2011-12
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| Florida Statutes 1009.89 | State Board of Education Rule 6A-20.007 |
Program Description
The William L. Boyd, IV, Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) Program provides tuition assistance to Florida undergraduate students attending an eligible private, non-profit Florida college or university. FRAG is a decentralized state of Florida program, which means that each participating institution determines application procedures, deadlines, and student eligibility.
Initial Eligibility Requirements to Receive Funding
The student will:
- Be a Florida resident and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. A student’s residency and citizenship status are determined by the postsecondary institution. Questions regarding such status should be directed to the financial aid office or admissions office of the institution the student plans to attend.
- Not owe a repayment or be in default under any state or federal grant, loan, or scholarship program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
- Not have previously received a baccalaureate degree.
- Enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours per term at an eligible Florida college or university in a baccalaureate degree program.
- Meet Florida’s general eligibility requirements for receipt of state aid.
- Not be enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree in theology or divinity.
Applying for an Award
- The student will meet the application procedures established by the participating institution. Applications may be obtained at the financial aid offices of eligible Florida colleges and universities.
- NEW - Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), complete and error free. Visit the website at www.fafsa.ed.gov for online processing.
Student Award Renewal
- A renewal applicant must have earned a minimum institutional cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, and earned the equivalent of 12 credit hours for each term an award was received during the academic year.
- Eligibility is determined at the end of the second semester or third quarter of each academic year. Credit hours earned during the previous summer may be counted toward the total number of credit hours required.
- A student should consult the postsecondary institution for additional renewal requirements which are established by the institution.
Failure to Meet the Minimum Renewal GPA
- If a student does not meet the minimum institutional cumulative GPA, a probationary award may be granted for two semesters or three quarters.
- To be eligible for renewal the following year after probation, the student must have earned the required credits and institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Failure to Meet the Minimum Renewal Credit Hours
- A student who does not meet the annual minimum of 12 hours per semester (or equivalent) requirement for renewal (for one or both semesters), may not receive funding the following academic year.
- To be eligible for funding in a subsequent year, the student must apply for restoration and meet the general eligibility requirements for restoration and have earned an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Student Award Restoration
- A student may be eligible for restoration if an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale is earned at the end of the second semester or third quarter of the academic year for which the student was ineligible.
- The student may apply for restoration with the postsecondary institution after two semesters or three quarters.
Student Award Reinstatement
A student who met the requirements for a renewal award, but did not receive an award during a full year of eligibility and wishes to reestablish use of the grant, may apply for reinstatement with the postsecondary institution in a subsequent year provided the student has earned an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale as of the end of the second semester or third quarter of the academic year preceding the year the award is sought.
Award Procedures
- The postsecondary institution will determine applicant eligibility.
- The annual award amount for the 2011-12 academic year is $2,149. For students attending Keiser University, the annual award amount is $803.
- The amount of the FRAG award plus all other scholarships and grants specifically designated for payment of tuition and fees cannot exceed the total amount of tuition and fees charged by the institution. The college or university will adjust the amount of the FRAG award to conform to this maximum.
Award Disbursement
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) forwards award funding to participating postsecondary institutions. Each postsecondary institution distributes awards to eligible students.
Terms of Eligibility
- A student is eligible to receive an award for a maximum of 9 semesters or 14 quarters.
- Undergraduate students participating in college-preparatory instruction, students requiring additional time to complete the college-level communication and computation skills testing programs (CLAST), or students enrolled in a 5-year undergraduate degree program are eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of 10 semesters or 15 quarters. Five-year eligibility does not extend to a program of study which leads to the simultaneous award of a graduate and undergraduate degree.
- Unused terms may not be used for further course funding after a student earns a baccalaureate degree.
Appeal Process
An applicant who believes financial aid has been wrongly denied has certain rights to appeal.
If aid is denied for failure to meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, an applicant may appeal the denial to the institution by providing proof of illness or other emergency beyond the applicant's control. An institutional academic progress appeal is to be filed in writing within 30 days of the denial letter or by the date established by the institution's financial aid office, whichever is later.
Updating Information
An applicant must notify OSFA of any change in name, address, or institution attended. A student may update information the following ways:
- By accessing and updating the student record on the OSFA website at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, using the assigned User ID and PIN:
- Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications,
- select Application Status & Award History, and then
- under Initial Student Update, select the appropriate option.
- By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.
Transferring from one institution to another could affect an applicant’s award.
Use of an Applicant’s Social Security Number/Non-discrimination Statement
The Privacy Act of 1974 requires state agencies to inform applicants of the reasons for requesting their Social Security numbers (SSN). The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) requests an SSN on all applications for student financial assistance in order to correctly identify applicants, match each applicant's financial aid record with the student record at the postsecondary institution the applicant attends, and help coordinate state student aid programs with federal student aid programs.
An applicant will not be denied financial assistance for failure to disclose the SSN. Without an SSN, correct identification of an applicant's record cannot be assured and may result in an error or a delay in the disbursement of an award.
Pursuant to Section 1001.05, Florida Statutes, state student financial assistance is provided to eligible applicants without discriminating on the basis of ethnicity, gender, national origin, marital status, or handicap. Minority status will be considered when required by law as a condition of eligibility or selection.
For further information contact the financial aid office at eligible participating postsecondary institutions or the Florida Department of Education, Office of Student Financial Assistance, State Scholarship and Grant Programs, 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1314, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400. Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.
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