Student Financial Assistance Commission
Office of Student Finanical Assistance
The Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission (LASFAC) is exercising the emergency provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act [R.S. 49:953(B)] to amend and re-promulgate the rules of the Scholarship/Grant programs (R.S. 17:3021-3025, R.S. 3041.10-3041.15, and R.S. 17:3042.1.1-3042.8, R.S. 17:3048.1, R.S. 56:797.D(2)).
This Emergency Rule is necessary to implement changes to the Scholarship/Grant programs to allow the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance and state educational institutions to effectively administer these programs. A delay in promulgating rules would have an adverse impact on the financial welfare of the eligible students and the financial condition of their families. LASFAC has determined that this Emergency Rule is necessary in order to prevent imminent financial peril to the welfare of the affected students.
This Declaration of Emergency is effective August 16, 2006, and shall remain in effect for the maximum period allowed under the Administrative Procedure Act. (SG0775E)
Title 28
EDUCATION
Part IV. Student Financial Assistance―Higher
Education Scholarship and Grant Programs
Chapter 5. Application; Application Deadlines, and Proof of Compliance
§505. Application Deadlines for High School Graduates and Home Study Completers of 2004 and Later and Eligible Non-Graduates
A.1 - 3. …
B. Deadline For Payment For the Academic Year (College) Immediately Following High School Graduation
1. Beginning with the 2007-2008 Academic Year (College), to be determined eligible for payment of TOPS awards for the academic year (college) immediately following the academic year (high school) of high school graduation, students must submit the initial FAFSA or on-line application so that it is received no later than the July 1 immediately following the academic year (high school) of graduation.
2. Beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year (college), students will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E beginning with the academic year (college) immediately after the student’s one year anniversary of high school graduation if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after the July 1 immediately following the academic year (high school) of high school graduation and no later than the final deadline set forth in Subsection C, below, and the student has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
3. Examples
a. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who enrolls in the fall semester of 2007, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award beginning the fall semester of 2007 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received on or before July 1, 2007.
b. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who enrolls during the 2007-2008 ACADEMIC YEAR, WILL be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award beginning the fall semester of 2008 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2007 and no later than July 1, 2008, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
C. Final Deadline for Full TOPS Award
1.a. Except as provided below, through the 2006-2007 academic year (college), in order to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E, the final deadline for receipt of a student’s initial FAFSA or the on-line application is July 1 immediately prior to the academic year (college) he first enrolls as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university.
b. Beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year (college), in order receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E, the final deadline for receipt of a student's initial FAFSA or on-line application is July 1 immediately prior to the academic year (college) immediately following the one year anniversary of high school graduation.
c.i. Students who graduated from high school during the 2003-2004 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during the 2004-2005 academic year (college) are eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E beginning:
(a). With the 2004-2005 academic year (college) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received no later than October 29, 2004.
(b). With the 2005-2006 academic year (college) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received after October 29, 2004, and no later than July 1, 2005, and, if the student enrolled as a full time student during the 2004-2005 academic year (college), the student has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
ii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2003-2004 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university beginning the fall semester of 2005 are eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E beginning the fall semester of 2005 if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received no later than July 1, 2005.
iii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2003-2004 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during either the 2004-2005 academic year (college) or fall semester of 2005 are eligible for a reduced TOPS award (See Subsection 505.D, below.) beginning with the fall semester of 2005, if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received after July 1, 2005 and no later than October 31, 2005, and, if the student enrolled as a full time student during the 2004-2005 academic year (college), the student has met the requirements for continuing eligibility..
d.i. Students who graduated from high school during the 2004-2005 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during the 2005-2006 academic year (college) will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E beginning:
(a). With the 2005-2006 academic year (college) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than October 31, 2005.
(b). With the 2006-2007 academic year (college) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 31, 2005, and no later than July 1, 2006, and, if the student enrolled as a full time student during the 2005-2006 academic year (college), the student met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
ii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2004-2005 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or University beginning the fall semester of 2006 are eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E beginning the fall semester of 2006 if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received no later than July 1, 2006.
iii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2004-2005 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or University during either the 2005-2006 Academic Year (College) or fall semester of 2006 are eligible for a reduced TOPS award (See Subsection 505.D, below.) beginning with the fall semester of 2006, if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received after July 1, 2006, and no later than October 30, 2006, and, if the student enrolled as a full time student during the 2005-2006 academic year (college), the student met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
e.i. Students who graduate from high school during the 2005-2006 academic year (high school) and enroll as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during the 2006-2007 academic year (college) will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E beginning:
(a). With the 2006-2007 academic year (college) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than October 30, 2006.
