Office of Scholarships and Grants

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Welcome to the

• Michigan High School CounselorVideo Conference
• November 2, 2007

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Federal Update

• Rick Shipman, Director
• Office of Financial Aid
• Michigan State University
• November 2, 2007

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What is Federal Financial Aid?

• Grant Programs
• Pell Grant
• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
• Academic Competitiveness Grant
• National Science and Math Access to Retain Talent
  (SMART) Grant
• Work Study Program
• Loan Programs
• Perkins Loan
• Stafford Loan
• Federal Family Education Loans
• Federal Direct Loans
• PLUS Loan

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• Initial step in the application process
• Core document to apply for financial aid
• Used to calculate an Expected Family Contribution
  (EFC)
• Confirms certain eligibility requirements

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• Cannot submit earlier than January 1, 2008
• Valid for periods beginning summer 2008 and
  ending after summer 2009, but generally not more
  than 12 months
• No fees

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How to Apply

• The FAFSA
• Paper application
• Web application

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What Data Are Required?

• Step 1 Student demographic information
• Step 2 Student financial information
• Step 3 Dependency status questions
• Step 4 Parent financial information
• Step 5 Independent student household
  information
• Step 6 List of colleges to receive results
• Step 7 Signatures and certifications

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How The Data Are Used?

• Determine federal compliance
• Social Security
• Selective Service
• Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS)
• Federal debts

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How The Data Are Used?

• In a statutory formula called the Federal
  Methodology
• Looks at income, assets, and size of family to
  determine familys ability to pay for education
• Result is called the Expected Family Contribution
  (EFC)

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Completing the Paper FAFSA

• About 5 of FAFSAs are now filed by paper.
• Paper FAFSAs are only available through download
  at federal Web sites or by calling
  1-800-4-FED-AID.
• Students parents can complete on line and
  download as PDF file or download blank PDF file
  for completion and mailing.
• No major question or order changes from 2007-08.

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Completing FAFSA on the Web

• More than 95 of FAFSAs are now filed online.
• No major changes from 2007-08 FAFSA.
• Parents with more than 1 college student can
  transfer data from original application to others.

www.fafsa.ed.gov
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FAFSA on the Web Worksheet

• Families can use time wisely by completing a
  worksheet before accessing FOTW.
• Order Worksheets at www.fsapubs.org or by phone.
• View a draft of the worksheet on the Web at the
  URL below.

www.ifap.ed.gov - Click on FAFSAs and Renewal
FAFSAs link under Publications
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PIN Web Site
www.pin.ed.gov

• PIN serves as electronic signature on ED
  documents, including electronic promissory notes.
• PIN is used to gain access to ED systems,
  including
• Corrections on the Web
• NSLDS
• Direct Loan Origination
• Direct Loan Servicing
• Loan Consolidation

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Demonstration Site for FOTW

• Available in December 2007
• FAFSADEMO.TEST.ED.GOV
• User Name EDDEMO
• Password FAFSATEST

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With Electronic Signatures

• It is not necessary to print and sign a paper
  signature page if both the dependent student and
  parent have a federal PIN.
• The PINs are entered as part of the FOTW
  completion process and replace a pen and paper
  signature form.

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Without Electronic Signatures

• If both the dependent student and parent do not
  have PINs, they must provide a signature page for
  the signatures and mail it.
• It is permissible for the student or parent
  applicant to sign electronically with a PIN and
  the other to submit a paper signature form.
• Signature page must be received by U.S.
  Department of Education (ED) within 14 days.
• If signature page is not received within 14 days,
  one will be sent to the applicant by mail. The
  form must be signed and resubmitted.

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Student Aid Report (SAR)

• The SAR summarizes the data provided on the FAFSA
  as well as the federal calculations and is sent
  to the applicant.
• Only last 4 digits of parents SSN will display
  on paper and electronic SARs.
• Displays official EFC.
• Submit to college only if requested.
• Paper application without students e-mail
  address will result in paper Student Aid Report
  (SAR).
• Paper application with students e-mail address
  will result in email with Web site for SAR on
  the Web.

