CSAC Update All Financial Aid Directors Meeting 2014
How to Manage Cal Grant and Other Programs Presented by Bryan Dickason Senior Programs Manager California Student Aid Commission April 1, 2014 bryand@csac.ca.gov
On the Agenda CSAC Communications Dream Act and Application Update Cal Grant Competitive Awards Chafee Grant Coming Calendar
CSAC Communications
CSAC Communications Sign-up for the CSAC List-Serv Program Updates System Processing Updates High School User College User Much easier sign-up process
Bottom of CSAC Website www. csac.ca.gov
CSAC Webinar Training http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=1445 Or follow this path: Colleges Training 2014 Commission Training Webinars
Dream Act and Application Update
Dream Applications The current number of submitted 2014-15 California Dream Act Applications received on or before the priority deadline is 26,596. The current number of non-awarded 2014-15 California Dream Act Applications received on or before the priority deadline is 21,444. The total number of 2014-15 Cal Grant awards for all California Dream Act applicants is 5,152. Dream Act Application Counts 2014-15 as of March 22
Awards 1st choice Secondary Choices Community College 2,192 15,066 9,808 UC 589 2,922 9,220 CSU 2,081 8,469 14,500 Prv 2 year 1 6 17 Prv Non-Profit 273 785 2,686 Prv For-Profit 18 275 534 TOTAL 5,152 27,523 36,765 Dream Act Application Counts 2014-15 as of March 22
2013 Dream Act Application Counts All Renewals On-time Met March 2 20662 7186 Past March 2 15937 3242 Totals 36599 2014 Dream Act Application Counts All Renewals On-time Met March 2 26596 13595 Past March 2 930 414 Totals Dream Act Application Counts 2014-15 as of March 22
GPA Submission Received approximately 83,164 non-ssn GPAs from the community colleges for the 2014-15 year Community College non-ssn GPAs for Dream Act Applicants will be matched during the Transfer Entitlement award cycle in early May. SSN GPAs can be matched only if student also included their SSN on the Dream Act Application. We advise that campuses submit their AB 540 students GPAs using the Non-SSN method.
Lessons we ve learned (are still learning!) Many males dreamers are not registering with Selective Service Dreamers and their parents do file US tax returns Parents and students can request tax transcripts Dreamers are not as wary as their parents Dreamers should not complete the FAFSA Dream Act and Dream App Update
If a Dreamer Completes the FAFSA AB 540 student uses FAFSA: citizenship = 1 or 2 The DACA SSN is confirmed as valid during USCIS match EFC is calculated, but The student fails citizenship match Campus cannot confirm citizenship status AB 540 student uses FAFSA: citizenship = 3 No EFC is calculated Undocumented students, DACA or not, should file the Dream Act Application, not the FAFSA.
If a Dreamer Completes the FAFSA If the FAFSA met the March 2 deadline: 1. Have the student complete the Dream Act Application. Notify the Commission staff that a Dream Act Application was filed and that the FAFSA application has to be set aside. 2. Report the manner in which the student s GPA was reported: SSN GPA or Non-SSN GPA If the FAFSA did not meet the March 2 deadline Have the student complete the Dream Act Application. Notify the Commission staff that a Dream Act Application was filed and that the FAFSA application has to be set aside.
If a Dreamer gains the ability to establish residency If the DA App. met the March 2 deadline: 1. Have the student complete the FAFSA. Notify the Commission staff that a FAFSA was filed and that the Dream Act Application has to be set aside. 2. Report the manner in which the student s GPA was reported: SSN GPA or Non-SSN GPA 3. CSAC will merge the records and transition to the new application type. If the DA App. did not meet the March 2 deadline 1. Same as above 1 and 3 above
Disbursement Best Practices Work locally Work with your disbursement agent Banking Questions: Can the checks be cashed at branches of the bank issuing the check? If so, what identification is required at that bank to cash the check? Will local banks open accounts for persons without a Social Security number? If an account can be opened, can direct deposit be made? Commission Debit Card Workgroup
Campuses should investigate: Can their Dream Act Students use a debit card? How checks issued through their disbursement agent can be cashed? If the student can open a bank account, they can use direct deposit!
