To assure that your Scholarship and Grant Policy and Procedure Manual remains current, please record this document on your TOPS Bulletin index and retain it with your manual.


In order to streamline the payment process for T. H. Harris and Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarships, the START Savings Program, and the Leveraging Education Assistance Partnership (LEAP, formerly SSIG) programs, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) will, effective with the 1999-2000 award year, forward a single check (bulk check) to institutions for all students funded by the specific programs referenced above. Procedures for each program are detailed below.

1. T. H. HARRIS SCHOLARSHIP: Institutions will be notified prior to the 14th class day of fall and spring terms of students eligible for T. H. Harris awards. Institutions will advise LOSFA of those students enrolled full time at the conclusion of the 14th class day. LOSFA will compute the total amount ($200 per semester X the number of students indicated) for each institution and forward a bulk check to them with a listing of students on whose behalf payment is being made.

2. LEVERAGING EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP : LEAP applications will be forwarded to state institutions within 60 days of LOSFA's receipt of notification of federal and/or state allocation. Institutions not eligible to participate in federal Title IV programs are ineligible to participate in the Louisiana LEAP program.

 

Upon acceptance of the institution’s LEAP application, LOSFA will forward to each institution its total LEAP allocation via a bulk check. Incomplete and incorrect LEAP applications will be returned for re-submission.

Institutions must submit a listing of awarded students and an institutional summary of LEAP awards made by January 31, 2000. Formats for institutional award listings and summaries will be forwarded upon receipt of federal guidance.

LEAP funds not awarded by January 15, 2000, must be refunded by institutions no later than January 31, 2000.

Returned funds will be reallocated to institutions as per existing rule. Institutions for whom the institutional summary is not received by January 31, 2000, will be ineligible to receive reallocated funds.

3. START SAVINGS PROGRAM: Currently eligible funds from these accounts will be forwarded to institutions via a bulk check following the prospective recipients designation of institution to be attended, and the Certificate of Enrollment signed and returned by the school. A listing of beneficiaries( with social security numbers) which details the disbursements and Tuition Assistance Grants (TAG) to be applied to student’s schools accounts will accompany the bulk check. Funds which cannot be disbursed must be returned to LOSFA within 30 days of the later of receipt of funds or beginning of term..

4. ROCKEFELLER STATE WILDLIFE SCHOLARSHIP: A bulk check for the total award will be released upon receipt of the school’s verification of the recipients’ full time enrollment in the appropriate major. An Acknowledgment of Disbursement will be returned to LOSFA for all funds disbursed. All undisbursed funds will be returned to LOSFA within 30 days of receipt of funds.