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Corrections on the Web

• Available regardless if original application was
  paper or electronic.
• Students PIN required to access.
• Parents must have PIN to correct parent
  information.
• Pop-up message will appear when student tries to
  correct transaction already corrected by a school.

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Avoid Errors!

• Errors on the FAFSA or supplemental forms may
  delay application processing and result in the
  loss of financial aid funds.
• Encourage students/parents to read the
  instructions and complete the forms carefully!

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Who is the Parent? (for Dependent Students)

• If the parents are both living and married to
  each other, answer the questions about both of
  them.
• If the parent is widowed or single, answer the
  questions about that parent only. If the widowed
  parent has remarried as of today, answer the
  questions about that parent and the person to
  whom the parent is married.
• If the parents have divorced or separated, answer
  the questions about the parent the student lived
  with most in the last 12 months. If the student
  did not live with one parent more than with the
  other, answer about the parent who provided the
  most financial support during the last 12 months
  or during the most recent year that the student
  was supported by a parent. If this parent has
  remarried as of today, answer the questions about
  both that parent and the person to whom the
  parent is married.
• If the parent is widowed or divorced and has
  remarried, answer the questions about both that
  parent and his or her current spouse. The
  marital status of the student's parents in this
  case is "married/remarried."

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Independent Student Criteria

• Born before January 1, 1985
• Enrolled in a graduate program
• Married
• Has child(ren)/dependents for whom he/she
  provides more than half support
• Both parents are deceased
• Is/was a ward of the court until age 18
• Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or currently
  serving on Active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces
  for purposes other than training
• Most high school students will not be independent
  but, in extraordinary circumstances, the college
  aid administrator can override dependency.
  Contact the college aid office for help.

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Types of Federal Aid Grants

• FAFSA required for all federal grants
• Pell Grant Program
• Undergraduates pursuing first baccalaureate
  degree
• 400 to 4,800 per year (beginning fall 2008)
• Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
• Undergraduates pursuing first baccalaureate
  degree
• Awarded first to students with exceptional
  financial need (i.e., students with the lowest
  EFCs at that school)
• Priority to Federal Pell Grant recipients
• 100 to 4,000 per year

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Types of Federal Aid Grants

• Academic Competitiveness Grant
• For Pell eligible US Citizens
• A 3.0 GPA required beyond freshman level
• ACG is for freshmen and sophomores who completed
  a rigorous HS curriculum
• Freshmen get 750 sophomores 1,300

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Types of Federal Aid Grants

• Academic Competitiveness Grant
• ED provides 5 categories of rigorous curricula
• State established advanced or honors program
• State Scholars Initiative
• A curriculum similar to State Scholars
• Completion of at least 2 AP courses with scores
  of 3 or 2 IB courses with scores of 4
• Approved state designated program
• Michigan Merit Standard qualifies
• State Scholars Initiative
• 4 Years of English
• 3 Years of Math
• 3 Years of Science
• 3 Years of Social Studies
• 1 Year of Foreign Language

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Types of Federal Aid Grants

• SMART Grant
• For Pell eligible U.S. citizens
• 3.0 GPA required beyond the freshman level
• For junior/senior students in specific majors
• Computer Science, Engineering, Foreign Language,
  Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences,
  Technology
• 4,000 per year

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Types of Federal Aid Grants

• Teacher Education Assistance for College and
  Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
• For Pell eligible students
• Major in Math, Science, Foreign/Bilingual
  Education, Special Ed, Reading, Other
• Requires teaching in underserved schools
• 4,000 yearly (16,000 max for undergrads, 8,000
  max for grads)
• Reverts to Direct Loan if student fails to teach
  for 4 years within 8 years of graduation

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Types of Federal Aid Loans

• Federal Perkins Loan
• Undergraduate or graduate students
• Must file FAFSA to be eligible
• Priority to those with exceptional need
• Interest rate is fixed 5
• Nine-month grace period
• Deferment, cancellation, and forgiveness
  provisions available
• Up to 4,000 per year for undergraduates 6,000
  for graduates

