LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
LACRAO
Articulation
Workshops
2017
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
Legislative and Rule
Changes
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
TOPS• Funding for TOPS is contingent upon appropriation.• Beginning with the graduating class of 2016,TOPS Award
amounts are decoupled from tuition and are set to the maximum TOPS “fully funded” amount as the tuition charged by the institution for the 2016-2017 academic year.
• For 2018 graduates, the Louisiana Legislature adjourns on June 4, 2018. LOSFA will know after the session ends if TOPS is fully funded.
• For students graduating in 2018 and thereafter, Human Anatomy and Physiology as been added as a course equivalent (substitute) for Biology II.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• TOPS Awards will be distributed to all students according to a pro-rata distribution of the available funds (LA Revised Statue 17:5065 (D).
– Performance and Honors Award Stipends are subject to reduction under the pro-rata distribution
– TOPS Tech Early Start Award and the National Guard stipend are not subject to reduction under the pro-rata distribution.
What Happens in the Event of a Budget Shortfall?
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• Only available if TOPS is not fully funded (budget shortfall)
• Student can “opt out” of receiving their TOPS Award in the event of a budget shortfall
• Students must have a Student Hub account (available on LOSFA’s website at www.osfa.la.gov) to opt out of their TOPS Award payment
• Students who opt out will not be required to enroll full time or maintain continuous enrollment during the academic year in which they opt out
Opt-Out Option During Budget Shortfall
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• If the student opts out the time period for a student whose awards are suspended for failure to meet Steady Academic Progress WILL NOT be extended.
• Students who opt out must use all of their TOPS eligibility within 5 years of the budget shortfall– Maybe extended if student requests an exception for cause in
accordance with administrative rules.
Opt-Out Option During Budget Shortfall
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• For students graduating in 2018 and thereafter, Human Anatomy and Physiology as been added as a course equivalent (substitute) for Biology II.
• Beginning with students graduating in 2021, the GPA for TOPS Performance Award will be a 3.25 and the GPA for TOPS Honors Award will be a 3.50.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• Beginning with 2018 grads, credit for both AP Physics I (one unit) and AP Physics II (one unit) for a total of 2 units will meet the 2 unit science category requirement for the TOPS Core Curriculum.
• Beginning with 2018 grads, credit for AP Physics I alone or AP Physics II alone cannot be used with another science course to meet the 2 unit science requirement for the TOPS Core Curriculum.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
TOPS Core Curriculum GPA• Beginning with students graduating in the 2017-2018 school year and
thereafter, the calculation of the TOPS Core Curriculum grade point average (GPA) will use a five- (5.00) point scale for grades earned in certain designated Advanced Placement (AP) courses; International Baccalaureate (IB) courses; Gifted courses; Dual Enrollment courses, Honors courses and Articulated courses offered for college credit by the Louisiana School for the Math, Science and the Arts used to complete the TOPS Core Curriculum.
• The courses currently designated to be calculated on the 5.00 point scale can be viewed at https://www.osfa.la.gov/5scale.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
TOPS Tech Award
• Beginning with the graduating class of 2017, the TOPS
Tech Award may be used to pursue– associate's degree or other shorter-term training and
education programs, including skill, occupational, vocational,
technical, certificate, and academic, that the Workforce
Investment Council (WIC) and the Board of Regents (BOR)
determine are aligned to state workforce priorities.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
TOPS TECH PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY COUNCIL APPROVED PROGRAMS
DEGREE INSTITUION DISCIPLINE
ASBRCC
COMPUTER SCIENCESUSLA
AS DelgadoELECTRICAL-ELECT. ENGINEER
TECH
AS SLCC INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
AS NichollsPETROLEUM SERVICES
SAFETY TECHNOLOGY
AA McNeesePARALEGAL STUDIES
Nunez
AAAS
Delgado
CRIMINAL JUSTICEBRCC
FTCC
ASCJ LSUE
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
TOPS TECH PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY COUNCIL APPROVED PROGRAMS
DEGREE INSTITUION DISCIPLINE
AS HSC-NODENTAL LABORATORY
TECHNOLOGY
AS FTCCCARDIOPULMONARY CARE
SCIENCE
AS LSUE RESPIRATORY CARE
AS BRCC SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY
AS LSUARADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY
LSUE
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
TOPS TECH PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY COUNCIL APPROVED PROGRAMS
DEGREE INSTITUION DISCIPLINE
ASN BPCC
NURSING
BRCC
Delgado
FTCC
La Tech
LDCC
LSUA
LSUE
NSU
SLCC
SOEWELA
SUSLA
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
TOPS TECH PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY COUNCIL APPROVED PROGRAMS
DEGREE INSTITUION DISCIPLINE
AS BRCCBUSINESS
SLCC
Delgado BUSINESSADMINISTRATION
SUSLA BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
AS SUSLAACCOUNTING
Delgado
***The TOPS Award Amount for TOPS Tech eligible students who enroll in a
proprietary or cosmetology school or in an associate’s degree program at a school that
offers a baccalaureate degree in that same program is an average of the amounts paid
to TOPS Tech eligible students in all other TOPS Tech eligible programs.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• If one of the eligible programs becomes ineligible in future years, students who are currently in the program will be allowed to complete that program and receive their TOPS Tech Award. No new students would be eligible for TOPS Tech funding after a determination that the program has become ineligible.
