Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

1. Oklahoma State Regentsfor Higher Education Scholarships & Grants Workshop PHF Conference Center July 11, 2011

2. Welcome Opening Session • Funding/Appropriations • Legislation • Academic Scholars • Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant • Military Residency

3. Legislation • Oklahoma’s Promise • SB 610-College GPA Requirements • HB 1421-Federal SAP Requirement • SB 610-Definition of Income • Hero’s Promise • HB 1343-Children of Military Personnel Killed in the Line of Duty

4. Academic Scholars Program (ASP) • What is the Academic Scholars Program? • Established in 1988 • Oklahoma’s Merit Based Scholarship Program • Open to high school seniors planning to attend any Oklahoma college

5. How does a student qualify for the Academic Scholars Program (ASP)? • National Merit Scholars • National Merit Finalists • Presidential Scholar • Oklahoma Test Takers at or above the 99.5 percentile on the ACT or SAT • Institutional Nominee

6. Academic Scholars Program (ASP) • Eligibility requirements and scholarship amounts can be found at: • http://www.okcollegestart.org/Financial_Aid/Types_of_Aid/Scholarships/State_Scholarship_Programs/Academic_Scholars.aspx

7. Total Number of Program Participants from 2000 to 2010

8. Number of National Merit Scholars from 2000 to 2010

9. Academic Scholars Program (ASP) Program Statutes • Awards to qualified non-resident students shall not exceed 25% of the greater of the number of awards of the preceding year or the amount of the previous year's funding • Compliance with this statutory limit of non-resident student participation required six institutions to refund $1,181,069 in award funds back to the program in 2009-10 and $990,800 in 2008-09

10. Academic Scholars Program (ASP) Program Change • At their June 23rd meeting the State Regents lowered the maximum authorized level for participation of nonresident students in the Academic Scholars Program from 25 percent to 20 percent effective for the 2012-2013 academic year in order to address the program’s funding deficit. • Schools required to make refunds will likely be billed semi-annually beginning in 2011-2012.

11. Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program • The Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program (OTAG) is a need-based grant program for Oklahoma residents who attend eligible colleges, universities and career technology centers in Oklahoma. Awards are approved for full-time or part-time undergraduate students.

12. Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program • Most students apply by filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). • For 2011-2012, students must have completed the FAFSA no later than March 15th. • The student’s EFC (Expected Family Contribution) as calculated by the FAFSA must be no more than 1700.

13. Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program • Deadlines and the maximum EFC are set based on available funding. Expenditures for 2010-2011 were just over 20 million dollars. • LEAP/SLEAP funding eliminated. • Eligible applications increased by 37% over 2010-11. • 5.8% agency budget reduction. • Regents approved a one-time grant allocation of $500,000 will be used to offset the reduction in state appropriations for 2011-2012, leaving the program wholly-funded at the 2010-2011 appropriated level.

14. Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant Program • March 1, 2012 will be printed on the 2012-2013 FAFSA as the “priority consideration” date.

15. Other Programs • Regional University Baccalaureate Scholarship • Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant for Undocumented Students • Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant

16. Questions?