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Types of Federal Aid Loans

• Federal Stafford Loan
• Must file FAFSA to be eligible
• Annual loan limits
• 3,500 for Freshmen
• 4,500 for Sophomores
• 5,500 for Juniors and Seniors
• 20,500 for each year of study
• Subsidized must demonstrate need
• Unsubsidized need is not a consideration
• 6.8 fixed interest rate (6 for undergrad,
  subsidized beginning in fall 08)
• 10 year repayment

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Types of Federal Aid Loans

• Federal Grad PLUS
• Required to file FAFSA
• Creditworthiness determined by lender
• Co-signer may be required
• Loan limit is cost of education minus other aid
• Repayment begins approximately 60 days after loan
  fully disbursed
• In-school deferments provided
• 7.9/8.5 fixed interest
• 10 year repayment

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Types of Federal Aid Loans

• Federal Parent PLUS
• Not required to file FAFSA
• Creditworthiness determined by lender
• Co-signer may be required
• Loan limit is cost of education minus other aid
• Repayment begins approximately 60 days after
  funds are fully disbursed
• 7.9/8.5 fixed interest
• 10 year repayment

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Types of Federal Aid Work

• Federal Work-Study
• Employment during school
• Reimburses employer for a percentage of student
  earnings
• Non-profit jobs only (on or off campus)
• Income is taxable (state and federal)
• Excluded from students total income on next
  years FAFSA
• Program varies from school to school

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Supplemental Forms

• Institutional application
• Stafford loan application
• Parent/Grad PLUS loan application
• CSS Financial Aid PROFILE (school aid)

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Counselor Resources

• National Association of Student Financial Aid
  Administrators
• WWW.NASFAA.ORG
• Counseling Tools
• Student Aid on the Web
• WWW.STUDENTAID.ED.GOV
• FSA for Counselors
• http//ifap.ed.gov/FSACounselors/clcf/main.html
• Online information for middle school, high school
  and TRIO counselors

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What Everyone Should Know
www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov

• Gateway Web site
• New FAFSA4caster
• Portals for
• Students, Parents, and Counselors
• Financial Aid Counselors
• Financial Partners

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Counselor Resources
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FAFSA4caster
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov

• Provides early estimate of federal aid
  eligibility
• PIN not required
• FAFSA4caster data can transfer to FAFSA

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collegenavigator.ed.gov
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collegenavigator.ed.gov
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Questions?
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Special Circumstances in Financial Aid

• Aiding Students Who Have Special Circumstances

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Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

• Some families find the application difficult.
• Many feel the FAFSA does not reflect their true
  circumstances.
• Before an appeal can be considered for special
  circumstances, students and their families must
  complete the FAFSA with base year information.

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Working With the Financial Aid Office

• Complete the FAFSA.
• Student contacts the Financial Aid Office where
  he/she plans to attend.
• If not committed to a college, student should
  contact each Financial Aid Office at the schools
  they most likely will attend.

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Professional Judgment

• When a financial aid officer reviews a special
  circumstances appeal from an applicant and
  approves an adjustment to the original FAFSA or
  waives a FAFSA requirement, he/she has used
  professional judgment.

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Common Elements in Professional Judgment

• Financial aid officers are willing to consider
  the special circumstances of applicants.
• Many financial aid officers share common values
  in evaluating special circumstances appeals.

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Professional Judgment Can Differ From College to
College

• Each college develops its own process and
  standards for handling special circumstances
  appeals.
• Colleges have their own forms, procedures, and
  documentation requirements.
• What will satisfy requirements at one college may
  not satisfy requirements at another college.

