[Oasfaa] 2015-2016 OTAG Award Information

[Magee, Irala]

This morning the State Regents approved allocations of the state appropriations approved last week by the Legislature.  As you are aware, the state appropriations for the operations of institutions and programs in the state system were reduced by 3.5% for 2015-16.  We are very pleased to report that State Regents acted to protect the state funding for OTAG.  Instead of a potential 3.5% cut of almost $670,000, the OTAG allocation received no reduction and will continue to be funded in 2015-16 at the same $19.1 million level as 2014-15.  We are very grateful for this action of the State Regents.
The Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant (OTAG) Award Payment Schedule for 2015-2016 is attached for your information.  Eligible students meeting the awarding criteria listed below can be claimed for payment of their OTAG awards upon the institution’s submission of a successful and timely award claim:
● EFC 1700 or lower
● FAFSA receipt date March 31, 2015 or earlier
After analysis of the application and funding data, we are pleased to announce that we can extend the FAFSA receipt deadline from the projected March 1st to March 31st.
The Award Payment Schedule reflects 5198 as the maximum eligible EFC, which is consistent with Pell in 2015-2016.  The maximum EFC primarily serves as a means to identify the total number of eligible students who could be awarded if sufficient funds were provided.
Also attached is a list of institutions that participate in the OTAG program and their flat-rate award amounts for 2015-2016 (one amount for full-time undergraduates and one amount for part-time undergraduates).  The amounts shown are for the full award year.
Important dates/deadlines that institutions and the State Regents’ office must meet are listed in the attached Timelines and Procedures for 2015-2016.  These have been established in an effort to maximize the efficiency of the administration of the OTAG program to best benefit students statewide.  All institutions are expected to adhere to the schedule, and everyone’s cooperation is appreciated.
These documents are being added to the OTAG information section of the Financial Aid Resources for Institutions website http://www.okhighered.org/admin-fac/FinAidResources/ .
We are currently awaiting 2015-2016 OTAG reporting system start up.  Based on the latest information provided by our IT department, we anticipate that pre-populated OTAG Award Claim Forms for use by campus financial aid staff as “work copies only” will be available in mid-June.  We will make an announcement when institutions can submit requests for these work copy reports.  The actual Award Claim Form process for standard term fall semester disbursements will begin closer to the beginning of the fall semester, and more information in this regard will be forthcoming.
 Important Reminders:
*         OTAG recipients must be eligible residents of Oklahoma per the State Regents’ residency policy.  Appearance on a pre-populated claim is not intended to confirm Oklahoma residency.  Pre-populated claims are created by selecting otherwise eligible students that self-report Oklahoma residency on the FAFSA and also indicate intent to attend an eligible Oklahoma institution.  Non-residents and ineligible undocumented students may appear on pre-populated claims and should be removed per OSRHE residency policy.  The policy can be reviewed at http://www.okhighered.org/state-system/policy-procedures/2015/Chapter%203-2015.pdf .  (See 3.17 In-State/Out-of-State Status of Enrolled Students)
The student’s eligibility for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; see http://www.dhs.gov/deferred-action ) does not affect state aid eligibility at this time according to the OSRHE General Counsel’s office.  Many DACA eligible students receive a valid social security number for work purposes only and may believe they are eligible for aid.  DACA students filing a FAFSA are not eligible for OTAG and should be removed from the claim unless the specific requirements outlined in the Regent’s residency policy are met.  (See 3.17.6 (4))
*         OTAG does not send award notices to students.  We are relying on institutions to include OTAG award information in their student award notices.  Please realize that if institutions do not include OTAG awards in their student award notification process, the students will receive no confirmation that they are receiving an OTAG award.  We’re counting on institutions to be the messengers.

  *   Other than OTAG’s Oklahoma residency requirement and the statutory limitations on the types of institutions that are eligible to participate, student eligibility requirements for OTAG are the same as student eligibility requirements for Pell.  Generally, if you cannot award Pell funds to a student, you cannot award OTAG funds to the student.

  *   Remember the Regent’s residency policy change regarding military personnel will be in effect for all schools for 2015-2016.  There is immediate in-state status for all full-time active duty military personnel, spouse and dependent children stationed in Oklahoma.  New legislation now extends in-state status to certain veterans, spouses and dependent children as well.  ROTC participants are also now eligible for in-state status.  This makes these students eligible for OTAG if all other requirements are met.  If these students have listed a state other than Oklahoma on the FAFSA, they will not automatically appear on your pre-populated claim forms.  Please be sure to add these students to your claim.
As always we appreciate your assistance in delivering OTAG funds to Oklahoma’s students.  We realize that extension of the projected deadline means additional work for financial aid officers.  We sincerely appreciate your efforts on behalf of these students.  If you have questions regarding the OTAG program or the attached documents, please contact our office.
Irala K. Magee
Director of Scholarship and Grant Administration
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
P.O. Box 108850
Oklahoma City, OK  73101-8850
(405) 225-9378
Fax (405) 225-9392

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