The Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission revised the Scholarship and Grant Program Rules at its June 8, 2006 meeting to provide for the following:

· Revise the deadlines for students to submit documents that are required to determine their TOPS eligibility. This amendment to rule will establish a common date for the various deadlines required by TOPS. These revised deadlines are effective for the 2005-2006 Academic Year (College).

· Establish AP American Government as an approved equivalent course for Civics.

· Require campuses of the Louisiana Technical College to report the amount of uncommitted funds allotted for LEAP awards by November 1.

NOTICE OF INTENT

Student Financial Assistance Commission
Office of Student Financial Assistance

Scholarship/Grant Programs

(LAC 28:IV.505, 507, 703 and 1301)

The Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission (LASFAC) announces its intention to amend its Scholarship/Grant rules (LSA-R.S. 17:3021-3025, LSA-R.S. 3041.10-3041.15, LSA-R.S. 17:3042.1, and LSA-R.S. 17:3048.1).

The proposed rule has no known impact on family formation, stability, or autonomy, as described in LSA-R.S. 49:972. (SG0672NI)

NOTICE OF INTENT

Student Financial Assistance Commission
Office of Student Financial Assistance

Scholarship/Grant Programs

(LAC 28:IV.505, 507, 703 and 1301)

The Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission (LASFAC) announces its intention to amend its Scholarship/Grant rules (LSA-R.S. 17:3021-3025, LSA-R.S. 3041.10-3041.15, LSA-R.S. 17:3042.1, and LSA-R.S. 17:3048.1).

The proposed rule has no known impact on family formation, stability, or autonomy, as described in LSA-R.S. 49:972. (SG0672NI)

Title 28
EDUCATION
Part VI. Student Financial Assistance - Higher
Education Scholarship and Grant Programs

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Chapter 5. Application; Application Deadlines, and Proof of Compliance

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§505. Application Deadlines for High School Graduates and Home Study Completers of 2004 and Later and Eligible Non-Graduates

A.1 - 3. …
B. Deadline for Priority Consideration To Facilitate Timely Payment
B.1 - C.1. …

2. Returning Students

a. Beginning with the 2002-2003 through the 2004-2005 Academic Year (College), In in order for a Returning Student to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E, the final deadline for receipt of a student’s initial FAFSA or the On-Line Application is May 1 of the Academic Year (College) he first enrolls as a Full-Time Student in an Eligible College or University.
b. Beginning with the 2005-2006 Academic Year (College), in order for a Returning Student to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E, the final deadline for receipt of the student’s initial FAFSA or the On-Line Application is the July 1 immediately preceding the Academic Year (College) he first enrolls as a Full-Time Student in an Eligible College or University.

C.3.a. - c. …

d. If a Returning Student graduates in the 2003-2004 Academic Year (High School) and will be a First-Time Student in the fall semester of 2006, the student must submit the initial FAFSA or the On-Line Application no later than May 1, 2007 July 1, 2007.

C.4. - E. …

F. Renewal FAFSA

1. a. Through the 2004-2005 Academic Year (College), in In order to remain eligible for TOPS awards, a student who is eligible for federal grant aid must file a renewal FAFSA so that it is received by May 1 of each succeeding Academic Year (College) after initial eligibility is established.
b. Beginning with the 2005-2006 Academic Year (College), in order to remain eligible for TOPS awards, a student who is eligible for federal grant aid must file a renewal FAFSA so that it is received by the July 1 immediately preceding each Academic Year (College) after initial eligibility is established.

2. Students who can demonstrate that they do not qualify for federal grant aid because of their family’s financial condition are not required to submit a renewal FAFSA.

3. a. In the event of a budgetary shortfall, applicants who do not file a renewal FAFSA or who do not complete all sections of the FAFSA will be the first denied a TOPS award.
b. Students who can demonstrate that they do not qualify for federal grant aid because of their family’s financial condition and do not want to be the first denied a TOPS award must file a renewal FAFSA so that it is received by the July 1 immediately preceding each Academic Year (College) after initial eligibility is established.

F.4. - G. …


AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3036, R.S. 17:3042.1 and R.S. 17:3048.1.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Student Financial Assistance Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance, LR 22:338 (May 1996), repromulgated LR 24:635 (April 1998), amended LR 24:1901 (October 1998), repromulgated LR 27:1847 (November 2001), amended LR 30:2017 (September 2004), LR 31:37 (January 2005).


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§507. Final Deadline for Submitting Documentation of Eligibility