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Types of Appeals Income Changes

• Loss of job
• Change of job status from full-time to part-time
• Loss or reduction of benefits

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Types of AppealsChange in Household

• Divorce of parents
• Separation of parents
• Death of parent

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Types of AppealsSpecial Expenses

• Younger sibling(s) in private school
• Parent(s) in college (Other siblings in college
  are reported on the FAFSA)
• High medical expenses paid out of pocket without
  reimbursement

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Unusual Appeals

• Funeral costs not covered by insurance
• Loss of substantial property through natural
  disaster or arson
• Loss of business
• Reduction of income because of loss of overtime
• Parents maintain two households because of
  employment (not separation prior to divorce)

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Additional Documentation

• In addition to the appeal form, a financial aid
  office will usually require documents
• supporting the changes in circumstance.
• Many financial aid offices also require
  documentation of base year income and household
  size/number in college information when reviewing
  an appeal.

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When Is a Student Independent?

• Many students and their families feel that they
  should be considered independent and complete the
  FAFSA without parental information.
• Most high school seniors will complete the FAFSA
  as dependentusing parental information.

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Independent Status

• Born before January 1, 1985
• Working on masters or doctorate program at
  beginning of the 2008-09 school year
• Married when filing FAFSA
• Have children who receive more than half of their
  support from the applicant
• Have dependents (other than children or spouse)
  who live with you and receive more than half of
  their support from the applicant
• An orphan or ward/dependent of the court
• Currently serving on active duty in the U.S.
  Armed Forces for purposes other than training
• A veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces

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Dependency Overrides

• Parents absent due to
• Abandonment
• Incarceration
• Institutionalization
• A ward/dependent of the court is considered
  independent without an appeals process. The
  college may request documentation of court status.

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Dependency Overrides

• Students who fled parental home to escape
• Sexual or other physical abuse
• Substance abuse by parent/parent figure
• Criminal activity by parent/parent figure

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Dependency Overrides

• Financial aid officers look for at least one
  statement (sometimes more) from a neutral third
  party describing the breakdown of the family
  relationship.
• Counselors can provide valuable guidance and
  documentation to their students in this process
  within school or district guidelines.

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Dependency Overrides

• Valuable primary documentation can be
• obtained from
• Family Independence Agency (FIA)
• Police reports
• Physicians statement
• Psychologists statement
• High school counselor statement
• Social worker

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Dependency Override

• If college does not have a form to request a
  dependency override, the student should provide a
  signed, written personal statement detailing why
  they should be considered independent in lieu of
  a college form.
• The student should describe his/her circumstances
  and refer to specific incidents.
• The statement should address where the student
  now lives and how they will provide for their own
  support.

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Dependency Override

• Supporting or secondary documentation can
• be provided by
• Siblings who have had the same experience (can
  establish a pattern of parental behavior).
• Other knowledgeable family members.
• Employers.
• Friends of the family.

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Dependency Override

• A call to the Financial Aid Office can be helpful
  if counselor knows what college the student will
  attend.
• The student may wish to make an appointment with
  a counselor in the Financial Aid Office.
• If an appointment is not possible, it is
  recommended that the student arrange a telephone
  interview (not a substitute for the paper appeal)
  for guidance in this process.

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Dependency Override

• Parental information not needed if dependency
  override approved.
• Student income documents needed to complete the
  FAFSA.
• tax return
• W2 forms
• benefit statement

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When Dependency Override Is Not Appropriate

• Student supports himself/herself
• Parents are in another state or country
• Student left home or will leave home without
  unusual circumstances
• If parents reside where they can be contacted
  by mail. The situation is different if the
  parents are in a country that does not have
  diplomatic relations with the United States, at
  war, or facing natural disasters within its
  borders.

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When Parents Refuse to Complete the FAFSA

• A difficult situation arises when parents refuse
  to complete the FAFSA.
• A financial aid officer can contact the parents
  directly by letter or by telephone.
• Many parents worry about confidentiality or what
  obligations they will incur if they sign a FAFSA.
  
• In many cases, reassurance from the Financial Aid
  Office and help in completing the form resolve
  the problem.

