Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 28 - EDUCATION › Part IV - Student Financial Assistance-Higher Education Scholarship and Grant Programs › Chapter 12 - Louisiana GO Grant › Section IV-1203 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. The following
				definitions shall be applicable to the Louisiana GO Grant Program. Words and
				terms not otherwise defined in this Chapter shall have the meanings ascribed to
				such words and terms in this Section. Where the masculine is used in these
				rules, it includes the feminine, and vice versa; where the singular is used, it
				includes the plural, and vice versa. The term "the board" refers to the
				Louisiana Board of Regents.
Academic Year
-the academic year begins with
				  the fall semester or term of the award year, includes the winter term, if
				  applicable, and concludes with the completion of the spring semester or term of
				  the award year. Summer terms are not included in the academic year unless
				  authorized by the board and only if the post-secondary institution provides
				  students with Pell Grants or financial need grants during the summer
				  session.
Administering Agency
-the Louisiana Board of
				  Regents (the board) through the Louisiana Office of Student Financial
				  Assistance (LOSFA).
Cost of Attendance
-the total cost for a
				  student to attend a particular eligible Louisiana institution, usually
				  expressed as an academic year figure. This cost shall be determined by the
				  institution attended in compliance with title IV of the Higher Education Act of
				  1965, as amended, and shall be annually updated and adopted by the
				  institution.
Dependent Student
-a student who does not
				  qualify as an independent student for purposes of qualifying for title IV
				  aid.
Eligible Louisiana Institution
-
a. Louisiana public colleges or universities
				and institutionally accredited independent colleges or universities in the
				state that are members of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and
				Universities; and
b. Louisiana
				public colleges that have been granted regional candidacy status, but are not
				yet eligible to participate in title IV programs. Candidacy status institutions
				must require students to complete a FAFSA and the institution must determine a
				student's eligibility in accordance with rules under this Chapter.
Enrollment
-registration in programs of study
				  at an eligible Louisiana institution.
Excess Award
-an award in excess of what is
				  authorized by these rules and the guidance established by the board and
				  published by LOSFA.
Expected Family Contribution
(
EFC
)-an amount, determined by a formula established by
				  Congress, that indicates how much of a family's financial resources should be
				  available to help pay for the student's cost of attendance. Factors such as
				  taxable and nontaxable income, assets (such as savings and checking accounts),
				  and benefits (for example, unemployment or Social Security) are all considered
				  in this calculation.
Federal Pell Grant
-the Pell Grant provided
				  under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.
Financial Need
-the students costs of
				  attendance at the institution attended minus the expected family contribution
				  (EFC).
Financial Need Grant
-an institutional grant
				  provided by the state for students with financial need as evidenced by the data
				  reported on the FAFSA at a Louisiana public college that has been granted
				  regional candidacy status and is eligible to participate in the Go Grant
				  Program.
Full-Time
-a student enrolled in an eligible
				  Louisiana institution who is considered full-time by the school.
Go Grant Award Amount
-the award amount
				  actually paid during an academic year.
Half-Time
-a student enrolled in an eligible
				  Louisiana institution who is not full-time but is enrolled in at least six
				  semester credit hours, or four hours at a term school.
Independent Student
-a student who meets at
				  least one of the criteria listed in Subparagraphs a-f or has been determined
				  independent by a financial aid officer exercising professional judgment in
				  accordance with applicable provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as
				  amended:
a. reached 24 years of age
				prior to January of the year preceding the academic year for which the student
				is applying for aid;
b. is currently
				serving on active duty for purposes other than training or is a veteran of the
				U.S. Armed Forces, including a student who was activated to serve in Operation
				Desert Storm;
c. is an orphan or a
				ward of the court or was a ward of the court until age 18;
d. has legal dependents other than a
				spouse;
e. is a graduate or
				professional student;
f. is married.
Less Than Half-Time
-a student enrolled in an
				  eligible Louisiana institution who is not full-time and is enrolled in less
				  than six semester credit hours or four hours at a term school.
Louisiana Resident
-
a. a dependent or independent student whose
				true, fixed, and permanent home of residence is Louisiana as reported on the
				free application for federal student aid (FAFSA);
b. a dependent student whose non-custodial
				parent completes a residency affidavit in Subparagraph e below that establishes
				Louisiana residency;
c. a dependent
				student whose parent is transferred out of Louisiana temporarily by his/her
				employer and that parent completes a residency affidavit in Subparagraph e
				below that establishes Louisiana residency;
d. a dependent student whose parent is on
				active duty in the armed forces and who is stationed in Louisiana under
				permanent change of station orders, or an independent student who is on active
				duty military status in the armed forces and is stationed in Louisiana under
				permanent change of station orders;
e. if the dependent or independent student
				does not report Louisiana as his true, fixed, and permanent home of residence
				as Louisiana on the FAFSA, the board may require an independent student
				applicant or the parent of a dependent student applicant to show proof of
				residency. Residency may be established by completion of a standard affidavit
				developed by the board. Such affidavits must be completed in their entirety by
				the independent student applicant or by at least one parent of the dependent
				student applicant and be sworn to and notarized by a licensed notary public.
				Further, the affiant shall be required to submit records in support of the
				affidavit to include the following records and such other records as may be
				required by the board:
i. if registered to
				vote, a Louisiana voter registration card; and
ii. if licensed to drive a motor vehicle, a
				Louisiana driver's license; and
iii.
				if owning a motor vehicle located in Louisiana, a Louisiana registration for
				that vehicle; and
iv. if earning a
				reportable income, a Louisiana tax return.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
-a standard
				  established in accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, by
				  the institution at which a GO Grant recipient is enrolled for measuring a
				  student's progress in his or her educational program.
Undergraduate Program
-a program of study
				  that is designed to lead to a certificate or undergraduate
				  degree.