A. LASFAC will continue to process eligibility for both new and renewal applicants during each award year until May 1 July 1 after of the spring term of that award year.
B. (1) Through the 2004-2005 Academic Year (College), all All documentation and certifications necessary to establish student eligibility including, but not limited to, high school and/or college transcripts and certifications, copies of Student Aid Reports, applicant confirmation forms, promissory notes, ACT and/or SAT scores, residency affidavits, proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and other documents that which may be utilized in determining eligibility, must be received by LASFAC no later than May 1 of the award year. For example, to receive an award for the 2004-2005 award year, LASFAC must have in its possession all documents relevant to establishing eligibility by May 1, 2005.
    (2) Beginning with the 2005-2006 Academic Year (College), all documentation and certifications necessary to establish student initial eligibility including, but not limited to, high school and/or college transcripts and certifications, copies of Student Aid Reports, applicant confirmation forms, promissory notes, ACT and/or SAT scores, residency affidavits, proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and other documents that may be utilized in determining eligibility, must be received by LASFAC no later the July 1 immediately following the Academic Year (College) the student enrolls as a First-Time, Full-Time Student in an Eligible College or University. For example, to receive an award for the 2006-2007 Academic Year (College), LASFAC must have in its possession all documents relevant to establishing eligibility by July 1, 2007.
C. 1. Returning Students, who graduated high school during the 2001-2002 Academic Years (High School) and who enroll in an Eligible College or University in the spring semester 2003, must submit documentation that establishes TOPS eligibility no later than May 1, 2004.
    2. Returning Students, who enroll in an Eligible College or University in the fall semester of 2003 or later through the spring semester of 2005, must submit documentation that establishes TOPS eligibility no later than May 1 of the Academic Year (College) the student enrolls in an eligible Eligible College or University. For example, a student who seeks to enroll in an Eligible College or University in the fall semester of 2003 must submit documentation that establishes TOPS eligibility no later than May 1, 2004.
   3. Returning Students, who enroll in an Eligible College or University in the fall semester of 2005 or later, must submit documentation that establishes TOPS eligibility no later than July 1 immediately following the Academic Year (College) the student enrolls as a Full-Time Student in an Eligible College or University. For example, a student who seeks to enroll in an Eligible College or University in the fall semester of 2006 must submit documentation that establishes TOPS eligibility no later than July 1, 2007.
D. 1. A student who successfully completed an undergraduate degree prior to or during the 2001-2002 Academic Year (College) and wishes to receive his remaining award eligibility to attend a postgraduate school must provide the documentation and certifications required to establish student eligibility no later than May 1, 2004.
    2. A student who successfully completes an undergraduate degree during the 2002-2003 Academic Year (College) or later through the 2004-2005 Academic Year (College) and wishes to receive his remaining award eligibility to attend a postgraduate school must provide the documentation and certifications required to establish student eligibility no later than May 1 of the Academic Year (College) the student seeks to receive his remaining award eligibility. For example, to receive the remaining award for the 2003-2004 Academic Year (College), the student must submit the required documents no later than May 1, 2004.
   3. A student who successfully completes an undergraduate degree during the 2005-2006 Academic Year (College) or later and wishes to receive his remaining award eligibility to attend a postgraduate school must provide the documentation and certifications required to establish student eligibility no later the July 1 immediately following the Academic Year (College) the student seeks to receive his remaining award eligibility. For example, to receive the remaining award for the 2006-2007 Academic Year (College), the student must submit the required documents no later than July 1, 2007.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3036, R.S. 17:3042.1 and R.S. 17:3048.1.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Student Financial Assistance Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance, LR 22:338 (May 1996), repromulgated LR 24:635 (April 1998), amended LR 24:1901 (October 1998), repromulgated LR 27:1847 (November 2001), amended LR 28:447 (March 2002), LR 30:1161 (June 2004), LR 30:1471 (July 2004), LR 30:2019 (September 2004).

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Chapter 7. Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Opportunity, Performance, and Honors Awards

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§703. Establishing Eligibility

A.1. – 5.a.i.(dd) …
5.a.ii. for purposes of satisfying the requirements of 703.A.5.a.i., above, or 803.A.6.a., the following courses shall be considered equivalent to the identified core courses and may be substituted to satisfy corresponding core courses:

A.5.a.iii. - J.2.(b)(3)…

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3025, R.S. 17:3042.1 and R.S. 17:3048.1.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Student Financial Assistance Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance LR 22:338 (May 1996), repromulgated LR 24:636 (April 1998), amended LR 24:1902 (October 1998), LR 24:2237 (December 1998), LR 25:257 (February 1999); LR 25:655 (April 1999), LR 25:1794 (October 1999), LR 26:64 and 67 (January 2000), LR 26:689 (April 2000), LR 26:1262 (June 2000), LR 26:1602 (August 2000), LR 26:1996, 1999 and 2001 (September 2000), LR 26:2268 (October 2000), LR 26:2753 (December 2000), LR 27:36 (January 2001), LR 27:702 (May 2001), LR 27:1219 and 1219 (August 2001), repromulgated LR 27:1850 (November 2001), amended LR 28:772 (April 2002), LR 28:2330 and 2332 (November 2002), LR 29:125 (February 2003), LR 29:2372 (November 2003), LR 30:1162 (June 2004), LR 30:1471 (July 2004), LR 30:2019 (September 2004), LR 31:37 (January 2005), LR 31:2213 (September 2005), LR 31:3112 (December 2005).

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Chapter 13. Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP)

§1301. General Provisions

A. - E. …

F. Reallocation of Funds. Uncommitted institutional allotted funds are reallocated if not committed by the deadline of November 1 for colleges and universities and campuses of Louisiana Technical College and January 1 for proprietary schools. and campuses of Louisiana Technical College. The method of reallocation is dependent upon the amount of funds available for reallocation. If the reallocation amount is less then $50,000, then only two- and four-year colleges and universities, which have fully committed their original allotment by the appropriate deadline, receive a reallotment. If $50,000 or more is available for reallocation, it is reallotted to eligible schools of all types, which have fully committed their original allotment by the appropriate deadline.

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3036.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Student Financial Assistance Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance, LR 22:338 (May 1996), repromulgated LR 24:641 (April 1998), amended LR 24:1910 (October 1998), LR 25:1458 (August 1999), repromulgated LR 27:1860 (November 2001), amended LR 28:2332 (November 2002).

Interested persons may submit written comments on the proposed changes until 4:30 p.m., August 9, 2006, to Jack L. Guinn, Executive Director, Office of Student Financial Assistance, P.O. Box 91202, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-9202.

George Badge Eldredge
General Counsel