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Counselors Make a Difference

• Your guidance and assistance can help a student
  through difficult times.
• Your help can make the difference in whether a
  student without parental support pursues college.

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Youth in Transition

• Foster Care in Michigan

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Changing Perceptions, Part I

• The biggest challenge for foster youth is the
  perception people have of them. It has to do
  with how we view people who have any kind of
  disadvantage. And certainly having had a
  separation from ones family is a challenge. But
  we tend not to see their potential for overcoming
  that challenge we tend not to see their strength
  and their talents. We tend to see their
  problems.
• Linda Lausell Bryant, Executive Director Inwood
  House

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Changing Perceptions, Part II

• And sometimes that becomes a self-fulfilling
  prophecy, if all you see in a young person in
  here is a set of problems. I think it is
  really important that we see their potential,
  their capabilities, and their talents and their
  strengths.
• Linda Lausell Bryant, Executive Director Inwood
  House

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Foster Care in Michigan

• Michigan There are 19,000 children and youth in
  foster care at any time.
• Nationally More than 25,000 foster care youth
  age out of state care leaving them without an
  ongoing connection to family members or caring
  adults.
• Children not adopted by the age of 11 have little
  possibility of adoption.

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Foster Care in Michigan

• Children and youth are placed in foster care
  because of neglect, abandonment, abuse, or death.
• The majority are not returned to their families
  or adopted.
• These children and youth should not be confused
  with juvenile delinquents.

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Barriers to Higher Education

• Foster care youth are less likely to enroll in
  college preparatory courses (15 percent vs. 32
  percent) even when they have test scores and
  grades similar to non-foster care youth.
• They are more likely to drop out of high school
  (37 percent vs. 16 percent).

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Promising Trends

• 70 percent of teens in the foster care system
  have the desire to attend college.
• Research shows that education is a leading
  indicator of successful youth development and
  adult self-sufficiency.

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Help Is Needed

• The most obvious barrier to higher education is
  financial.
• These youth lack the parental and familial
  financial support provided to most college
  students.
• Many do not know where to turn to get information
  about financial aid programs and how to complete
  applications.

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Guidance Is Needed

• Many youth not connected to someone with
  knowledge of financial aid resources, procedures,
  and criteria bypass higher education because they
  believe there is no way for them to pay for it.

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An Important First StepCompleting the FAFSA

• Most foster youth meet the definition of an
  independent student and complete the application
  without parental information.
• Foster parents or legal guardians not considered
  parents for completing the FAFSA.
• Youth who were a ward/dependent of the court
  until the age of 18 considered independent.
• Documentation of ward/dependent of court status
  not needed to complete the FAFSA.
• Documentation of ward/dependent of court status
  needed for verification by college.

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Youth in Transition

• Chafee Foster Care Independence Program --
  Provides a block grant of funds to each state to
  develop programs to aid youth aging out of foster
  care to transition into self-sufficiency.
• Youth in Transition Michigans program is a
  funding source available to cover expenses NOT
  covered by
• other government or community resources.
• to augment or supplement services from other
  funding sources.

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Youth in Transition

• Eligibility requirements
• Michigan youth active in foster care system
  starting at age 14 until the age of 21.
• Michigan youth between the ages of 18-21 in
  foster care on or after their 14th birthday, but
  are no longer under Department of Human Services
  (DHS) supervision.

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Youth in Transition Funding Can Be Used For

• Daily living skills
• Mentorship
• Transportation
• Employment services
• Parenting skills
• Educational support

• Graduation expenses
• Drivers education
• Physical and mental health services
• Relationship building skills
• Housing

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Youth in Transition (YIT)

• Where to apply?
• Open Case -- Youth can access funds through their
  foster care case manager.
• Closed Case -- Youth must apply for the closed
  case service (YIT) in their current county of
  residence through the local DHS office.

