La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § IV-1203

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section IV-1203 - Definitions

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.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § IV-1203

Promulgated by the Student Financial Assistance Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance, LR 33:2615 (December 2007), amended LR 34:236 (February 2008), LR 35:647 (April 2009), LR 35:2349 (November 2009), LR 36:2853 (December 2010), LR 39:2234 (August 2013), Amended by the Board of Regents, Office of Student Financial Assistance, LR 44536 (3/1/2018), Amended LR 48485 (3/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3023 and R.S. 17:3046 et seq.