Total 13-14 was 30,931)
TOTAL E-MAILS SENT: 12,496 (97.46%)
TOTAL HARD COPY NOTICES: 332 (2.54%)
(Includes 6 Resends -- .01% -- for invalid e-mail addresses)
POSTAGE SAVINGS: $5,995.20
(Total 13-14 was $13,903.06)
Cooperative Effort with the South Carolina
Educational Assistance Authority (SCSLC)
AGENCY SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS
Agency has implemented several new security
measures to further protect student data.
Efforts have been communicated with and
approved by the Commission.
Policies and procedures will be reviewed
regularly, and additional security enhancements
will be made in the future as needed.
Next Commission Meeting:
June 18, 2014
10:30 AM
SCICU Office
1706 Senate Street
Columbia
Grant Administration:
Treatment of VA Chapter 33
•SCTG Policies & Procedures Manual, Section III
•VA33 Benefits are treated the same as any other VA Chapter for the
purpose of determining SCTG eligibility. Tuition Grant awards are NOT
included when determining eligibility for Veterans Benefit, regardless of
chapter designation.
•This policy has not changed since the Tuition Grants Commission
received official guidance from the Central Veterans Administration
Offices in December 2011
Grant Administration:
Top Program Review Findings
Satisfactory Academic Requirements Not Met for
Returning Students
•SCTG Policies & Procedures Manual, Section V
•Students must pass a minimum of 24 credit hours per academic year
(12 hours if enrolled F/T for only one semester and NO
enrollment for the other semester)
•Summer school hours may be counted toward total hour requirement if
the summer session ends prior to the beginning of the next award year
Grant Administration:
Top Program Review Findings
Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements
Not Met for Returning Students
•For students in TRADITIONAL programs, there are SAP formulas for
part-time enrollment and for combining full and part-time enrollment.
•All students in approved NON-TRADITIONAL programs must pass 24
credit hours per academic year, including summer terms (no alternate
enrollment allowances for non-traditional students)
•See Policies & Procedures Manual for guidance
Grant Administration:
Top Program Review Findings
Freshman Academic Requirements Not Met
•SCTG Policies & Procedures Manual, Section V
•Incoming freshman must graduate in the top 75% of their high school
class OR score at least 900 on the combined math/verbal SAT OR score
at least 19 on the ACT OR graduate from a SC high school with a final
GPA of 2.0 (SC Uniform Grading Policy)
Grant Administration:
Top Program Review Findings
Freshman Academic Requirements Not Met
•A freshman student who is 22 years or older by September 1st of the
award year and who has obtained a high school diploma or equivalent is
academically eligible for a freshman award
•Incoming freshman under the age of 22 who receive their GED or
complete their high school diploma through an adult education program
qualify only if they meet the SAT or ACT test score requirement
Grant Administration:
Top Program Review Findings
Signed Affidavit Not on File
•SCTG Policies & Procedures Manual, Section I
•Affidavit must be collected annually and must be on file in the
student’s financial aid file prior to the student being reported as eligible
on the Fall Enrollment Report, and no later than November 15th
•A single, combined affidavit for all state programs may be used,
assuming reference is made to all state aid programs by name and that
it also meets the requirements of CHE
Grant Administration:
Top Program Review Findings
Funds Not Posted Within Five (5) Days
•SCTG Policies & Procedures Manual, Section III
•The transfer of funds to individual student accounts must be done
within five working days of the college’s receipt of the EFT
•Any funds that cannot be transferred to an individual student’s account
(including because of student’s ineligibility) must be returned to the
Commission within twenty working days, accompanied by the
appropriately completed SCTG Refund Form
Grant Administration:
Top Program Review Findings
Refunds Not Made Within Twenty (20) Days
•SCTG Policies & Procedures Manual, Section III
•Any funds received by a college for a student’s Tuition Grant payment
that cannot be disbursed to the student must be refunded to the
Commission within twenty working days of the later of either (a) the
date the college receives the funds or (b) the date the college becomes
aware that a student is ineligible for funds
Grant Administration:
Top Program Review Findings
Refunds Not Made Within Twenty (20) Days
•For SCTG purposes, the official date that the college becomes aware
that a student is ineligible because of withdrawing or dropping classes
to a less than full-time status is considered to be the date that the
College Registrar is notified of the student’s change in enrollment
status.
•All refunds must be accompanied by the appropriately completed SCTG
Refund Form
Grant Administration:
Program Reviews
•Of the 21 participating colleges, 1/3 have received
a clean program review with no findings for five
straight years
•Ensuring compliance with the Enrollment Report
Certification and EFT Authorization (both signed by
college administrators) should prevent program
review findings
Grant Administration:
Program Reviews
•Program reviews due annually on December 31st
•Formal exit conference should be scheduled to
discuss status and any findings
•If the Program Review contains no findings and no
refund is due to the Commission as a result, the
Program Review is considered closed. A letter
indicating such will be mailed to the President by
the Agency Director
Grant Administration:
Program Reviews
•Refund of grant dollars resulting from Program
Review findings should be made within twenty
working days from the date of the exit conference;
Program Review is not considered closed until all
appropriate refunds have been made
•Management recommendations made by the
auditor that do not require refunds should be
responded to in the college’s official response to the
findings
Grant Administration:
Program Reviews
•Consecutive Year Findings:
•Having the same finding for three consecutive
years will result in the college submitting a
written plan to the Commission, outlining
corrective measures
•Having the same finding for four consecutive
years will result in the college being suspended
for one year from being an eligible college for
the Tuition Grants program
Grant Administration
Questions?
Discussion?
Best Practices?
115 Atrium Way, Suite 102
Columbia, SC 29223
Telephone:
Fax:
(803) 896-1120
(803) 896-1126
Earl Mayo, Director
earl@sctuitiongrants.org
Katie Harrison, Deputy Director
katie@sctuitiongrants.org
www.sctuitiongrants.com
www.sctuitiongrants.com/colleges