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Educational Training Voucher (ETV)

• Provides up to 5,000 for each school year to
  cover school-related expenses
• Tuition and fees
• Room and board
• Books, supplies, transportation, and
  miscellaneous expenses including the purchase of
  a personal computer
• Dependent care expenses

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Lutheran Social Services of Michigan

• Lutheran Social Services of Michigan administers
  the ETV. Foster youth can complete the
  application online at http//www.mietv.lsssm.org.
• The application includes several forms
• ETV Application
• ETV Budget
• ETV Student Education Agreement
• ETV Financial Aid Release Form
• All are one page forms that are not difficult to
  complete.

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ETV Application

• Additional documents required to
• complete the application
• Copy of high school diploma or GED
• Copy of college/trade school grade point average
• Copy of cost of tuition
• Copy of class schedule/enrollment
• Copy of financial aid package

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Questions in Completing ETV?

• Call the ETV Coordinator at Lutheran Social
  Services of Michigan (LSSM) at
• (800) 660-METV.
• Call your county DHS office to set up an
  appointment with a foster care worker.

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Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)

• Targets Michigan youth who have been
• Medicaid eligible for 24 months of a 36
• month period.
• TIP pays tuition and mandatory fees at
  participating colleges in pursuit of an
  Associates degree or certificate (Phase I).
• TIP pays 500/semester or 400/term up to a
  maximum of 2,000 in pursuit of a Bachelors
  degree (Phase II).

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Casey Family Scholars Program

• Provides scholarships up to 10,000 for young
  people who have spent at least 12 months in
  foster care and were not subsequently adopted.
• Information available at the Orphan Foundation of
  America Web site at www.orphan.org/programs/casey.
  html.
• Applications for 2008-09 will be available
  between January 1st and March 31st.

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MI Youth Opportunities Initiative (MI-YOI)

• To improve the outcome for foster youth as the
  age out of foster care focusing on
• Education
• Employment
• Housing
• Health
• Transportation
• Social and community engagement
• MI-YOI targets current or former foster youth,
  aged 14-23 who were in foster care some point
  after their 14th birthday.

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MI Youth Opportunities Initiative

• Not established in all Michigan counties but
  expanding.
• Application made through local county DHS office.
  Visit www.michigan.gov/fyit and click on MI-YOI
  for local contacts and more information.
• Opportunity Passport Requires completion of 8
  hours of financial literacy training.
• Commitment to two savings accounts
• Personal small savings account
• Individual Development Account (IDA)

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MI Youth Opportunities Initiative

• IDA Savings Matched dollar for dollar up to
  1,000 each year. The account used for only
  these major expenses
• Rent deposit or home down payment
• Insurance
• Medical or dental costs
• Vehicle purchase
• Educational costs
• Small business start up
• Investments

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MI Youth Opportunities Initiative (MI-YOI)

• Withdrawals from IDAs must be approved.
• There are opportunities to join a foster youth
  board in their county with stipends for youth
  board meetings.

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First Web Site to Visit

• The Foster Youth in
• Transition Web site at
• www.michigan.gov/fyit
• provides a wealth of
• valuable information.

• Education
• Employment
• Finances
• Housing
• Transportation
• Legal Assistance
• Health Wellness
• Pregnancy Parenting
• Youth with Disabilities
• Social Life
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Foster Youth Alumni

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Resources Are Available

• In recent years, the resources available to
  foster youth have increased tremendously. Foster
  youth must know about the resources established
  to help them.
• Caseworkers, high school counselors, and
  financial aid officers must work together to
  increase awareness of these supports. With our
  help, we can assist these young people achieve
  their goals.

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Final Words

• We are survivors,
• and we want a hand up,
• not a hand out.
• Foster Youth quoted in the Interdepartmental Task
  Force on Service
• to At-Risk Youth Transitioning to Adulthood
  Report to the Legislature
• September 2006

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www.EduGuide.org
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3 Ways to Make Your Job Easier

• High School EduGuide
• 2. College EduGuide
• 3. College Goal Sunday

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The 2007 High School EduGuide Cover
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The 2007 College EduGuide Cover
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105
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• www.EduGuide.org

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Saving for College in Michigan
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Whats New?

