South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission

SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION

GRANTS COMMISSION

2014 SCASFAA Annual Conference

April 1, 2014

“South Carolina Tuition Grants: Giving South Carolina

Students a Choice”

SOUTH CAROLINA

TUITION GRANTS

Earl Mayo, DirectorKatie Harrison, Deputy DirectorJessica Bagwell, Financial Aid

CounselorGena Miles, Staff Accountant

SC TUITION GRANTS STAFF

SOUTH CAROLINATUITION GRANTSQUICK 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

SOUTH CAROLINA TUITION GRANTS

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTSFirst-time Freshmen must:Rank in top 75% of graduating class ORScore 900 on SAT (Math & Critical Reading) ORScore 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 AVAILABLE FUNDS PROJECTED FUNDSSOURCES: 2013-2014 2014-2015State Recurring: $23,358,622 $23,617,386Children’s Education Endowment: $4,028,820 $4,316,000State Funds Interest: $6,591 $10,000State Lottery Funds: $7,930,000 $7,930,000Total Funding $35,324,033 $35,873,386

SOUTH CAROLINATUITION GRANTS

REVIEW OF 2013-2014 AND 2014-2015 AWARD YEARS

2013-2014 2014-2015

Funding Cutoff Date: 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)

SOUTH CAROLINA

TUITION GRANTS2014-2015 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 GRANTMaximum 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, 201410:30 AM

SCICU Office1706 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



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 FindingsFreshman 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 FindingsFreshman 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



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



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 FindingsRefunds 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 FindingsRefunds 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



• 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



• 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



• 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 Telephone: (803) 896-1120Columbia, SC 29223 Fax: (803) 896-1126

Earl Mayo, [email protected]

Katie Harrison, Deputy [email protected]

www.sctuitiongrants.comwww.sctuitiongrants.com/colleges

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission

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