La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § IV-507

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

Section IV-507 - Final Deadline for Submitting Documentation of Eligibility

A. The board will continue to process eligibility for both new and renewal applicants during each award year until July 1 after the spring term of that award year.

1. Through the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS), all documentation and certifications necessary to establish student eligibility including, but not limited to, high school and/or college transcripts and certifications, copies of student aid reports, applicant confirmation forms, promissory notes, ACT and/or SAT scores, residency affidavits, proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and other documents that may be utilized in determining eligibility, must be received by the board no later than May 1 of the award year. For example, to receive an award for the 2004-2005 award year, the board must have in its possession all documents relevant to establishing eligibility by May 1, 2005.

2. Beginning with the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS) through the 2010-11 academic year (TOPS), all documentation and certifications necessary to establish student initial eligibility including, but not limited to, high school and/or college transcripts and certifications, copies of student aid reports, applicant confirmation forms, promissory notes, ACT and/or SAT scores, residency affidavits, proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and other documents that may be utilized in determining eligibility, must be received by the board no later than July 1 immediately following the academic year (TOPS) the student is first eligible for payment of a TOPS Award. For example, if a students initial FAFSA is received no later than July 1, 2007, for that student to receive an award for the 2007-2008 academic year (TOPS), the board must have in its possession all documents relevant to establishing eligibility by July 1, 2008.

3. Beginning with the 2011-12 academic year (TOPS), all documentation and certifications necessary to establish student initial eligibility including, but not limited to, high school and/or college transcripts and certifications, copies of student aid reports, applicant confirmation forms, promissory notes, ACT and/or SAT scores, residency affidavits, proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and other documents that may be utilized in determining eligibility, must be received by the board no later than January 15 immediately following the final deadline for receipt of the student's FAFSA or on-line application. For example, if a students graduates from high school in May 2011, the final deadline for receipt of the student's FAFSA or on-line application is July 1, 2012, and the deadline for receipt of all documents relevant to establishing eligibility is January 15, 2013.

C. Returning Students

1. Returning students, who graduated high school during the 2001-2002 academic years (high school) and who enroll in an eligible college or university in the spring semester 2003, must submit documentation that establishes TOPS eligibility no later than May 1, 2004.

2. Returning students, who enroll in an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2003 through the spring semester of 2005, must submit documentation that establishes TOPS eligibility no later than May 1 of the academic year (TOPS) the student enrolls in an eligible college or university. For example, a student who seeks to enroll in an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2003 must submit documentation that establishes TOPS eligibility no later than May 1, 2004.

a. Returning students, who enroll in an eligible college or university in academic year (TOPS) 2005-2006 or academic year (TOPS) 2006-2007, must submit an application to return from an out-of-state college no later than July 1 immediately following the academic year (TOPS) the student enrolls as a full-time student in an eligible college or university and must submit any supporting documentation required by the application no later than April 15 following the July 1 deadline.

i. To receive the full benefits of a TOPS Award as provided in §701 E, returning students, who enroll in an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007 or later, must submit an application to return from an out-of-state college no later than July 1 immediately following the academic year (TOPS) the student enrolls as a full-time student in an eligible college or university and must submit any supporting documentation required by the application no later than January 15 following the July 1 deadline.

ii. If an application to return from an out-of-state college is received after the July 1 deadline as provided in the clause above, but not later than 60 days after that date, the time period of eligibility for the award shall be reduced by one semester, two quarters, or an equivalent number of units at an eligible institution which operates on a schedule based on units other than semesters or quarters.

iii. If an application to return from an out-of-state college is received more than 60 days after the July 1 deadline as provided in the clause above, but not later than 120 days after that date, the time period of eligibility for the award shall be reduced by two semesters, three quarters, or an equivalent number of units at an eligible institution which operates on a schedule based on units other than semesters or quarters.

iv. An application to return from an out-of-state college received more than 120 days after the July 1 deadline shall not be considered.

v. If a prescribed deadline date falls on a weekend or holiday, it will automatically be extended to the next business day.

c. Examples

i. A returning student who enrolled in an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005 must submit the application to return from an out-of-state college no later than July 1, 2006, and any required supporting documentation such as college transcripts no later than April 15, 2007.

ii. A returning student who enrolled in an eligible college or university in the spring semester of 2007 must submit the application to return from an out-of-state college no later than July 1, 2007, and any required supporting documentation such as college transcripts no later than April 15, 2008.

iii. A returning student who enrolled in an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007 must submit the application to return from an out-of-state college no later than July 1, 2008, and any required supporting documentation such as college transcripts no later than January 15, 2009.