Dream Application: Enhancements for 2015-16 Make Dream Application SSN - ITIN field mandatory Enhanced Selective Service Language Cal ISIR Batch Corrections Screen ISIR Numbering: 2014-15 ISIR 01 = Student signature only ISIR 02 = Student and parent signature 2015-16 ISIR 01 = Student and parents signature Align parent s marital status with FAFSA
Update on options and efforts to increase use of competitive awards
Cal Grant Competitive Program What is the Underutilization Issue? Paid rate was about 65% (Currently 82%) What was happening to these students? Commission Staff led workgroups on several topics: Institutional requirements changed Cohort Default rate Graduation rate Competitive Cal Grant selection criteria has mostly stayed the same Is it time to revisit the criteria the scoring criteria?
Cal Grant Competitive Program What has CSAC been doing? Over awarding Increased student contacts Talking to National Student Clearinghouse Convening Competitive Program Workgroups
Cal Grant Competitive Program Possible additional actions from last year: Increase award offers - Implemented Increase student contact attempts- Implemented Require enrollment files from campuses - Implemented Decrease scoring cohorts by using additional scoring criteria -? Request students to activate their award by a certain date and offer more awards by lowering the score -?
Competitive Workgroups WebGrants Payment Codes Review Student Communications and WebGrants Messaging Competitive Scoring and Selection Criteria Debit Card and Disbursements Is it time for a Summit?
Chafee Program Update
13/14 and 14/15 Chafee Applications and NARS are being accepted at this time. $412,000 reduction in place for 2013-14 3133 2013-14 Awards offered as of March 11 1360 New, 1773 Renewal Chafee Priority Selection Criteria used 2013-14 Summer quarter payments are scheduled to process on May 20, 2014 Chafee Update
Each week, awards and payments cycles are processed using the following priority selection criteria: Priority 1: Renewal students who have received a payment in a prior year Priority 2: Students who are aging out Priority 3: Students with dependents Priority 4: Students who had an unmet need of $5,000 or higher Priority 5: Submission date of completed application Chafee Priority Selection Criteria
When returning funds: Do not write void on check. This delays recycling of funds. Replacement checks have to be reissued. A process that can take up to 8 weeks for this process. Funds returned with Not Enrolled, Unable to locate and Revised NAR reasons are placed in reserve for 21 days which allows for submission of school changes and revised NARS. Unreserved funds are used to offer additional awards based on the priority selection criteria. Chafee Update & Tips
The online Chafee Foster Youth Grant Program Applications are available at: https://www.chafee.csac.ca.gov. Only new Chafee applicants need to complete the 2014-15 Chafee application. Eligible 2013-14 applicants will automatically renewed. 2014-15 Chafee Application
2013-14 Chafee Numbers
Chafee Contacts: Jeana Maduli, 916-464-2988 or jmaduli@csac.ca.gov Bryan Hanson, 916-464-2440 or bhanson@csac.ca.gov
Coming Calendar Events
Coming key dates April 15 Deadline to upload Winter and Spring Enrollment files May 16 Deadline for students to submit appeals on Entitlement GPAs. Can be submitted if circumstances beyond the student s control prevented timely GPA submission. Does not allow late FAFSA/Dream Act Application submission Less than half of late GPA appeals are approved All of these are approximate dates
May 16 Transfer Entitlement award selection May 19 Competitive Award selection May 23 2014-15 Renewals June 30 Cal Grant C supplement due September 2 Application Deadline for CCC only Competitive grants September 12 Approximate date for submission of Fall enrollment files Coming Key Cal Grant Dates
Proposed Changes to the IPA Schools will: Submit enrollment files each term with unit information for each student. Use the batch upload process as a primary method to report payments, adjustments, and status updates. Have a separately published policy for notifying students of disbursement options for Cal Grants.
Proposed Changes to the IPA Report payment eligibility within five business days of determining enrollment status and disburse funds to students within five days of funds being available. Fully reconcile their roster by the end of each term. Report all payments and adjustments no later than 30 days following the term. Make all disbursements & adjustments no later than August 30 and final reconciliation by September 30.