• 12 Month Enrollment
• 2008 MET Enrollment
• September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008
• Same price regardless of age or grade
• Increased pricing for contract purchases after
  January 31, 2008

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Whats New?

• MESP program management fee now 45 basis points
  (was 60 bp)
• Seven investment options
• MESP Match Funds pending legislative approval for
  2007-08

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Matching Grant

• The State will match 1 for every 3 contributed
• Maximum 200 per beneficiary
• Requirements when the MESP account is opened
• Beneficiary must be 6 years old or younger
• Beneficiary must reside in Michigan
• Household income of the beneficiarys custodial
  parent(s) must be 80,000 (AGI) or less
• Available only the 1st year the beneficiary is
  enrolled in the program
• State ultimately determines who is eligible
• Proceeds are invested in the TIAA-CREF
  Institutional Bond Fund
• For tuition only

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• MESP Investment Options
• Seven Investment Options
• Age Based
• Conservative option
• Moderate option
• Aggressive option
• Principal Plus Interest
• 100 Fixed Income
• 100 Equity
• Balanced

• MET Contract Options
• Three Types of Contracts
• Full Benefits
• Limited Benefits
• Community College

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• Similarities
• Benefits of Internal Revenue Code Section 529
• State Federal tax exemption on qualified WDs
• State income tax deduction for contributions
• Transfer contracts/accounts among siblings
• Gift tax exemption
• Payroll deduction, ACH, or coupon payments
• MET MESP can be used separately or together
• Enroll online www.setwithmet.com or
  www.misaves.com

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• Differences
• MET Prepay tuition mandatory fees
• MESP Save for all qualified higher education
  expenses
• MET Pays tuition mandatory fees at MI public
  two- and four-year colleges (refund amount
  portable to attend MI private or eligible
  out-of-state colleges)
• MESP Account balance can be used to pay for
  total qualified expenses at any eligible college
  in the nation

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• Differences (cont.)
• MET Prepay with monthly installments, payroll
  deduction, ACH, or lump sum ignore rising
  tuition
• MESP Save as much as 235,000. Deposit as
  little as 25 (15 if payroll deduction).
• MET Purchase for MI child (newborn to 12th
  grade), allowed 15 years to use contract
• MESP Open account for anyone No age limit No
  residency requirement

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Please Help Your Parents by

• Adding a link to the MET and MESP Web sites on
  your high schools Web site
• Encouraging parents to register to win a free
  one-semester MET Full Benefits Contract
• Scheduling a presentation for parents
• Inviting MET MESP to set up a booth at a school
  event

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Office of Scholarships and Grants

• Anne Wohlfert
• Director

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OSG Programs

• Adult Part-Time Grant
• Michigan Educational Opportunity Grant
• Michigan Work-Study Undergraduate
• Michigan Work-Study Graduate
• Michigan Competitive Scholarship
• Michigan Tuition Grant
• Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
• Michigan Merit Award
• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Michigan Nursing Scholarship
• Tuition Incentive Program
• Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership
• Supplemental Leveraging Educational Assistance
  Partnership
• Robert C. Byrd Scholarship
• GEAR UP Michigan! Scholarship

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To Be Eligible for all State Programs, Students
Must..

• Although they will not be eligible for all OSG
  programs, all students should do these two
  things
• Take the MME which includes the ACT
• Complete the FAFSA by March 1 priority date

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Competitive Scholarship
• The ACT taken as part of the MME test is valid
  for Michigan Competitive Scholarship purposes.
• For academic year 2008-09 the qualifying score is
  90 (sum of the scores for reading,
  English/writing, math and science).

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Competitive Scholarship (MCS)
• Although it is optional on the MME the ACT
  answer sheet SHOULD have the students Social
  Security Number (SSN). This is the best way to
  connect the test record to the FAFSA data.
  Students could lose scholarship eligibility if a
  match is not made.
• Students who do not supply their SSN on the MME
  should contact our office if they have an
  eligible score (90 or above).

