[Oasfaa] Oklahoma's Promise - press release

Tue Sep 18 14:22:04 CDT 2007

FYI - below is a link to a press release issued today by the State
Regents describing the recent legislative changes to the Oklahoma's
Promise scholarship program (formerly known as OHLAP).  I've also copied
the full text of the press release below in case you have problems with
the link.

Administratively, the two biggest changes are the first two listed-- a
second income limit requirement for students first receiving the
scholarship in college in 2009-10, and a new minimum college GPA
requirement that will also apply to students receiving the scholarship
for the first time in 2009-10.  

The second income limit will largely apply beginning with the 2009 high
school graduates.  Some graduates from earlier years might be impacted
if they delay their initial college entry until 2009.  Unfortunately,
this second income requirement was not part of the program agreement the
2009 graduates (approximately 9,000) signed when they enrolled in the
8th, 9th, or 10th grade.  Some 2010 graduates (about 6,000) and 2011
graduates (about 3,000) that applied prior to this year are also in the
position of not having known about these requirements at the time they
applied.  Therefore we will be trying to inform all these students that
some of the requirements of the program have changed since they
initially applied.

The new college GPA requirement as mandated in the law appears to be
administratively difficult to calculate.  The two GPA's established are
not cumulative, but apply only to specified enrollment periods (2.0 GPA
for courses taken during the sophomore year; 2.5 GPA for courses taken
during the junior year and thereafter).

If you want to read the actual language of the changes in the bill
passed by the Legislature, you can see the text at
http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Legislation/51st/2007/1R/SB/820.pdf
The language on the administrative changes is primarily on pages 19-25.

Let me know if you have questions.

Bryce Fair 
Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants 
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 
Phone:  (405) 225-9162 
Fax:  (405) 225-9230 
E-mail:  bfair at osrhe.edu 

Mailing Address: 
P.O. Box 108850 
Oklahoma City, OK  73101-8850 

Street Address: 
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 
Oklahoma City, OK  73104 

-----Original Message-----
From: Gaddis, Katharine 
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2007 9:32 AM
Subject: State Scholarship Program Modified by Legislature, Online
Applications Encouraged (State Regents News Release)

NEWS RELEASE 

For Immediate Release
September 18, 2007  
Media Contact: Ben Hardcastle
Office: 1.405.225.9346

Cell: 1.405.640.9672

 <blocked::mailto:bhardcastle at osrhe.edu> bhardcastle at osrhe.edu

State Scholarship Program Modified by Legislature, Online Applications
Encouraged

    The Oklahoma Legislature has made several important modifications to
Oklahoma's Promise, one of Oklahoma's most popular scholarship programs.
Officials are working to inform students, parents and counselors about
the changes and encouraging students to apply online...   
View entire release online at
<http://www.okhighered.org/news-center/okpromise2007legislation.html>
http://www.okhighered.org/news-center/okpromise2007legislation.html.  

==========================

September 18, 2007 :: State Scholarship Program Modified by Legislature,
Online Applications Encouraged 

Media Contact: Ben Hardcastle
Office: 1.405.225.9346
Mobile: 1.405.640.9672
bhardcastle at osrhe.edu 

The Oklahoma Legislature has made several important modifications to
Oklahoma's Promise, one of Oklahoma's most popular scholarship programs.
Officials are working to inform students, parents and counselors about
the changes and encouraging students to apply online.

Approximately half of Oklahoma's students are eligible to apply for
Oklahoma's Promise, a scholarship that allows high school students from
families whose annual income is $50,000 or less to earn free college
tuition. To date, more than 75,000 students have enrolled in the
program.

The scholarship program was formerly known as the Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Program or OHLAP, and was created in 1992 by the
Legislature to help more Oklahoma families send their children to
college. Its goal is to prepare students academically for college and to
provide them financial assistance. 

"Oklahoma's Promise has been a key component of our efforts to produce
more college graduates in Oklahoma," said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson.
"Thousands of Oklahoma students can be positively impacted based on this
promise: They promise to prepare for college, and the state of Oklahoma
promises the opportunity to earn free college tuition."

Currently, to be eligible for Oklahoma's Promise, students must apply
during the eighth, ninth or 10th grade, and their annual family income
must not exceed $50,000 at the time of application. By the time they
graduate high school, students must achieve a minimum 2.5 (C+) grade
point average in 17 core courses that prepare them for college and also
must achieve at least a 2.5 GPA for all courses in grades nine through
12. Students also must attend class regularly and refrain from drug and
alcohol abuse and delinquent acts.

The Legislature approved a significant change to funding for Oklahoma's
Promise. Beginning in 2008-09, the scholarship program will have a
permanent, dedicated funding source from the state's general revenue
fund. This means the program will be fully funded each year from a
stable source of revenue. 

"The permanent funding should assure Oklahoma families that this
scholarship can be a dependable foundation of their children's college
plans," Johnson said. 

Other changes to the state scholarship program include: 

*	Second Income Limit Requirement: Beginning with Oklahoma's
Promise college students receiving the scholarship for the first time in
2009-10, families will be subject to a second income limit requirement.
Students will not receive the scholarship if their families' income
exceeds $100,000 at the time the student goes to college.

*	Minimum College GPA Requirement: Also effective for students
receiving the award for the first time in 2009-10, a minimum college GPA
of 2.0 will be required for courses taken during the sophomore year and
a minimum 2.5 GPA for courses taken during the junior and senior years.

*	Homeschool Student Eligibility: Homeschool students are now
eligible for the scholarship. They must sign up while they are ages 13
to 15 and must achieve a 22 score on the ACT.

*	College Conduct Requirement: Effective Jan. 1, 2008, an
Oklahoma's Promise college student that is suspended for more than one
semester for conduct reasons will lose the scholarship permanently.

*	Immigration Status: Beginning with students applying for the
program in 2007-08, students must be U.S. citizens or lawfully present
in the United States to receive the award in college. Undocumented
immigrant students can still enroll in the program in the eighth, ninth,
or 10th grade but must attain lawful status before they can actually
receive the award. 

The fastest and most secure way to apply for Oklahoma's Promise is
online at www.okpromise.org <http://www.okpromise.org/> . Students can
also get applications and flyers about the scholarship from school
counselors. Oklahoma's Promise officials have mailed more than 150,000
flyers to counselors statewide.

Students, parents and counselors can also get more information about
Oklahoma's Promise by visiting www.okpromise.org
<http://www.okpromise.org/> , by e-mailing okpromise at osrhe.edu or by
calling (800) 858-1840.

Editors note: OHLAP (Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program) is now
known as Oklahoma's Promise.

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