• All current TOPS Tech eligible programs remain eligible for 2018 high school graduates. Funding for all TOPS awards is contingent upon appropriations.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
Professional School
Counselor Webinars 2017
• Wednesday, September 13, 2017
• Thursday, September 14, 2017
• Registration link will be sent via e-mail
• If you are not receiving blast e-mails from LOSFA,
please e-mail [email protected] to be
added to the e-mail list. LOSFA is in the process of
updating the counselor e-mail list.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
Schedule a LOSFA Visit!• LOSFA Representatives are available at no cost
for daytime and evening seminars/workshops and college fairs
• Seminars Available– TOPS
– TOPS & FAFSA
– Financial Aid Overview
– FLY: Financial Literacy for You
– START
– TOPS Retention
– College Application Workshops
− FAFSA Completion Workshops
− FSA ID Workshops
* Beginning with the 2018 high school graduates, FAFSA is a graduation requirement
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• Email or fax the event request form to Breanna Paul and Sabrina Johnson as early as possible to schedule your event
– Fax: (225) 208-1496
• Requests must be received at least 30 days prior to the date of the event
• Scheduling a college fair with LACRAO does not include LOSFA. Feel free to invite LOSFA to your LACRAO event.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
Trailblazer Leadership Program
• Juniors can apply directly to LOSFA– Professional School Counselor must certify application
– Parent must also sign application
• Students will participate in a variety of college access activities at their high school
• Timenee Thomas and Rhonda Bridevaux will make visits to Trailblazers during the school year
• 2017-2018 Trailblazers have the opportunity to earn scholarships
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
October is Louisiana College Application and Access Month!
• If you would like your school to participate in Louisiana College Application Month, please complete the registration available here: http://www.osfa.la.gov/LCAAM/documents/LCAAMRegForm.pdf
• Return the form to [email protected]
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
Louisiana College Application and Access Month
• A national initiative designed to increase the number of first-generation and low-income students who pursue postsecondary education
• Program goals:
– To ensure every graduating senior, at participating high schools, submits at least one admissions application
– To promote a college-going culture in schools
– To encourage best match and fit for each student
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• ALL Louisiana High Schools can participate this October!
• Contact LOSFA’s Brandi Morrison at [email protected] in order to secure your school’s participation
• Your school will be sent Site Coordinator and Volunteer Training manuals that include step-by-step planning timelines for implementing Louisiana College Application and Access Month at your school in October
Louisiana College Application and Access Month
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
LOUISIANA
November 5, 2017
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
• College Goal Sunday is a FREE event designed to help Louisiana college-bound students and their families with the financial aid application process
• Financial Aid professionals will be on hand to help complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• A particular focus of College Goal Sunday is on helping low-income, first-generation college student families through the process
• Open to all college-bound students: high school students and adults
• November 5, 2017 from 2-4 pm at numerous locations throughout the state. Doors open at 1:30 pm. Participants need to stay for the entire event.
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
LOSFA Social Media Siteshttp://www.facebook.com/LOSFA
http://www.twitter.com/LOSFA
http://www.youtube.com/LOSFA1000
http://instagram.com/losfa001
LOSFA’s Vision is to be Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) A program under The Board of Regents
Contact LOSFA
www.osfa.la.gov
(225) 219-10128:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday