2007-08
Access to Better Learning and Education Grant Program
Fact Sheet

Florida Statutes 1009.891

Program Description
The Access to Better Learning and Education (ABLE) Grant Program provides tuition assistance to Florida undergraduate students enrolled in degree programs at eligible private Florida colleges or universities. ABLE is a decentralized state of Florida program, which means that each participating institution determines application procedures, deadlines, and student eligibility.

What are the 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.

How Does a Student Apply?
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.

How Does a Student Renew?

• 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 can be counted toward the total number of credit hours required.
• A student should consult his/her postsecondary institution for renewal requirements established by the institution.

What if a Student Does Not Meet the Minimum GPA Required for Renewal?

• A student who earns the minimum number of credits required for renewal, but fails to meet the minimum 2.0 institutional cumulative GPA may be granted a probationary award 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.

What if a Student Does Not Meet the Minimum Credit Hours Required for Renewal?

• A student who does not meet the annual minimum 12 hour per semester (for one or both semesters) requirement for renewal, 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.

How Does a Student Restore?

• A student may be eligible for restoration if he/she has earned an institutional GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale at the end of the second semester or third quarter of the academic year for which he/she was ineligible.
• The student may apply for restoration with the postsecondary institution after two semesters or three quarters at the end of the spring term.

How Does a Student Reinstate?
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.

What is the Award Process?

• The postsecondary institution will determine applicant eligibility.
• The award amount is specified by the Florida Legislature each year in the General Appropriations Act.
• The amount of the ABLE 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 ABLE award to conform to this maximum.

How are Awards Disbursed?
The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) forwards award funding to participating postsecondary institutions. Each postsecondary institution distributes awards to eligible students.

How Long May a Student Receive Funding?

• A student is eligible to receive an award for a maximum of 9 semesters (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.
• Unused hours may not be used for further course funding after a student earns a baccalaureate degree.

How May a Student Appeal?

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.

How Does a Student Make Changes in Information?

An applicant must notify OSFA of any change in name, address, or institution attended. A student may update information in the following ways:

• By accessing and updating the student record on the OSFA Web site at www.FloridaStudentFinancialAid.org, using the assigned User ID and PIN:
  • Select State Grants, Scholarships & Applications,
  • select Application Status & Award History,
  • select Initial Student Update, and then 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 postsecondary institutions or OSFA, Suite 70, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759. Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.