LOUISIANA STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE COMMISSION
OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Bulletin
TOPS BULLETIN NUMBER: T2001- 03
DATE ISSUED: March 12, 2001
EFFECTIVE DATE: As Indicated
DISTRIBUTION:

Louisiana High School Principals and Counselors, City and Parish School Board Presidents, School Board Superintendents, College and University, Technical College and LAICU Chancellors, Financial Aid Offices, Business Offices, Registrars and Auditors, System Governance, Board of Regents, Department of Education, Louisiana Officials, Louisiana Legislators, and Commission Members

TOPIC: Billing and Renewal for Eligible Part-Time Participants

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.

TOPS Rules §2103.C. and 2107., Less Than Full-Time Attendance, authorizes institutions to bill LOSFA for tuition and stipend for students who are enrolled for less than full time under the following situations:

• Requires less than full-time enrollment to complete the undergraduate degree; or
• Is enrolled in a degree program that defines full-time as less than 12 hours per semester or 8 hours per quarter; or
• Requires less than full-time enrollment to complete requirements for a specified course of study or clinical program.

Written verification by an appropriate institutional official must be retained by the school for students under these provisions. Students for whom institutions submit billings under these provisions are termed "ELIGIBLE PART TIME" (formerly Program Full-Time).

In order for "Eligible Part Time" Students to meet continuation requirements and renewal processing requirements, institutions must complete and forward an "Eligible Part-Time" listing for all students for whom part time billings have been submitted. Schools may utilize the attached form or an institution generated equivalent, one page for each term reported. Please retain copies for your records. Institution generated forms must include: SSN, LAST NAME, FIRST NAME, TERM, INSTITUTION NAME and NUMBER, STUDENTS MAJOR and HOURS ENROLLED.

In order for us to meet our renewal schedule/calendar, Eligible Part Time Listings MUST be received by the Office of Student Financial Assistance no later than APRIL 20, 2001.

Part-time students not meeting the criteria outlined above must meet the conditions of TOPS Rules §2103.E.10., Transfer/Graduation Part Time. These students must apply directly to LOSFA for permission to enroll for less than full time enrollment. Schools should not report these students.

Questions concerning information contained in this bulletin should be directed to John Bell, TOPS Awards Program Manager, jbell@osfa.state.la.us .

Attachment: Eligible Part Time Listing form