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.

The following explanations are provided to clarify how TOPS continuation requirements are applied under certain circumstances:

• Evaluation of Steady Academic Progress (cumulative GPA of at least 2.0) does not commence until the semester or term after a student enrolls and is paid a TOPS award as a "First Time, Full Time" Freshman. With the exception of the 1997 graduates, grades earned prior to a student's designation as a "First Time, Full-Time" Freshman will not prevent a student from receiving an award. For example, if a 1999 high school graduate attends college part-time during the 1999-2000 academic year, or attends the summer term prior to their "First Time, Full Time" Freshman enrollment, the student's performance during these enrollment periods is not evaluated for Steady Academic Progress. The school may bill for this student upon his "First time, Full Time" enrollment, as long as he is enrolled full time as of the 14th class day. The student's cumulative GPA will be checked following the first term or semester of full-time enrollment and, if Steady Academic Progress (meaning a 2.00 cumulative GPA inclusive of all periods of enrollment) has not been achieved, the award will be suspended.

• The cumulative GPA requirement for continuation in TOPS is evaluated at the culmination of the first academic year and is only checked once a year following the spring term. The first academic year is defined as completion of at least 24 credit hours. For Opportunity Awards, a 2.3 is required at the end of the first academic year and, for Performance and Honor Awards, a 3.0. However, students who have earned less than 24 hours at the end of the spring term following their "First Time, Full Time" enrollment either because of an authorized waiver of continuous enrollment or because their enrollment commenced with the spring term or semester, will be evaluated for Steady Academic Progress only. Because the student has not been enrolled as a "First Time, Full Time" Freshman for a full academic year, they will not be evaluated for continuation standards until the end of the next academic year. At that time, they will be evaluated for grades and hours earned over all periods of enrollment.

• Students who are suspended for failure to maintain Steady Academic Progress and who then regain a 2.00 cumulative GPA before earning 24 hours of credit will be reinstated to the program. This will only occur when the student has received an approved waiver of continuous enrollment (because they would be canceled for hours otherwise) or began enrollment as a "First Time, Full Time" Freshman in the spring semester or winter/spring quarter.

• Once a student has earned 24 credit hours, they must maintain the requisite GPA for continuation.

If you have questions about the explanations provided herein, please contact your School/Lender Specialist.