Program Authorization: Paul Douglas Scholarships- P.L. 98-558, State Student Incentive Grants – P.L. 99-498; La. R.S. 17:3031, T.H. Harris Scholarships – Act 135 of 1978; Act 710 of 1985; La. R.S. 17:3036, Rockefeller Scholarships – Act 707 of 1989 and LASFAC’s agreement with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; La.R.S. 56:797d(2), Louisiana Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP) Act 789 of 1989; Act 1055 of 1990; Act 718 of 1992; Acts 269 and 872 of 1995; La. R.S. 17:3026; Act 1375 of 1997 Regular Session, Louisiana Honors Scholarship Program- Act 1085 of 1992; Act 255 of 1993; Act 86 of 1994; Act 714 of 1995; La. R.S. 17:3042.32; Act 1375 of 1997 Regular Session, Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust (START) Program – Act 547 of 1995; La. R.S. 17:3046, Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Teacher Preparatory Loan Program – R.S. 17:3042.1, TOPS Opportunity Awards – Act 1375 of 1997 Regular Session, TOPS Honors Awards – Act 1375 of 1997 Regular Session, TOPS Performance Awards-Act 1375 of 1997 Regular Session, TOPS Technical Awards- Act 1375 of 1997 Regular Session, TOPS National Guard Book Fee-Act 165 of 1998, Tuition Payment Program for Medical School Students – Act 281 of 1997.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Scholarship/Grants Program is to administer state and federal scholarship, grant and tuition savings programs to maximize the opportunities for Louisiana students to pursue their postsecondary educational goals.

The goal of the Scholarship/Grants Program is to effectively and efficiently administer assigned programs in compliance with statutory authority and regulation.

The Scholarship/Grants Program includes the following activities:

1. Paul Douglas Scholarships - Federal funding for scholarship awards was rescinded for the 1995-96 fiscal year and has not been funded for subsequent years. However, under current federal guidance, the agency must assure that former recipients complete their obligation by teaching or repayment.

2. State Student Incentive Grants (SSIG) - Provides need-based grants to academically qualified students. Each college and university establishes the annual award amount within the limits established by this agency. This federal program requires a state match and mandates that the non-federal share of the total amount of these grants shall come through direct state appropriations. The reauthorized Higher Education Act replaces the SSIG with the Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program, which is essentially a continuation of the SSIG.

3. T.H. Harris Scholarship Program - Provides awards to undergraduate students attending state supported colleges and universities. Qualifications include a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) from a Louisiana high school. This program was amended to include undergraduates at the LSU Medical Center and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. The program is in the process of being phased out. No new awards have been made since academic year 1995-96. Renewal recipients will continue to be funded as long as they meet the continuation academic criteria.

4. Rockefeller Scholarship Program - Annually provides 60 scholarship awards of $1,000 each to Louisiana residents engaged in the study of wildlife, forestry, or marine science at Louisiana colleges and universities. Repayment of funds received is required if a student fails to successfully complete the prescribed course of study.

5. Louisiana Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP) - Provides tuition awards for academically qualified Louisiana residents attending Louisiana public colleges and universities. Act 1375 of 1997 terminates TAP effective academic year 1998-99 and replaces it with a component of the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).

6. Louisiana Honors Scholarship Program - Provides tuition awards to Louisiana's high school graduates who rank in the top 5% of their graduating class and who attend a Louisiana public or approved private college or university, or state technical institute. Act 1375 of 1997 terminates this program effective academic year 1998-99, and replaces it with a component of TOPS.

7. Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust (START) - A college savings plan which awards a state grant as an incentive for families to save for the projected future costs of their children's postsecondary education.

8. TOPS Teacher Award – provides educational loans made in the amount of $4,000 and $6,000, dependent upon field of study. The program provides loan forgiveness to encourage individuals to teach in Louisiana.

9. TOPS Opportunity Award – replaced TAP effective 7/1/98, provides tuition for not more than 4 years or 8 semesters. Eligibility requirements include a 2.5 GPA, 16.5 core units and must obtain not less than the state ACT average.

10. TOPS Honors Award – provides tuition plus $800 for not more than 4 years or 8 semesters. Eligibility requirements include a 3.5 GPA, 16.5 core units and an ACT of 27.

11. TOPS Performance Award – replaced the Honor Scholarship Program effective 7/1/98, provides tuition plus $400 for not more than 4 years or 8 semesters. Eligibility requirements include a 3.5 GPA, 16.5 core units, and an ACT of 23.

12. TOPS Technical Award – provides tuition for not more than 2 years. Eligibility requirements include a 2.50 GPA, 16.5 core units and an ACT of not less than 19.

13. TOPS National Guard Book Fee provides $150 per semester for the actual costs of books in lieu of tuition exemptions provided by R.S. 29:36.1 for persons serving in the La. National Guard and who qualify for TOPS Opportunity.

14. Tuition Payment Program for Medical Students – provides full tuition and room and board for qualified students who agree to practice in a rural or poor community in Louisiana for not less than 5 consecutive years. Failure to fulfill work requirements results in the individual being required to repay funds received.

The Scholarship/Grants program administers state and federal scholarships, grants, and the tuition savings program to maximize the opportunities for Louisiana students to pursue their postsecondary educational goals.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Unless otherwise indicated, all objectives are to be accomplished during or by the end of FY 1999-2000. Performance indicators are made up of two parts: name and value. The indicator name describes what is being measured. The indicator value is the numeric value or level achieved within a given measurement period. For budgeting purposes, performance indicator values are shown for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and alternative funding scenarios (continuation budget level and Executive Budget recommendation level) for the ensuing fiscal year (the fiscal year of the budget document).

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with the General Fund, Fees and Self-generated Revenues, Statutory Dedications and Federal Funds. The Fees and Self-generated Revenues are derived from award fees used to defray the costs related to processing scholarships and grants (FY 1996-1997 only). The first Statutory Dedication is the sixty (60) $1,000 scholarships from the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge Trust and Protection Fund for students studying wildlife, forestry and marine sciences. The second Statutory Dedication is the Teacher Preparation Loan Fund, pursuant to Act 476 of the 1997 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. (Per R.S. 39:32B. (8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund.) Federal funds include the following: (1) the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) for needy, academically qualified students; and (2) the Paul Douglas scholarships to encourage individuals to pursue teaching careers.

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 217.0% of the existing operating budget. It represents 114.0% of the total request ($77,071,985) for this program. The reason for the increase is a workload adjustment added for Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

OTHER CHARGES

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

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