Ala. Admin. Code r. 300-4-2-.04 - Definition Of Terms
(1) Academic
Qualifications and Satisfactory Progress of Eligible Students: A student is
considered academically qualified if he/she is currently enrolled and
matriculated in an eligible program of an eligible institution and is
maintaining satisfactory progress in a course of study he or she is pursuing
according to the standards and practices of the institution in which the
student is in attendance. The regulations regarding academic qualifications and
satisfactory progress of eligible students participating in this Leveraging
Educational Assistance Program are the same regulations which apply to all
Title IV programs.
(2) Academic
Year: An academic year is a period of time, usually nine months, during which a
full-time student is expected to complete the equivalent of two semesters, two
trimesters, three quarters, or 900 clock hours of instruction.
(3) Alabama Resident: An Alabama resident is
a person who has established residence within the State of Alabama for at least
a twelve-month period prior to the beginning of the term for which financial
assistance is requested, and is in the State of Alabama for other than a
temporary purpose.
(4) Clock Hours:
A clock hour is a period of time which is the equivalent of either:
(a) a 50- to 60-minute class, lecture, or
recitation, or
(b) a 50- to
60-minute period of faculty-supervised laboratory, shop training, or
internship.
(5)
Educational Grant: A grant is defined as a financial award by the State of
Alabama to an Alabama Student Assistance Program applicant who is designated to
be an eligible student enrolled in or accepted for enrollment in an eligible
institution, and is to be awarded to the student to defray direct
educational-related expenses: tuition, mandatory fees, room rent, board,
transportation, books, supplies, and personal expenses.
(6) Eligible Institution: An eligible
institution is a public or private nonprofit institution of higher education,
proprietary institution of higher education, or postsecondary vocational
educational institution which provides an accredited program leading to an
associate degree, the degree of bachelor of science, or to an equivalent
degree, and which submits a complete application to the Alabama Student
Assistance Program for financial assistance to its students and complies with
all reporting requirements of the previous fiscal year. The institution must
also certify to the Alabama Student Assistance Program Office the availability
of a drug abuse prevention program for officers, employees, and students of the
institution.
(7) Eligible Program:
An eligible program is any program (except theology, divinity, or other program
of preparation for a religious profession) that is separately identifiable and
leads to a degree or certificate, and meets the requirements for eligibility at
a particular type of institution. An eligible program must admit as regular
students only persons who have a high school diploma, have a General Education
Development (GED) Certificate, or who are beyond the age of compulsory school
attendance and have the ability to benefit from the education or training
offered. An eligible program must lead to an associate or bachelor's, degree,
or be a program which is at least a two-year program that is acceptable for
full credit toward a bachelor's degree, or be a program which is at least a
one-year program leading to a certificate or diploma that prepares a student
for gainful employment in a recognized occupation, or be a program which for a
proprietary institution or a postsecondary vocational institution, is at least
a 6-month program leading to a certificate or diploma which prepares students
for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.
(8) Eligible Student: An eligible student is
an applicant who completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, and
(a) Is classified as an undergraduate student
as defined in 04(26);
(b) Is a
citizen or an eligible non-citizen as defined by the U.S. Department of
Education;
(c) Is a resident of the
State of Alabama, as defined in 04 (3);
(d) Is enrolled or accepted for enrollment as
a full-time student, as defined in 04(13), or a part-time student, as defined
in 04(19), in an eligible program within an eligible institution;
(e) Is not enrolled in a course of study
leading to a degree in theology, religion, or other field of preparation for a
religious profession;
(f) Is making
satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible institution and
consistent with guidelines applicable to all Title IV programs at the
institution;
(g) Cannot complete
his/her education at the institution without financial assistance, and has
established financial need for an Alabama Student Assistance Program grant by
means of a federally-approved need analysis system for the academic
year;
(h) Is not in default on a
student loan or owes a refund on a student grant from the federally-funded
student financial aid programs;
(i)
Has not borrowed in excess of the annual or aggregate limits for the
federally-funded or federally-guaranteed student financial aid programs;
and
(j) Files a Statement of
Education Purpose/Certification Statement on Refunds and Default, a Statement
of Registration Status, and a Statement of Updated Information.
(9) Expected Family Contribution:
The expected family contribution of a dependent student is the sum of the
amount which reasonably may be expected from the student and spouse, plus the
amount which reasonably may be expected to be made available to the student by
the parents or legal guardians to meet the student's cost of education. The
expected family contribution of an independent or self-supporting student means
the amount of money which reasonably may be expected from the student and
spouse to meet the student's cost of education.
(10) Family Status of Eligible Students: The
Alabama Student Assistance Program provides a supplemental source of financial
assistance to students with an established financial need following a
determination of the student's family status--i.e., dependent or
independent.
(11) Financial Need:
An applicant's financial need is the difference between the applicant's
available financial resources, as defined in 04(12), and the applicant's
anticipated educational cost, including tuition and fees applicable to such
student together with the institution's estimate of other expenses reasonably
related to cost of attendance at such institution, including, but not limited
to, the cost of room and board, transportation costs, and costs for books and
supplies. An approved institution may not charge students fees for processing
data or determining student eligibility for Alabama Student Assistance Program
awards.
(12) Financial Resources:
Financial resources must include, but may not necessarily be limited to, family
financial support, anticipated awards under all federally-supported financial
aid programs, veterans' educational benefits, plus other benefits, and
scholarships, grants, work, or loan assistance of which the institution has
knowledge.
(13) Full-Time Student:
A full-time student is defined as an individual who is carrying a full-time
academic workload, other than by correspondence, measured in terms of (a)
course work or other required activities, including any combination of courses,
work experience, research, or special studies which the institution requires of
the student in order to be considered as being engaged in full-time study, and
which amounts to the equivalent of a minimum of 12 semester hours or 12 quarter
hours per academic term, or a minimum of 24 clock hours per week, and
(b) is charged the tuition and fees
customarily charged for full-time study by the institution.
