Alabama Administrative Code › Title 300 - ALABAMA COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION › Chapter 300-4-13 - (RE)ENGAGE ALABAMA GRANT PROGRAM › Section 300-4-13-.06 - Awarding Procedures

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) The
			 following procedures shall be the method used by the Commission for making the
			 (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program funds available to eligible students at
			 approved institutions:
(a) Each applicant must
			 submit to the eligible institution a yearly Free Application for Federal
			 Student Aid application (FAFSA).
(b) An applicant may receive consideration
			 for the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program award at only one approved institution
			 during one academic term. An application must be submitted for each term of
			 enrollment. The student recipient must remain continuously enrolled at the same
			 approved institution while seeking to complete a degree in the approved
			 (Re)Engage Program to maintain eligibility.
(c) The (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program
			 Application may be obtained from approved institutions.
1. All information requested on the
			 initial(Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program Application must be completed by the
			 student and submitted to the Financial Aid Office of the approved institution
			 in which the student is enrolled by the given deadline date. As long as a
			 student is continuously enrolled as defined, the student is to complete a
			 (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program application for each term following the
			 initial award term. All applications must be kept on file (electronically or
			 paper) by the institution for at least five years following the student
			 receiving a degree. Should a student not be continuously enrolled at the
			 institution, a new application is required following stop-out, as defined,
			 prior to the new enrollment and reconsideration of receiving the grant. ACHE is
			 to receive a copy of all applications and the certified (Re)Engage Alabama
			 Grant Program Award List within 30 business days of the student application
			 deadlines each academic term.
(i) Student
			 application deadlines for semester terms are as follows:
(I) Fall Semester term grant applications
			 must be received by September 15.
(II) Spring Semester term grant applications
			 must be received by February 15.
(III) Summer Semester term grant applications
			 must be received by June 15.
(ii) Student application deadlines for
			 quarter terms are as follows:
(I) Fall Quarter
			 term grant applications must be received by September 15.
(II) Winter Quarter term grant applications
			 must be received by January 15.
(III) Spring Quarter term grant applications
			 must be received by April 15.
(IV)
			 Summer Quarter term grant applications must be received by June 15.
2. Initial applications
			 received by an approved institution's Financial Aid Office shall be dated when
			 received. Each initial application shall have a preliminary review by the
			 institution to determine if the application is complete and meets the
			 eligibility criteria for a grant. Each student applicant shall be notified by
			 the institution when the initial application is incomplete and additional
			 information is needed. If all items and information requested on the initial
			 application form are not completed, the application is invalid and the student
			 is ineligible to receive the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program payment. The
			 institution shall notify each applicant who does not meet all eligibility
			 criteria and is, therefore, ineligible for the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program
			 award.
3. All applications which
			 pass the institution's preliminary review for eligibility shall be compared to
			 other appropriate institutional records. Institutional records shall be used to
			 verify the following requirements for each student applicant:
(i) Age, 25 years or older.
(ii) A citizen or a lawful permanent resident
			 of the United States.
(iii) A
			 resident of Alabama.
(iv) A
			 graduate of a secondary school or the recognized equivalent of a high school
			 graduate.
(v) Has not attended a
			 postsecondary education institution for at least two (2) years (24 consecutive
			 months) prior to their current enrollment.
(vi) Has not earned an associate or
			 baccalaureate degree at any other institution prior to applying for the
			 (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program.
(vii) Classified as an undergraduate student
			 with the completion of at least 36 credit hours for an associate degree or at
			 least 72 credit hours for a baccalaureate degree.
(viii) Enrolled as a full-time student
			 (minimum of twelve (12) semester hours) or part-time (minimum of six (6)
			 semester hours) student in an eligible program in an authorized institution
			 leading to an associate degree or baccalaureate degree that is aligned with
			 Alabama's high demand workforce needs promulgated by the Alabama Committee on
			 Credentialing and Career Pathways.
(ix) Has good academic standing as defined by
			 the institution.
(x) Not enrolled
			 in a course of study leading to an undergraduate degree in theology, divinity,
			 or field of preparation for a religious vocation.
(d) For students who are to be
			 determined as eligible for a (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program award each term,
			 the institution shall complete a certified (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program
			 Award List and submit the list to the Commission. The award list shall include
			 but is not limited to the following information: student's full name,
			 identification number, the eligible program in which the student is enrolled,
			 current term requesting funds, prior terms of received funds (includes renewals
			 of grant), and total enrollment hours of all students to validate eligibility
			 and determine award amount during the identified academic term. This list will
			 be electronically shared with the Commission using a Secure File Transfer
			 Protocol (SFTP) network provided by the Commission for security purposes. The
			 financial aid office representative and the president of each institution shall
			 sign the approved institution's (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program Award List for
			 each academic term, certifying that each student on the roster is eligible for
			 the award and has submitted a complete and acceptable (Re)Engage Alabama Grant
			 Program application to the institution on or before the application deadline
			 for the term in which payment is requested.
(e) The maximum award amount a full-time
			 student may receive per academic term is $3,000 for universities and $1,500 for
			 community colleges. The maximum award shall be reduced proportionately for
			 students who enroll six to eleven hours and for students enrolled in less
			 common academic terms, such as quarters, summer terms, and
			 intersessions.
(f) Each awardee
			 shall be sent an award notice by the institution to inform of aid awarded
			 through the (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program.
(g) The institutional financial aid office
			 representative will check each awardee for eligibility guidelines to include,
			 but not limited to, the following:
1. Age, 25
			 years or older;
2. Residency of
			 Alabama;
3. Student has not
			 attended a postsecondary education institution for at least two (2) years (24)
			 consecutive months) prior to their current enrollment.
4. Number of hours enrolled;
5. Eligible program and academic progress;
			 and
6. Good standing as defined by
			 the institution.
(h) The
			 institutional financial aid office representative shall be responsible for
			 ensuring that each student is not over-awarded.
(i) The (Re)Engage Alabama Grant Program will
			 send a total sum payment of funds per academic term to the approved institution
			 for deposit in the institution's (Re)Engage account to be credited accordingly
			 to eligible student accounts provided on each academic term's (Re)Engage
			 Alabama Grant Program Award List.
(j) All eligible institutions shall follow
			 the policies and procedures set forth by the Commission for the (Re)Engage
			 Alabama Grant Program.