Georgia Student Finance Commission

1. Georgia Student Finance Commission HOPE and State Aid Darryl Watson K-12 School Representative

2. HOPE Scholarship • Prior to Fall 2011 • Academic requirement • College Prep – 3.0 • Career Tech – 3.2 • Award • Tuition • HOPE-approved mandatory fees • Book stipend • Quarter System - $100 per quarter • Semester System - $150 per semester

3. HOPE Grant • For students seeking a certificate or diploma • Technical System of Georgia or University System of Georgia • Prior to Fall 2011 • Requirement • No GPA requirement • Meet Georgia residency policy • Award • Tuition • HOPE-approved mandatory fees • Book stipend • Quarter System - $100 per quarter • Semester System - $150 per semester

4. HOPE Changes Summary

5. HOPE Scholarship • Basic eligibility requirements: • Unchanged for current seniors • College Prep Diploma – 3.0 GPA • Career Tech Diploma – 3.2 GPA • Single diploma type – 3.0 GPA • Academic Rigor (New Section) • Requires that students graduating in 2015 must pass at least 2 courses from a list of academically rigorous courses in order to meet the requirements to be a HOPE Scholar upon high school graduation • Students graduating in 2016 must pass at least 3 courses from the list • Students graduating in 2017 beyond must pass at least 4 courses from the list

6. HOPE Scholarship • Rigor Requirements: • Advanced math, such as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, Math III, or an equivalent or higher course; • Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II, or an equivalent or higher course; • Advanced placement courses in core subjects; • International baccalaureate courses in core subjects; • Courses taken at a unit of the University System of Georgia in core subjects where such courses are not remedial and developmental courses; or • Advanced foreign language courses. GSFC will be providing a list of classes to further define each category.

7. HOPE Scholarship • Maintaining HOPE • Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA at all checkpoints. • The student may only regain eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship one time. • A student can regain eligibility at the 30, 60 or 90 semester hour check point or equivalent quarter hour check point. • Courses eligible • Only degree level courses will be paid for under the HOPE Scholarship. • The HOPE Scholarship will not pay for remedial or developmental courses.

8. HOPE Scholarship • Eligibility for HOPE occurs until: • The student has earned a baccalaureate or first professional degree; or • The student has attempted or received a total of combined payment of 127 semester hours; or • A period of seven years from high school graduation or equivalent. • Exceptions for Military Service

9. HOPE Scholarship • Seven Year Limit • Effective beginning with the Fall 2011 term. • A student receiving HOPE for the first time beginning summer 2011 is eligible for 7 years beyond the date of their high school graduation. • A student that served on military active duty following high school graduation, or equivalent, may request that time be added back their eligibility.

10. HOPE Scholarship • The HOPE Scholarship will pay: • Eligible Public Institutions • Percentage of previous year’s HOPE award • Eligible Private Institutions • Percentage amount of the HOPE award for private colleges

11. HOPE Scholarship • HOPE Scholarship at Public/Private Institutions • Factor Rate: Percentage determined annually by the Commission against which the previous year’s HOPE Award Rate amount is multiplied. • HOPE Award Rate: The rate equal to the previous year’s HOPE Award Amount multiplied by the Factor Rate. • HOPE Award Amount: The HOPE Award Rate multiplied by the number of credit hours, up to a maximum of 15 hours. • A payment chart for HOPE award is available on GAcollege411 under the HOPE Scholarship Information page.

12. HOPE Scholarship

13. HOPE Scholarship

14. Zell Miller Scholarship • New Scholarship Program for 2011 • Must meet HOPE Scholarship requirements, plus: • Minimum 3.7 GPA in academic core classes, and • 1,200 combined critical reading and math on SAT* or • 26 composite ACT. • Graduate from an eligible high school as the valedictorian or salutatorian. *Test requirements must be met in single test administration.

15. Zell Miller Scholarship • Maintaining Zell Miller Scholarship • Maintain at least a 3.3 GPA at all checkpoints. • The student may only regain eligibility for the Zell Miller Scholarship one time. • A student can only regain eligibility at the 30, 60 or 90 semester hour check point or equivalent quarter hour check point. • To be eligible, a student must meet requirements at High School Graduation.

16. Zell Miller Scholarship • The Zell Miller Scholarship will pay: • Eligible Public Institutions • Full standard tuition for the current academic year • Eligible Private Institutions • Award will be $4,000 per academic year for full-time study • Rate tables are available on Zell Miller Program Information page on GAcollege411.

17. HOPE Grant • Postsecondary GPA • No initial GPA requirement. • Student must have at least a 3.0 GPA on all paid coursework at 30 hour checkpoint. • If a student loses eligibility at the 30 hour checkpoint, they may regain eligibility with at least a 3.0 GPA at the 60 hour checkpoint • Covers up to 63 semester hours or 95 quarter hours • Students with a baccalaureate degree are not eligible to receive the HOPE Grant.

18. HOPE Grant • HOPE Grant will pay: • Percentage of previous year’s HOPE Grant award. • Students can use the chart posted on GAcollege411 to determine the exact amount of HOPE Grant. • HOPE Grant will pay $60.75 per hour

19. Dual Enrollment

20. Accel Program For students completing core classes for high school and college credit. Award amounts (tuition, fees, book stipend) and program eligibility are unchanged. Effective this year (2011-2012), the program is funded by State Appropriations. Accel courses taken in Fall 2011 or later will no longer count against the HOPE paid hours. Any courses taken prior to Summer 2011 will be counted as HOPE paid hours. The Accel course directory is posted on GAcollege411.org

21. Dual Enrollment Students who will be attending classes at a Technical College System of Georgia Institution. Students do not have to take only core classes. Funding is through HOPE Grant. Dual Enrollment courses are NOT counted against HOPE attempted hours.

22. The Student Access Loan The interest rate on the loan is 1% Funding of last resort or “gap financing” Able to borrow up to $10,000 per year Applications are randomly selected from all applicants Must reapply (Renewal not guaranteed) Application for Student Access Loan can be found on GAcollege411

23. ContactUs • Call GSFC at 1-800-505-4732 • www.GAcollege411.org • Email: clientservices@gsfc.org Darryl Watson Georgia Student Finance Commission darrylw@gsfc.org

24. Questions? Thank you!