2008-09
Florida Student Assistance Grant Program
Fact Sheet

• The Florida Public Student Assistance Grant is available to students who attend state universities and public community colleges.
• The Florida Private Student Assistance Grant is available to students who attend eligible private, non-profit, four-year colleges and universities.
• The Florida Postsecondary Student Assistance Grant is available to students who attend eligible degree-granting private colleges and universities not eligible under the Florida Private Student Assistance Grant.
• The Florida Public Postsecondary Career Education Student Assistance Grant (FSAG-CE) is available to students who attend participating community colleges or career centers operated by district school boards.  See the separate fact sheet for additional information regarding the FSAG-CE program.

• 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, or the equivalent, in an associate or baccalaureate degree program at an eligible institution to participate in the FSAG Postsecondary, FSAG Private, or FSAG Public programs.
• Enroll for a minimum of six credit hours per term, or the equivalent in an associate or baccalaureate degree program at a state university or community college in order to participate in the FSAG Public Part-time program.
• Meet Florida’s general eligibility requirements for receipt of state aid.

• A renewal applicant must have earned a minimum institutional cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and earn the following for each term an award was received during the academic year for the programs listed below:
  • Florida Public Student Assistance Grant,
    • 12 credit hours for each term for full-time enrollment;
    • 9 credit hours for three-quarter time enrollment; or
    • 6 credit hours for half-time enrollment.
  • Florida Private and Postsecondary Student Assistance Grants, 12 credit hours for each term award was received.
• 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.
• Demonstrate financial need by completing an error free FAFSA each academic year by the deadline specified by the institution.

• If a student does not meet the minimum institutional cumulative GPA, he/she 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 an institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• A student who does not meet the annual minimum number of credit hours required 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.

• A student may be eligible for restoration if he/she has earned an institutional cumulative 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.
• A student may apply for restoration with the postsecondary institution after two semesters or three quarters at the end of the spring term.

• The postsecondary institution will determine applicant eligibility and award amount.
• The annual minimum and maximum award amount may vary each academic year.  For the 2008-09 academic year the minimum annual award amount is $200 and the maximum is $1,916.

• A student receiving the FSAG Public is eligible to receive an award for a maximum for 110% of the number of credit hours required to complete a program.
• A student receiving FSAG Private or Postsecondary is eligible to receive scholarship funding for 9 semesters or 14 quarters of full-time enrollment.
• 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.

• 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, and then
  • under Initial Student Update, select the appropriate option.
• By calling OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.