(b). With the 2007-2008 academic year (college) if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 30, 2006, and no later than July 1, 2007, and, if the student enrolled as a full time student during the 2006-2007 academic year (college), the student met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
ii. Students who graduated from high school during the 2005-2006 academic year (high school) and enrolled as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university beginning the fall semester of 2007 are eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E beginning the fall semester of 2007 if their initial FAFSA or on-line application was received no later than July 1, 2007.
iii. Students who graduate from high school during the 2005-2006 academic year (high school) and enroll as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university during either the 2006-2007 academic year (college) or the fall semester of 2007 are eligible for a reduced TOPS award (See Subsection 505.D, below.) beginning with the fall semester of 2007, if their initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2007, and no later than October 29, 2007, and, if the student enrolled as a full time student during the 2006-2007 academic year (college), the student met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
2. Returning Students
a. Beginning with the 2002-2003 through the 2004-2005 academic year (college), in order for a returning student to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E, the final deadline for receipt of a student's initial FAFSA or the on-line application is May 1 of the academic year (college) he first enrolls as a full-time student in an eligible college or university.
b. Beginning with the 2005-2006 academic year (college), in order for a returning student to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award as provided in §701.E, the final deadline for receipt of the student's initial FAFSA or the on-line application is the July 1 immediately following the academic year (college) he first enrolls as a full-time student in an eligible college or university.
3. Examples:
a. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2004 or spring semester of 2005, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2004.
b. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2004 or spring semester of 2005, will be eligible for his full TOPS award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2004, but on or before October 29, 2004.
c. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2004 or spring semester of 2005, will be eligible for his full TOPS award beginning with the fall semester of 2005 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 29, 2004, but on or before July 1, 2005, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
d. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2005.
e. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005, will be eligible for a reduced TOPS award (See Subsection 505.D, below.) beginning with the fall semester of 2005 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2005, but on or before October 31, 2005.
f. A 2003-2004 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005, will not be eligible for a TOPS award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 31, 2005.
g. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005 or spring semester of 2006, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is no received later than July 1, 2005.
h. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005 or spring semester of 2005, will be eligible for his full TOPS award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2005, but on or before October 31, 2005.
i. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2005 or spring semester of 2006, will be eligible for his full TOPS award beginning with the fall semester of 2006 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 31, 2005, but on or before July 1, 2006, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
j. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2006.
k. A 2004-2005 Academic Year (High School) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006, will be eligible for a reduced TOPS award (See Subsection 505.D, below.) beginning with the fall semester of 2006 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2006, but on or before October 30, 2006.
l. A 2004-2005 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006, will not be eligible for a TOPS award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 30, 2006.
m. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006 or spring semester of 2007, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2006.
n. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006 or spring semester of 2007, will be eligible for his full TOPS award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2006, but on or before October 30, 2006.
o. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2006 or spring semester of 2007, will be eligible for his full TOPS award beginning with the fall semester of 2007 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 30, 2006, but on or before July 1, 2007, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
p. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2007.
q. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007, will be eligible for a reduced TOPS award (See Subsection 505.D, below.) beginning with the fall semester of 2007 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2007, but on or before October 29, 2007.
r. A 2005-2006 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007, will not be eligible for a TOPS award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 29, 2007.
s. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007 or spring semester of 2008, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award beginning with the first semester of enrollment as a full-time student if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2007.
t. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2007 or spring semester of 2008, will be eligible to receive his full TOPS award beginning with the fall semester of 2008 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2007, but on or before July 1, 2008, and if he has met the requirements for continuing eligibility.
u. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2008, will be eligible to receive the full benefits of a TOPS award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2008.
v. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2008, will be eligible for a reduced TOPS award (See Subsection 505.D, below.) beginning with the fall semester of 2008 if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after July 1, 2008, but on or before October 29, 2008.
w. A 2006-2007 academic year (high school) high school graduate, who is a first-time freshman at an eligible college or university in the fall semester of 2008, will not be eligible for a TOPS award if his initial FAFSA or on-line application is received after October 29, 2008.
x. A student, who enrolls for the first time as a full time student at an accredited out-of-state college and subsequently returns to Louisiana and enrolls as a full-time student in an eligible college or university for the fall semester of 2006, will be eligible for his TOPS award beginning with the fall semester of 2007 if his initial FAFSA or the on-line application is received no later than July 1, 2007.
D. Final Deadlines For Reduced Awards
1. If an application for an initial award under this Chapter is received after the final deadline provided in §503.C above, but not later than 60 days after that deadline, 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.
2. If an application for an initial award under this Chapter is received more than sixty days after the final deadline provided in §503.C above, but not later than one hundred twenty days after that deadline, the time period of eligibility for the award shall be reduced by two semesters or 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.
D.3. - G. …
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3036, R.S. 17:3042.1 and R.S. 17:3048.1.
HISTORICAL NOTE: 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 30:2017 (September 2004), LR 31:37 (January 2005), LR 32:
George Badge Eldredge
General Counsel
0608#003