TASFAA New Aid Officers Workshop
May 13, 2014
Lyn Wheeler Kinyon
Assistant Director, Grants and Special Programs
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

Role of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board

General Overview of Financial Aid in Texas


General Overview of the Eligibility Requirements for the State
Financial Aid Programs
Questions
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
Institutional
 Administration
 Governing Board

Federal
 Department of Education (DOE)

State
 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)
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
Created by the Texas Legislature in 1965

Purpose:
 Provide leadership and coordination for the Texas higher education system

Responsibilities:
 Assess the state of higher education in Texas;
 Develop recommendations to the Legislature, Governor, and institutions for
its enhancement; and
 Establish policies for the efficient and effective use of the state’s higher
education resources.
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
Workforce, Academic Affairs and Research
 Academic Affairs and Research
 Planning and Accountability
 P-16 Initiatives

Finance and Administration
 Business and Support Services
o Business Office
o Grants and Special Programs (G&SP) *
o Loan Programs Operations (LPO) *
 Information Technology
 Human Resources
* Main areas that work closely with colleagues in the financial aid community
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
Provide customer service to students, families, and institutions

Provide training
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Interpret legislation and develop rules

Allocate available funding and process funding requests

Process applications, collect student loan payments, and process
benefits

Perform program reviews and audits

Collect and provide information requested by the Legislature
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
Legislature passes a statute authorizing a program

Legislature appropriates funds for the program – or not

THECB writes & adopts rules – if applicable

Programs are administered as:
 Decentralized (Campus-Based) - THECB allocates funding, applications
submitted through the institution, institution selects recipients, THECB
supplies funding, and the institution submits reports to the THECB.
 Solely at the institutional level - applications submitted through the
institution, institution determines eligibility, and THECB supplies no
funding.
 Centralized (THECB-Based) - applications submitted to the THECB, THECB
determines eligibility, and THECB notifies institution of award.
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Grant, Scholarship, Loan, and Work Programs
as well as
Exemption Programs
Exempt tuition and/or fees for certain groups of eligible students
and
Waiver Programs
Waive tuition rates for non-resident students
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Institutional
13.0%
Federal
$6,683,059,787
State
$580,516,883
Institutional
$1,199,739,412
Other
$778,462,271
Total
$9,241,778,353
Other
8.4%
State
6.3%
Federal
72.3%
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
Eligible institutions:





Are defined in statute
Have signed agreements/MOU’s with the CB
Administer programs via state statutes and CB rules
Complete required funding processes and reports
Are subject to audits and program reviews
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
Eligible Student:
 Federal – citizen or eligible non-citizen
 State – resident of Texas

Shadowing of Federal Processes:
 Federal Methodology (FM) Calculation
o FAFSA – citizen or eligible non-citizen
o TASFA – non citizen or ineligible non-citizen, but resident of Texas
 Verification Guidelines/Requirements
 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Guidelines/Requirements
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


To aid in prioritizing limited funding to eligible students and to
provide consistency for Texas students at Texas institutions
Though all institutions are encouraged to advertise and implement,
implementation of the priority deadline is required at the General
Academic Teaching Institutions or GATI’s (public universities, LamarOrange, and Lamar-Port Arthur).
Institutions have the flexibility to define what it means to meet the
deadline – except for the Top 10 Percent Scholarship Program which
is defined in rule
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


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Initial Year (IY) and Renewal Year (RY) eligibility requirements
Texas residency
Selective Service Registration
Calculated need or need component
Encourage student efficiency through:
 Enrollment – sufficient and timely
 Performance – GPA and successful completion of attempted SCH’s
 Program Completion – timely
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
Provide grants to academically-prepared needy students at public
institutions
 Beginning 14/15, public 2-year institutions will only be able to make RY
awards to eligible students with an IY award prior to fall 2014

Funded through appropriations and gifts
 CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually

Student eligibility:
 Initial year (IY) “basic” eligibility requirements
 Initial year (IY) “priority model” eligibility requirements
 Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements

Maximum award amounts determined annually
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
Basic Requirements:




Classified as a Texas resident by the institution
Registered with Selective Service, or exempt
No felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance
Demonstration of financial need and EFC cap
o 9-month EFC cap for 13/14 = $4,620
o 9-month EFC cap for 14/15 = $4,800
 Enroll at least ¾-time as an undergraduate baccalaureate student who is
in one of the four initial eligibility avenues
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1. Incoming student who:
Graduated from an accredited public or private high school in Texas after completing the
Foundation, Recommended, or Distinguished Achievement high school program or the
equivalent; and enrolls within 16 months from high school graduation having not accumulated
more than 30 SCH’s (excluding credits for dual enrollment or by examination).
2. Incoming student who:
Earned an associate’s degree from a public or private nonprofit institution of higher education
in Texas, and enrolls within 12 months after receiving the associate’s degree.
3. Incoming student who:
Graduated from an accredited public or private high school in Texas May 1, 2013 or later after
completing the Foundation, Recommended, or Distinguished Achievement high school program
or the equivalent; enlisted in military service within 12 months of high school graduation; and
enrolls within 12 months of receiving an honorable discharge.
4. Incoming transfer student who:
Transfers into a public university in Texas with at least 24 SCH’s and a 2.5 GPA; and received
an initial year (IY) Texas Educational Opportunity Grant (TEOG) in Fall 2014 or later.
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
Priority Model Requirements:
 Meet the basic IY eligibility requirements
 Meet the state priority deadline
 Meet the requirements in at least 2 of the following 4 areas:
AREA
REQUIREMENT(S)
Advanced Academic
Program
12 hours of college credit (dual credit or AP courses), complete the Distinguished
Achievement Program (DAP), or complete the International Baccalaureate Program
(IB).
TSI Readiness
Meet the Texas Success Initiatives (TSI) assessment thresholds or qualify for an
exemption.
Class Standing
Graduate in the top one/third of the HS graduating class or have a B average.
Advanced Math
Complete at least one math course beyond Algebra II as determined by the Texas
Education Agency (TEA).
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
Enroll at least ¾-time as:
 an undergraduate student who previously received an IY award prior to
fall 2014; or
 an undergraduate student enrolled in a baccalaureate program who
received an IY award fall 2014 or later.

Maintain:





classification as a resident of Texas
registration with Selective Service, or exemption
no felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance
financial need (no EFC cap)
Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements
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
GPA
 End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy
 End of successive years – minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA

Completion Rate
 End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy
 End of successive years –24 SCH’s successfully completed for the year

Maximum Time Frame
 Entering HS Graduates – 5 years for a 4 year degree or 6 years for a degree
requiring > 4 years; 150 SCH attempted while receiving the grant; or
completion of a baccalaureate degree – whichever comes first
 Entering with an associate’s degree – 3 years for a 4 year degree or 4 years for
a degree requiring > 4 years; 90 SCH attempted while receiving the grant; or
completion of a baccalaureate degree – whichever comes first
 Entering as a transfer with prior TEOG – # of Years/SCH’s TBD; or completion
of a baccalaureate degree
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
Provide grants to needy students at public 2-year institutions

Funded through appropriations
 CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually

Student Eligibility:
 Initial year (IY) eligibility requirements
 Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements

Maximum award amounts determined annually
 Prior to 2014-15 – maximum award for 6 SCH’s or more
 Beginning 2014-15 – award proration required
o 12 or more SCH’s through census date – 100% of maximum award
o 9 to 11 SCH’s through census date – 75% of maximum award
o 6 to 8 SCH’s through census date – 50% of maximum award
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



Classified as a Texas resident by the institution
Registered with Selective Service, or exempt
No felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance
Demonstration of financial need
 9-month EFC cap for 13/14 = $2,000
 9-month EFC cap for 14/15 = $4,800

Enroll at least ½-time as an entering undergraduate student having
not accumulated more than 30 SCH’s (excluding credits for dual
enrollment or by examination)
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
Enroll at least ½-time as:
 An undergraduate student who previous received an IY TEOG award

Maintain:





classification as a resident of Texas
registration with Selective Service, or exemption
no felony conviction or crime involving a controlled substance
financial need (no EFC cap)
Meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements
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
GPA
 End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy
 End of successive years – minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA

Completion Rate
 End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy
 End of successive years –75% annual completion rate

Maximum Time Frame
 4 years, 75 SCH’s attempted while receiving the grant, or an associate’s
degree – whichever comes first
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
Provide grants to needy students at private/independent non-profit
institutions

Funded through appropriations
 CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually

Student eligibility:
 Initial year (IY) eligibility requirements
 Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements

Maximum award amounts determined biennially
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
Classified as a Texas resident by the institution, or a National Merit
Finalist with at least $1,000 in scholarships

Registered with Selective Service, or exempt

Not currently receiving an athletic scholarship

Demonstration of financial need



Required to pay more tuition than is required at a comparable public
institution
Enrolled at least ¾-time as an undergraduate or graduate student
working on the first associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral
degree that does not lead to ordination or licensure to preach
Maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements
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
GPA
 End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy
 End of successive years – minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA

Completion Rate
 End of initial year – institution’s SAP policy
 End of successive years – minimum 75% annual completion rate; and 24
SCH’s successfully completed annually for an undergraduate or 18 SCH’s
completed annually for a graduate

Maximum Time Frame
 5 years for a 4-year undergraduate degree
 6 years for a 5-year undergraduate degree
 No limit for a graduate degree
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
Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG)
 Provide grants to needy students at public institutions
 Funded through statutory tuition set-asides
o Allocated at the institutional level
 Eligibility requirements:
o Financial need
o Register with Selective Service or be exempt (not required of community colleges)
 Awarded based on institution’s policies and procedures
 Eligibility continuation:
o Renewal awards occur at the institution’s discretion
o No statutory end to student eligibility
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
Designated Tuition Set-Aside Program – named by the institution
 Provide need-based financial aid at public universities
 Funded through designated tuition set-asides
o Allocated at the institutional level
 Eligibility requirements:
o Financial need
o Priority to students whose tuition/fee costs are not met through other non-loan
programs
 Awarded based on institution’s policies and procedures
 Eligibility continuation:
o Renewal awards occur at the institution’s discretion
o No statutory end to student eligibility
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

Encourage outstanding high school graduates in the top 10 percent
of their class to attend a public institution in Texas
Funded through appropriations
 No allocation to institutions/funding administered centrally

Student eligibility:
 Initial year (IY) eligibility requirements
 Renewal year (RY) or continuation eligibility requirements

Award amounts determined annually
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
Classified as a Texas resident by the institution

Registration with Selective Service, or be exempt




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Graduation from a public or private accredited high school in Texas in
the top 10 percent of the HS graduating class
Completion of the Recommended or Distinguished (or the equivalent)
curriculum
Submit the FAFSA in time to generate the CPS results in a non-rejected
status by the state priority deadline (March 15), or the TASFA to the
institution by the state priority deadline
Meet need component (COA – EFC – PELL > $0)
Enroll full-time in the fall semester immediately following high school
graduation and maintain full-time enrollment through the census date
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



Submit the FAFSA in time to generate the CPS results in a nonrejected status by the state priority deadline (March 15), or submit
the TASFA by the state priority deadline
Meet need component (COA – EFC – PELL > $0)
Enroll full-time in the fall semester and maintain full-time enrollment
through the census date of the semester
Meet SAP requirements
 Maintain a cumulative 3.25 GPA, successfully complete at least 30 SCH’s
in the previous year, and successfully complete of at least 75% of the
SCH’s attempted in the previous year
 4 years or completion of a Bachelor’s degree – whichever comes first
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

Provide eligible Texas students no-interest loans and/or loan forgiveness
upon graduation for meeting specific goals
Funded through appropriations and designated tuition set-asides
 CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually

Eligibility requirements:
 Texas resident enrolled full-time and eligible for federal aid

Eligibility continuation:
 End of 1st year – institution’s SAP policy
 Thereafter, overall GPA of 2.5; 75% completion in the most recent year
 Eligibility ends with completion of a baccalaureate degree or 150 attempted
SCH’s while receiving the loan

Repayment benefits:
 Loan forgiveness if graduation time frame, GPA, and number of hours are within
program guidelines – or 0% interest if not eligible for forgiveness
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

Provide alternative loans to Texas students who are unable to meet
the cost of attendance at public and private/non-profit institutions.
Funded through the sale of state bonds
 CB allocates available funding to participating institutions annually

Eligibility requirements:
 Texas resident enrolled at least ½-time
 Receive a favorable credit evaluation or provide an eligible cosigner who
has a favorable credit standing (VantageScore≥591)
 Meet the institution’s SAP policy
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
Provide eligible Texas students employment as a means to fund their
education at public and private institutions
Funded through appropriations and subject to matching – unless
proof is provided that matching is waived for FCWS
Eligibility requirements:






Enrolled at least ½-time
Texas resident as determined by the institution
Financial need
Registered with Selective Service (or exempt)
Not receiving an athletic scholarship
Not enrolled in a seminary or other religious program
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Exemption Programs
Waiver Programs
Hazlewood
Highest Ranking HS Grad
Police Officers
Firefighters
Foster Care
Dual Credit
Etc.
Competitive Scholarship
Military
Teaching/Research Assistants
Good Neighbor Scholarship
Border County
Border States
Etc.
Complete Listing: http://collegeforalltexans.com/
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Direct Contact Information: lyn.kinyon@thecb.state.tx.us
512.427.6393 or 800.242.3062 x6393
General Contact Information : grantinfo@thecb.state.tx.us
512.427.6340 or 800.242.3062
General Website: www.collegeforalltexans.com
G&SP Site: https://www1.thecb.state.tx.us/apps/SpecialPrograms/
Distribution List: http://lists.state.tx.us/mailman/listinfo/txgnsp-l
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