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Presentation by the Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA). Higher Education Coordinating Council. Theresa Antworth Director, State Scholarship & Grant Programs March 11, 2011. William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG).
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Presentation by the Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) Higher Education Coordinating Council Theresa Antworth Director, State Scholarship & Grant Programs March 11, 2011
William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) • Third largest student financial aid program funded by Florida Legislature • Considered Tuition Assistance not Financial Aid • No need or merit component • 30 Participating Institutions • Keiser University to join the program in 2011-12
2010-11 Student Financial Assistance Budget * Program student counts are from March 2011 Student Financial Aid Estimating Conference
FRAG Award Amounts • Annual GAA sets the maximum award amount and appropriates funds for a consensus count of full time students • Award is capped at each student’s tuition and fees • Average Tuition and Fees = $21,800 • Current Annual Maximum Award = $2,425 • Each eligible student receives maximum award • If more students enroll than were appropriated; then a prorated amount is awarded • If fewer students enroll, then late reported enrollees are awarded • About one-third of FRAG students also receive either Bright Futures (26%), or FSAG (22%), or both (9%)
FRAG Began in … • 1979 as a State Tuition Voucher Program (s. 240.401 F.S.) to: • Support institutional diversity • Counter declining percentage of students enrolled at private institutions • Reduce the difference between public and private tuition; i.e., tuition equalization grants • Reduce the tax burden on Florida citizens • Maximum annual award of $1,000; later changed to a range of $1,150 - $2,000
Program Amendments • 1982 - Required students be degree seeking and enrolled in Associate or Baccalaureate programs • 1983 - Amended residency requirements • 1983 - Recommended increased voucher amount if ratio between tuition and General Revenue at public institutions decreased for 3 years • 1989 - Required institutions be accredited by SACS • 1989 - Intent of tuition assistance vs financial aid • 1989 - Advanced payments to institutions requiring subsequent reporting of expenditures
Program Amendments, cont. • 1991 - Aligned maximum award to 40% of the full cost to the state for FTE’s at public institutions • 1994 - Removed minimum award amount • 1994 - Renamed from State Tuition Voucher to William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant • 2005 - Amended award amount to be set in GAA annually
1979 State Tuition Voucher Program 25 Eligible Institutions • Non-profit • Located in and chartered by the state • Accredited by an agency holding membership in the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (dissolved in 1993) • Granted baccalaureate degrees • Credits acceptable without qualification for transfer to state universities • Not a state university • Not a pervasively sectarian institution Student Eligibility • Graduate of a Florida high school • Resided continuously in Florida for 2 years • Registered as a freshman after 7/31/79; freshman or sophomore after 7/31/80; etc. • Full-time, undergraduate • Not enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree in theology or divinity • Making satisfactory academic progress • Annual Award Amount – no more than $1,000
Current Florida Resident Access Grant 31 Eligible Institutions • Independent • Non-profit • Located in and chartered by the state • Accredited by the regional Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) • Grant baccalaureate degrees • Have a secular purpose Student Eligibility • Undergraduate • Resident • Full-time • Degree Seeking • Not enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree in theology or divinity • 2.0 GPA to renew each year • Annual Award $2,425
FRAG Eligible Institutions 2010-11 *Institution Grandfathered in 1989 **Institution later joined after program inception date
FRAG Disbursement History • Take off the 89-1011 in the first chart
OSFA Student Financial Aid Contacts & Information Levis Hughes, Chief of Student Financial Assistance, Loan Programs, Scholarship and Grant Programs Levis.Hughes@fldoe.org (850) 410-6810 Theresa Antworth, Director, State Scholarship and Grant Programs Theresa.Antworth@fldoe.org (850) 410-5185 Annual Report to the Commissioner can be found at http://www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org/SSFAD/pdf/annualreport07-08.pdf Florida Department of Education Office of Student Financial Assistance 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1314 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 1-888-827-2004