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Competitive Scholarship
• Students need to complete the FAFSA.
• This must have a March 1 receipt date to ensure
  priority consideration.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Competitive Scholarship
• OSG will send status lists to your school in
  January/February. This is a good place to catch
  and report
• Social Security Number Problems
• Name and Address Corrections
• Graduation Year Errors
• Etc.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Competitive Scholarship
• As with the Class of 2007, the OSG can no longer
  print and mail certificates for each test
  qualifier. The OSG will continue to provide a
  template to schools that choose to use it for
  their awards programs.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Competitive Scholarship
• Michigan Tuition Grant
• Both of these programs are delivered using our
  Web based Michigan Scholarships Online system
  (MISO).
• OSG will strongly promote student access to this
  system.
• Students will be able to go online with their
  password and make demographic changes to their
  records and view their award status.

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Counselors Should Know

• Tuition Incentive Program
• In mid-November, general notification mailing
  sent to students (grade 6 -12) regarding TIP
  eligibility.
• In the spring, TIP applications mailed to
  seniors. TIP applications must be returned to
  OSG prior to high school graduation.
• If you have questions about a students
  eligibility for TIP, contact Kathy Welch at
  Welchk1_at_michigan.gov.

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Counselors Should Know

• Children of Veterans Tuition Grant
• Be aware of this program if you have students
  whose parent
• was killed in action or died while serving,
• is totally and permanently disabled,
• is listed as MIA.
• They may be eligible for tuition assistance while
  attending a Michigan institution.

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Counselors Should Know

• Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship
• CHANGES
• Academic achievement will now be based on a
  formula combining the GPA and MME scores.
• Schools will be allowed to submit more than one
  nominee in the event of a tie.
• Home schooled students are no longer eligible to
  apply.

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Counselors Should Know..

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Two departments and two offices.
• MDE and OEAA handle all testing.
• Treasury and OSG handle payment of the award.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• OSG and OEAA work together to help you and
  students.
• Please understand if you are referred to the
  other office.

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Counselors Should Know..

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• The Governor has sent a certificate to each
  student (Class of 2008) who took the complete
  Michigan Merit Exam (MME).

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Completing the entire test means that you are
  eligible to participate in the Promise program.
• Students who do not score with at least a Level 2
  in math, reading, writing and science can still
  earn up to 4,000 when they.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• when they
• Successfully complete an Associates degree,
  two-year certificate, vocational education
  program or 50 of the academic requirements for a
  Bachelors degree (60 semester or 90 term
  credits).
• Achieve at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Students who take the test and score at a Level 2
  or above in reading, writing, math, and science
  are eligible to receive early scholarship
  payments called installments.
• Students will receive a 1,000 installment in
  the first year and a 1,000 installment in the
  second year.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Use the tools provided to help your students.
• Eligibility Chart DEADLINE DATES
• Fact Sheet
• www.Michigan.gov/promise

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Students must complete the entire MME to be able
  to participate in the Promise.
• Only the ACT taken as part of the MME exam counts
  toward the Promise.
• Only Michigan residents are allowed to take the
  MME exam.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Encourage students to put their social security
  number on the ACT portion of the answer document.
  
• Although this is not needed for the Promise
  scholarship, it is vital to the Michigan
  Competitive Scholarship process.

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Counselors Should Know..

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Students must take the MME and graduate from high
  school.
• Students must begin their enrollment in
  postsecondary study within two years of high
  school graduation.
• Students must complete program requirements
  within four years of when they began enrollment.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• Installment winners must certify their award by
  November 15th of the academic year in which they
  wish to use the award.
• Students are encouraged to certify online at
  www.michigan.gov/promise.

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Counselors Should Know

• Michigan Promise Scholarship
• The Promise Scholarship FAQ should answer most of
  your questions.
• For other questions/issue please contact us
  at

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Counselors Should Know

• Office of Scholarships and Grants (OSG)
• www.Michigan.gov/promise
• osg_at_michigan.gov
• 1-888-447-2687

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