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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><SPAN lang=EN><FONT
face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=638004121-04122008>As many of you may
recall, the 2008 Legislature created a Task Force on Oklahoma's Promise to
review the family income requirements and the college award-retention
requirements of the program. </SPAN>Yesterday, the recommendations of the Task
Force were submitted to the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President Pro
Tempore. <SPAN class=638004121-04122008> </SPAN>A copy of the report is
attached. The Task Force <SPAN class=638004121-04122008>made
</SPAN>four important recommendations that are detailed in the report,
including: (1) expanding participation in the program with a new family income
limit that would adjust for family size and inflation; (2) delaying and possibly
reconsidering the second income limit that is scheduled to go into effect in
2010; (3) basing college award-retention requirements on institution academic
requirements rather than a statutory GPA requirement scheduled to go into effect
in 2010; and (4) possibly considering some type of post-college state residency
requirement for Oklahoma's Promise students. Please see the attached report for
more information.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>The <SPAN class=638004121-04122008>proposed
</SPAN>changes to Oklahoma's Promise <SPAN
class=638004121-04122008>recommended</SPAN> by the Task Force are all subject to
approval by the Oklahoma Legislature and the Governor. The next legislative
session begins in February, 2009, and will end in May. We will try to keep you
apprised of any developments regarding the recommendations.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Also below is the text of a related article from the
Associated Press that was posted on the Daily Oklahoman website this
afternoon.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><SPAN class=638004121-04122008>If </SPAN>you
have any questions<SPAN class=638004121-04122008>, please contact the Oklahoma's
Promise office at 405-225-9152 or <A
href="mailto:okpromise@osrhe.edu">okpromise@osrhe.edu</A>.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bryce Fair</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial
size=2>=================================================</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oklahoma Regents Eye Expansion of Scholarship
Program</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>By The Associated Press</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Published: December 4, 2008</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oklahoma students whose families earn more than
$50,000 could qualify for Oklahoma's Promise scholarship program under a
recommendation presented Thursday to the state regents. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>The Task Force on Oklahoma's Promise recommends
adjusting the family income limit when students apply for the scholarship so
that adjusted gross income minus the amount for exemptions equals $50,000 or
less. Another recommendation would automatically adjust for family size so that
larger families would be allowed to have higher incomes. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>For example, a married couple with four children
could earn $70,400 in adjusted gross income and still qualify for the program
under the proposal. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bryce Fair, who oversees Oklahoma's Promise for the
state regents, said the change would allow participation of more middle-income
families that likely don't qualify for need-based financial aid. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>"This proposal would bring in a lot of those
families," Fair said. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>The current family income level, established in 2000,
is $50,000, and Fair said the changes would adjust for inflation and provide
more fairness to larger families. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>All the changes would have to be approved by the
Oklahoma Legislature, but Chancellor Glen Johnson said he's optimistic the
recommendations would be well received, since four legislators served on the
task force. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fair said the projected cost difference to the state
would not be realized until 2012, with an $8 million impact, increasing
incrementally to about $43 million in 2019. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Students who participate in Oklahoma's promise must
maintain at least a 2.5 grade-point average in a 17-unit core curriculum, attend
school regularly and stay out of trouble. Students also must enroll in the
program by the 10th grade. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>The number of students completing the requirements
for participation has increased steadily each year to its current level of 6,530
students. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial
size=2>=================================================</FONT></P></SPAN></DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bryce Fair</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Assoc.
Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Phone: (405) 225-9162</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fax:
(405) 225-9230</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>E-mail:
bfair@osrhe.edu</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Mailing Address:</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>P.O. Box 108850</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial size=2>Oklahoma City,
OK 73101-8850</FONT> </P>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>Street Address:</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>655 Research Parkway, Suite 200</FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial
size=2>Oklahoma City, OK 73104</FONT> </P>
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