Transcript (RTSS) Program Overview PASFAA – Fall 2014

Ready to Succeed Scholarship
(RTSS) Program Overview
PASFAA – Fall 2014
Today’s Agenda
Program Background
Institution Eligibility
Student Eligibility
Technical Requirements
Student Nominations and Certifications
Disbursements and Refunds
Top RTSS FAQs
Program Background
Funded by the Pennsylvania General Assembly
2014-15 = Year One
$5 Million Allocation
Developed by PHEAA and PDE
Provides awards to high achieving, middle-income
Pennsylvania students
Recognizes that many middle income families may
not meet traditional State Grant ‘need’ requirement
Scholarship awards in combination with
Pennsylvania State Grant awards
Institution Eligibility
Approved for State Grant Program
Domiciled and Headquartered in PA
Principal physical location in PA as of June 30, 2014
For-profit schools = Incorporated within PA
Completed Application for 2014-15
Applications for 2015-16 available in Summer 2015
Institution Eligibility
Program of Study Requirements
At least 50% Classroom Instruction
Lead to a recognized Certificate, Diploma, or Degree
At least 2 academic years and offered over a period of at
least 15 months
 2 academic years = Minimum of 60 semester credits
 2 academic years = Minimum of 1,800 clock hours
 15 weeks = Minimum of 60 weeks of instruction
AST or ASB must have a minimum of 1,500 clock hours, 60
semester credits, or 90 quarter credits
Student Eligibility
Eligible students must have:
Completed at least 1 academic year
Cumulative GPA of 3.25
Completed FAFSA and State Grant Form
State Grant eligibility (excluding ‘need’)
 Enrolled in an approved Program of Study
 Enrolled at least half-time
Total annual family income ≤ $110,000
May receive both SG and RTSS
Maximum Award = $2,000 (full-time) or $1,000 (part-time)
Minimum Award = $500
Transfer Students
Mid-Year
•
Previous Institution(s)
•
•
•
New Institution
•
Institution must have been
eligible
Institution must have
nominated transfer student
New-Year
•
Institution must currently
•
be eligible
Institution must accept at
•
least 24 semester credits
to maintain eligibility
Award may fluctuate based •
on cost of attendance and
State Grant eligibility
Student must have
maintained at least 3.25
from all previous
institutions – report lowest
Institution must currently
be eligible
Institution must accept at
least 24 semester credits
to be eligible
Institution must maintain
eligibility documentation
(GPA)
Technical Requirements
Transmissions
Status Transmission – To: School/ From: PHEAA
Certification Transmission – To: PHEAA/ From: School
Disbursement Transmission* – To: School/ From: PHEAA
 Equivalent list of students eligible for certification
 Equivalent to disbursement roster
Refund Transmission - To: PHEAA/ From: School
Partner Interface
OC Webconnect
FG3S, FG7E, and FG59
Student Nominations
No separate student application
Mid-November: Student nomination period begins
PHEAA to provide potential Student Candidate List
School provides:



Grade level (2-5)
Cumulative GPA (3.00 and above)
Nomination indicator
Submitted via Partner Interface or Transmissions
First-come, first-served*
Student Nominations
Nomination Steps:
Identify Academic Level: Determine grade level 2 or above
students from list (minimum of 24 semester credits or the equivalent)
Report GPA: Provide the exact GPA for students with a 3.00 or
higher and a grade level 2 and above
Report Academic Level: Provide academic level for students
reported for GPA (3.00 or higher + grade level 2,3,4, or 5)
Nominate: Nominate candidates (3.25 GPA+ level 2 and above)
Indicate: Indicate which students are excluded due to GPA or
grade level (no other specific data)
Student Certifications
Eligibility Runs
Calculates award value for student and confirms eligibility
Run Dates = TBD
First Run = Early December
Pre-Certification
School certifies award value and eligibility
Required before disbursement
Student Communication
Eligibility Status
Determination Made
Account Access Updated
Mid-year Changes
Review Required
PHEAA Verification
Similar to State Grant Validation
Income and/or Domicile reviews
Account Access Updated
Disbursements & Refunds
First disbursement = January 2015
Student-level disbursements
Student-level refunds
Reject N if funds are spent
Reconciliation Process
Similar to SGDEPP
Anticipated to begin Spring 2015
Reporting
No outcomes reporting for schools
Survey RTSS Recipients
Schools will be notified when survey is sent to students
Schools are encouraged to remind students to complete
Survey details are forthcoming
RTSS FAQ
Q: Will there be an even distribution of funds among
students/schools?
A: RTSS is a student-based award. Eligible student recipients will be
selected based upon a nomination process and awarded based upon the
first-come, first-served criterion of the program. There is no limit to the
number of student recipients at any given school.
Q: What is the first-come, first-served nature of the award
based upon?
A: The first-come, first-served funding order of the RTSS award is based
upon the date students complete their FAFSA and State Grant Form. The
institution’s participation date in the RTSS Program will have no bearing on
student awards.
RTSS FAQ
Q: Is it necessary for a student to receive a State Grant award
in order to receive a RTSS award?
A: No. Students may receive a RTSS award without receiving a State Grant
award. If a student does receive both a RTSS award and a State Grant
award, the award may not exceed the RTSS maximum values.
Q: How are academic levels determined?
A: The institution is responsible for determining each student’s academic
level beyond that of the second year. A grade level of 5 should only be used
when a student is enrolled in a bona-fide five-year program.
RTSS FAQ
Q: What are the maximum number of payments a RTSS
student can receive?
A: Students may receive up to three years (a 3.0 counter) of full-time RTSS
awards and this may occur in conjunction with the State Grant award counter.
Students that are eligible to receive up to four years of State Grant funding
may also receive up to 3 years of RTSS funding.
The receipt of a RTSS award does not impact State Grant eligibility. Students
that have exhausted the RTSS counter, but not the State Grant counter, may
still receive State Grant funds providing he/she meets the eligibility
requirements. Once students exhaust the State Grant counter, they are not
eligible to receive RTSS funds.
RTSS FAQ
Q: If the student gets $2,000 in State Grant funds, can they
also get $2,000 in RTSS funds? Or, if they get a $1,500 State
Grant, can they only get $500 in RTSS funds?
A: The maximum combined award amount for RTSS is $2,000 for a full-time
student. If that student receives more than $1,500 in State Grant funds, they
will not receive any RTSS funds. If, however, that full-time student only
receives $1,500 in State Grant funding, he/she may be eligible to receive up
to $500 in RTSS funds.
RTSS FAQ
Q: Can a student who does not have a cumulative GPA of
3.25 and/or 24 semester credits at the time the institution
checks academic progress become eligible for a Spring 2015
RTSS award if they meet the minimum requirements at the
end of Fall 2014?
A: No. GPA and credit level are measured as snapshots of achievement
and will only be reviewed at a fixed point in time—Spring or Summer 2014
for the 2014-2015 academic year.
As a reminder, your institution is required to check State Grant progress for
the entire population of students at the same time annually, after the Spring
or Summer.
RTSS FAQ
Q: How will State Grant Distance Education Pilot Program
(SGDEPP) nominations affect RTSS eligibility? Are students
who are enrolled in programs of study that are structured to
be more than 50% online eligible to receive a RTSS award?
A: Programs of study that are structured to be more than 50% online are
not State Grant eligible; therefore, students enrolled in these programs are
not eligible for RTSS funding. This means that students currently eligible for
the SGDEPP are not eligible to receive funds through the RTSS Program.
RTSS Websites
School Page
www.PHEAA.org/rtss
Program Guidelines,
FAQs, etc
Student Page
‘Funding Opportunities’
Eligibility Requirements
Resources
Updated Materials
Program Guidelines
Transmission Layouts
Partner Interface
Website
 FAQs
 Communications
 School Lists (Student Page)
Training Opportunities
 Student Nominations and Certifications
 Reconciliation
 Refunds
Resources
Contact State Grant and Special Programs Staff
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 717-720-3786
Phone: 1-800-443-0646, Option 3, Option 1 or
1-800-443-0646, Option 4 (discuss transmissions)
Isaac Greene
(o) 717.720.3310
(e) [email protected]
Ashley Ruth
(o) 717.720.2183
(e) [email protected]