iv. A returning student who enrolled in an eligible college or university in the spring semester of 2008 must submit the application to return from an out-of-state college no later than July 1, 2008, and any required supporting documentation such as college transcripts no later than January 15, 2009.

v. A returning student who enrolls in an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2009 must submit the application to return from an out-of-state college no later than July 1, 2010, and any required supporting documentation such as college transcripts no later than January 15, 2011.

vi. A returning student who enrolls in an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2009, and whose application to return from an out-of-state college is received on July 10, 2010, will be eligible for a TOPS Award reduced by one semester or two quarters if any required supporting documentation such as college transcripts is received no later than January 15, 2011.

vii. A returning student who enrolls in an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2009, and whose application to return from an out-of-state college is received on September 10, 2010, will be eligible for a TOPS Award reduced by two semesters or three quarters if any required supporting documentation such as college transcripts is received no later than January 15, 2011.

a. Beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year (TOPS), all documentation and certifications necessary to establish a returning student's initial eligibility including, but not limited to, high school and/or college transcripts and certifications, copies of student aid reports, ACT and/or SAT scores, residency affidavits, proof of citizenship or permanent residency status and other documents that may be utilized in determining eligibility, must be received by the board no later than January 15 immediately following the deadline for receipt of the student's FAFSA or on-line application.

b. Examples

i. If a returning student enrolls full time in an eligible Louisiana college or university for the fall semester of 2007, his deadline to file the FAFSA or on-line application is July 1, 2008. If his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2008, and if all the necessary supporting documentation relevant to establishing eligibility is in the board's possession by January 15, 2009, the student will receive his TOPS Award (reduced by the number of semesters/terms he enrolled out-of-state) retroactively beginning the fall semester of 2007.

ii. If a returning student enrolls full time in an eligible Louisiana college or university for the spring semester of 2008, his deadline to file the FAFSA or on-line application is July 1, 2008. If his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2008, and if all the necessary supporting documentation relevant to establishing eligibility is in the board's possession by January 15, 2009, the student will receive his TOPS Award (reduced by the number of semesters/terms he enrolled out-of-state) retroactively beginning the spring semester of 2008.

iii. If a returning student enrolls full time in an eligible Louisiana college or university for the spring semester of 2008, his deadline to file the FAFSA or on-line application is July 1, 2008. If his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2008, but no more than 120 days later, and if all the necessary supporting documentation relevant to establishing eligibility is in the board's possession by January 15, 2009, the student will receive his TOPS Award (reduced by the number of semesters/terms he enrolled out-of-state and further reduced by one additional semester if 1 to 60 days late or by two additional semesters if 61 to 120 days late) retroactively beginning the spring semester of 2008.

1. A student who successfully completed an undergraduate degree prior to or during the 2001-2002 academic year (TOPS) and wishes to receive his remaining award eligibility to attend a postgraduate school must provide the documentation and certifications required to establish student eligibility no later than May 1, 2004.

2. A student who successfully completes an undergraduate degree during the 2002-2003 through the 2004-2005 academic year (TOPS) and wishes to receive his remaining award eligibility to attend a postgraduate school must provide the documentation and certifications required to establish student eligibility no later than May 1 of the academic year (TOPS) the student seeks to receive his remaining award eligibility. For example, to receive the remaining award for the 2003-2004 academic year (TOPS), the student must submit the required documents no later than May 1, 2004.

3. A student who successfully completes an undergraduate degree during the 2005-2006 academic year (TOPS) or later and wishes to receive his remaining award eligibility to attend a postgraduate school must provide the documentation and certifications required to establish student eligibility no later than July 1 immediately following the academic year (TOPS) the student seeks to receive his remaining award eligibility. For example, to receive the remaining award for the 2006-2007 academic year (TOPS), the student must submit the required documents no later than July 1, 2007.

E. The reduction of the student's period of eligibility for this award under §507. C above shall not be cumulative with any reduction under §505. D or §509. C

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § IV-507

Promulgated by the Student Financial Assistance Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance, LR 22:338 (May 1996), repromulgated LR 24:635 (April 1998), amended LR 24:1901 (October 1998), repromulgated LR 27:1847 (November 2001), amended LR 28:447 (March 2002), LR 30:1161 (June 2004), LR 30:1471 (July 2004), LR 30:2019 (September 2004), LR 32:2238 (December 2006), LR 33:2357 (November 2007), LR 34:1389 (July 2008), LR 34:1884 (September 2008), LR 36:312 (February 2010), LR 38:3157 (December 2012), Amended by LR 41662 (4/1/2015), Amended by the Board of Regents, Office of Student Financial Assistance, LR 44501 (3/1/2018).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3031, R.S. 17:3042.1 and R.S. 17:5001 et seq.