2007-08
Florida Work Experience Program
Fact Sheet

Program Description
The Florida Work Experience Program (FWEP) is a need-based program providing eligible Florida students work experiences to complement and reinforce their educational and career goals. FWEP is a decentralized state of Florida program, which means that each participating college, university, community college, career center operated by a district school board, and educator preparation institute determines application procedures, deadlines, student eligibility, and award amount.

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 (unless enrolled in an eligible educator preparation institute).
• Enroll for a minimum of six credit hours per term at an eligible college or university currently participating in FWEP in an associate or baccalaureate degree program, or
• Enroll no less than half-time in a career certificate program consisting of no less than 450 clock hours of instruction at an eligible career center, or
• Enroll as no less than a half-time student in good standing at an eligible educator preparation institute.
•  Maintain the equivalent of a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

How Does a Student Apply?
The student will demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in time to be processed error free by the deadline specified by the institution.

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 during the academic year earned:
  • 12 credit hours (360 clock hours) per term for full-time enrollment,  or
  • 9 credit hours (270 clock hours) for three-quarter time enrollment, or
  • 6 credit hours (180 clock hours) for half-time enrollment.
• Renewal eligibility is determined at the end of the second semester or third quarter of each academic year. Credit or clock hours earned during the previous summer can be counted toward the total number of credit hours required for renewal.
• Demonstrate financial need by completing an (error free) Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year by the deadline specified by the institution.

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

• If a student does not meet the minimum 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 or clock hours and institutional cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

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

• A student who does not meet the minimum number of credit or clock 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.

How Does a Student Restore?

• The 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.
• A 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, number of hours to be worked per week, and the award amount.
• The student’s award in combination with all other resources shall not exceed the student’s net financial need. The student’s earnings shall not exceed the FWEP award by more than $300 per academic year.

How are Awards Disbursed?
Funding is based on the number of hours a student worked. Students receive the award funding directly from the employer.

How Long May a Student Receive Funding?

• A student is eligible to participate in the program for a maximum of 8 semesters or 12 quarters, or the equivalent for less than full-time enrollment, or until the receipt of a first baccalaureate degree, whichever comes first.
• 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 (except at an eligible educator preparation institute).

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 Office of Student Financial Assistance (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.

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 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 in the award amount or a delay in the disbursement of an award.

Pursuant to Section 1000.05, Florida Statutes, state student financial assistance is provided to eligible applicants without discriminating on the basis of race, sex, 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, State Programs, Suite 70, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32303-4759. Contact OSFA toll-free at 1-888-827-2004.