La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § IV-2209

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section IV-2209 - Responsibilities of Eligible Colleges

A. Initial Eligibility. Eligible colleges must determine:

1. that an applicant meets the enrollment requirements at the college;

2. that an applicant is enrolled in an eligible program of study;

3. that an applicant has attained a high school diploma or is co-enrolled in a program to attain a high school equivalency diploma; and

4. the appropriate award amount for the student as determined in accordance with §2201.G and its M.J. Foster Promise Program packaging policy.

B. Continuing Eligibility. Eligible Louisiana institutions must determine whether a recipient is in good academic standing.

C. Packaging Policy

1. Eligible colleges must establish and use a policy on M.J. Foster Promise Program packaging that provides:

a. procedures for compliance with these rules and the guidance established by the board and published by LOSFA for determining the award amount;

b. record retention to comply with Subsection I of this Section;

c. the basis used to establish award amounts;

d. award amounts for less than full-time students;

e. procedures for identification of transfer students and ensuring transfer students receive awards on the same basis as home students;

f. procedures that identify students who meet the criteria provided in §2211.F when sufficient funding is not available to fund all eligible students; and

g. method for determining that a student has made steady academic progress.

2. Eligible colleges must revise the institution's M.J. Foster Promise Program packaging policy as necessary to reflect changes to the applicable legislation and administrative rules promulgated by the board to implement this program.

D. Award Amount. Eligible Louisiana institutions must establish the award amounts for each individual student based on the institution's M.J. Foster packaging policy. The amount awarded must comply with the requirements and limitations established in these rules and the guidance published by LOSFA.

E. Submission of Payment Requests. Each semester, quarter or term, eligible Louisiana institutions shall submit a payment request to LOSFA for students enrolled at the institution who have been determined eligible for an M.J. Foster Promise Program as follows:

1. for each student eligible for an award who is enrolled at the end of the fourteenth class day for semester schools (the ninth class day for quarter and term schools), or for any qualifying summer sessions, students attending proprietary schools, or students enrolled in a program that is not provided on a traditional semester/term basis, at the end of the time to drop and receive a full refund for the course of study in which enrolled;

2. the payment request shall include the:

a. Social Security number;

b. college code;

c. term;

d. date;

e. program type

i. associate's degree;

ii. certificate program (one year);

iii. certificate program (two year);

iv. CareerTech (1 - 8 credits);

v. CareerTech (9 or more credits);

vi. diploma program;

vii. credential of value;

viii. on ramp credential;

ix. concurrent enrollment in a program that results in a high school equivalency diploma.

f. CIP code for the course of study in which enrolled;

g. degree level code for the course of study in which enrolled;

h. increment key for the course of study in which enrolled;

i. amount requested for each student, including $0 payment requests in the event a student has sufficient other financial to pay the costs set forth in §2201.G;

j. anticipated time to complete program of study

i. less than one year;

ii. more than one year.

F. At the end of every semester or term, or upon completion of a program of study, the following shall be reported:

1. hours attempted, if enrolled in an associate's degree program;

2. hours earned, if enrolled in an associate's degree program; and

3. whether the student completed his program of study.

G. Over Payments

1. No institution shall submit a payment request for M.J. Foster Promise Program funds which would result in a student receiving an annual total of more than is authorized in §2201.G

2. Eligible Louisiana institutions certify by submitting a payment request for an M.J. Foster Promise Program award that the institution will:

a. reimburse LOSFA for the total amount of any award that is disbursed to ineligible students; and

b. for any amount of an award that is in excess of the maximum lifetime award ($6,400).

H. Excess Award. In the event an excess award occurs during the fall semester or quarter or the winter quarter due to receipt of additional gift aid, the school shall reduce the award amount for the spring accordingly. In the event an excess award occurs during the spring semester or quarter due to receipt of additional gift aid, the school shall document the reason for the excess award.

I. Over Award. In the event the student's total aid exceeds his financial need for the costs set forth in §2201.G, M.J. Foster Promise Program grant shall be reduced, institutional and other aid in accordance with institutional practice, then the Louisiana GO Grant, shall be reduced by the amount of any remaining over award.

J. Records Retention. Records pertaining to an M.J. Foster Promise Program award are subject to audit as required by the board and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. Eligible Louisiana institutions shall maintain all records for a minimum of three years from creation. All such records shall be made available upon request by the board and/or the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.

K. Each eligible Louisiana institution shall provide a copy of its M.J. Foster Program packaging policy as required by §2209.C to LOSFA, when requested.

L. Audits. Eligible Louisiana institutions that participate in the M.J. Foster Promise Program grant LOSFA and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor the right to inspect records and perform on-site audits of each institution's administration of the program for the purpose of determining the institution's compliance with state law and applicable rules and regulations.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § IV-2209

Promulgated by the by the Board of Regents, Office of Student Financial Assistance, LR 481096 (4/1/2022), Amended LR 50181 (2/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3047 et seq.