OFB Draft college funding proposal

Got this from the Office for the Blind, you might want to take a look at it and pass it on From: Hall, Elaine Sent: Friday, May 11, 2012 3:00 PM Subject: OFB Draft college funding proposal Hello all, Attached is the Draft document that OFB is proposing related to helping with college funding. Please look over it carefully. Please forward it to your parents if they might be interested. Below are dates where there will be public hearings related to this funding. Please try to go if you feel strongly about the attached draft. Elaine Hall School Counselor Kentucky School for the Blind 1867 Frankfort Avenue Louisville, KY 40206 502-897-1583 ext. 238 DRAFT Policy Directive FY2012-09 TO: VR Counselors and Assistants Managers FROM: Allison Jessee, Director Division of Consumer Services DATE: RE: Training Assistance Policy Effective fall of 2012, the following Training Assistance Policy is in place for eligible consumers attending any post-secondary training in Kentucky. Eligibility Consumers who are interested in attending a post-secondary training program and wish to have financial support from OFB must meet the following guidelines. 1. Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. This can be submitted online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. 2. Be in good standing with the school’s financial aid office so that they are eligible to receive financial aid. Students that have defaulted on loans or owe money to the school will not be eligible to receive financial assistance from OFB until they are in good standing with the financial aid office. Consumer’s Responsibilities 1. Provide the counselor with a copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR) each year. The SAR is the report that the individual gets after successfully completing the FAFSA each year. 2. Provide the counselor with a copy of the Financial Aid Notification (FAN) from their school’s financial aid office each year. 3. Provide the counselor with a copy of their schedule for the upcoming term and grades from the previous term. Authorizations for payments to schools and bookstores will not be generated until both of these items are received. 4. Maintain contact with their counselor and promptly notify their counselor of any changes in major, schools, dropping a class, or any other changes that might impact their progress and funding. These changes must be agreed upon by the counselor and consumer. Status and Progress Information 1. All consumers should be enrolled full-time according to their training institution’s definition of full-time status. For many schools on a semester system, this means 12 hours as an undergraduate and 9 hours as a graduate. 2. Students pursuing an undergraduate degree must maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) to continue to receive funding through OFB. Consumers pursuing a graduate degree must maintain a 3.0 GPA. 3. Consumers will be allowed 1.5 times the expected time for completion of a program or a degree. For example, those enrolled in a 4 year program will have 6 years to complete their degree. Those enrolled in a 2 year program will have 3 years to complete their degree. Those enrolled in a 12 month program will have 18 months to complete their degree. 4. Only 1 remedial or non-credit course will be paid for by OFB during a consumer’s college coursework. Consumers needing to take more than one remedial or non-credit course will be expected to pay for the classes themselves or through other sources of financial assistance. 5. Summer school will only be allowed if the student is full-time and it will allow the consumer to graduate a semester early. Consumers must provide proof that they have applied for financial aid for summer school before OFB will calculate the amount that can be paid for summer school. 6. Intersession classes must be approved by the Regional Manager. Payment for Training Related Expenses 1. OFB will not pay for college application fees or housing deposits. 2. The amount paid will be based on the student’s unmet need. The unmet need is determined by taking the school budget and subtracting the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), grants, work study, 1/3 of SSI/month for 9 months, and other non-merit awards. Students will be required to submit to the counselor each year their Student Aid Report (SAR) and the Financial Aid Notification (FAN) documents. The SAR will be sent once the FAFSA is completed, and the FAN will come to the student from the school’s financial aid office. This information will need to be resubmitted to the counselor if there are any changes to either form. 3. Merit awards, while not considered in the calculations, should be considered by the counselor when negotiating the amount that OFB will pay. 4. The total amount paid for an academic year should not exceed $5000 for tuition and room and board and $300 for books. The amount paid for the year will be the lesser of the student’s unmet need or $5000. 5. The total amount paid for summer school is $2500 for tuition and room and board and $150 for books. 6. Consumers who are offered the opportunity to participate in the work study program are expected to take part in the program. This will give the consumer the opportunity to build work skills and develop a work history to put on their resumes. Any exceptions to the above guidelines must be approved by the Regional Manager.