(14) Graduate or Professional
Student: A graduate or professional student is a student enrolled in an
academic program of study above the baccalaureate level at an institution of
higher education, including (a) a program leading to a first professional
degree if the institution requires at least 3 years of study at the college
level for entrance into the program; and
(b)
course work beyond the fourth year of study, except any undergraduate study
outlined in 04(26).
(15) Half-Time Student: A half-time student
is an enrolled student who is carrying a half-time academic work load as
determined by the institution according to its own standards and practices.
However, the institution's half-time standards must equal or exceed the
equivalent of the following minimum requirements:
(a) 6 semester hours or 6 quarter hours per
academic term in an institution using standard semester, trimester, or quarter
systems;
(b) 12 semester hours or
12 quarter hours per academic year for an institution using credit hours to
measure progress, but not using a standard semester, trimester, or quarter
system, or the prorated equivalent for a program of less than 1 year; and
(c) 12 clock hours per week for an
institution using clock hours.
(16) Matriculated Status of Eligible
Students:
(a) To be eligible for an Alabama
Student Assistance Program grant, a student must be in a "matriculated status"
in an eligible program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate approved
for a grant award. For purposes of the Alabama Student Assistance Program, a
student shall be considered in "matriculated status" if the student is enrolled
in an appropriate degree, diploma, or certificate program.
(b) A student is to be considered
matriculated and eligible only if the courses pursued by the student are fully
recognized at that time as contributing toward fulfillment by the student of
the requirements for completion of the program. That the student may be
required to complete certain courses to make up deficiencies in background or
training does not necessarily negate the student's status as an enrolled and
recognized degree candidate, so long as acceptance and credit are not
contingent upon additional and special requirements designed to establish
his/her qualifications to pursue the program successfully. If credit toward the
degree is conditional upon satisfactory completion of additional special
requirements, then the student must be considered not fully matriculated and
ineligible for assistance during his/her present program of study.
(c) A student who meets all eligibility
requirements for the Alabama Student Assistance Program and who is permitted to
enroll in an eligible postsecondary educational institution on an early
admission basis is eligible to receive a State grant provided he/she meets all
other matriculated status criteria of these procedures.
(17) Nonprofit Institution: A "nonprofit"
institution means a school, college, agency, organization, or institution, in
Alabama and owned and operated by one or more nonprofit corporations, or
associations in which no part of the net earnings of the corporation(s) or
association(s) lawfully enure to the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual, and which meets other requirements defined in 04(6).
(18) Over-Award of Established Need: If a
student receives other gift aid awards, loans, scholarships, or work-study that
are non-adjustable and meet the student's financial need as defined in 04(11),
the student is not eligible to receive an Alabama Student Assistance Program
grant.
(19) Part-Time Student: A
part-time student is an individual who is enrolled as a half-time student as
defined in 04(15).
(20)
Postsecondary Vocational Institution: A "postsecondary vocational institution"
is a public or private nonprofit educational institution which,
(a) is in Alabama;
(b) admits as regular students only persons
who have a high school diploma, have the recognized equivalent of a high school
diploma, or are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in Alabama and
have the ability to benefit from the training offered;
(c) is legally authorized to provide an
educational program beyond secondary education and is physically located in
Alabama;
(d) provides at least a
six-month program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a
recognized occupation;
(e) is
accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association, or, is
approved by the Alabama Community College System, if the institution is a
public postsecondary vocational institution, or, has satisfactorily assured the
U.S. Secretary that it will meet the accreditation standards of an approved
agency or association within a reasonable time, considering the resources
available to the institution, the period of time it has operated and its
efforts to meet accreditation standards, or an institution whose credits are
determined by the U.S. Secretary to be accepted on transfer by at least three
accredited institutions on the same basis as transfer credits from fully
accredited institutions; and,\ (f) has been in existence for at least two
years. The U.S. Secretary considers an institution to have been in existence
for two years if it has been legally authorized to provide, and has provided, a
training program on a continuous basis to prepare students for gainful
employment in a recognized occupation during the 24 months (except for normal
vacation periods) preceding the date of application for
eligibility.
(21)
Proprietary Institution of Higher Education: A "proprietary institution of
higher education" is an educational institution which,
(a) is not a public or other nonprofit
institution;
(b) is in
Alabama;
(c) admits as regular
students only persons who have a high school diploma, have the recognized
equivalent of a high school diploma, or are beyond the age of compulsory school
attendance in Alabama and have the ability to benefit from the training
offered;
(d) is legally authorized
to provide postsecondary education and is physically located in
Alabama;
(e) provides at least a
six-month program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a
recognized occupation;
(f) is
accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association;
and
(g) has been in existence for at
least two years. The U.S. Secretary considers a school to have been in
existence for two years if it has been legally authorized to provide, and has
provided, a continuous training program to prepare students for gainful
employment in a recognized occupation during the 24 months (except for normal
vacation periods) preceding the date of application for
eligibility.
(22) Public
or Private Nonprofit Institution of Higher Education: A "public or private
nonprofit institution of higher education" is: an educational institution which
(a) is in Alabama;
(b) admits as regular students only persons
who have a high school diploma, or have the recognized equivalent of a high
school diploma, or are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in
Alabama, and have the ability to benefit from the training offered;
(c) is legally authorized to provide an
educational program beyond secondary education and is physically located in
Alabama;
(d) provides an
educational program for which it awards an associate, baccalaureate, graduate,
or professional degree, or at least a two-year program which is acceptable for
full credit toward a baccalaureate degree, or at least a one-year training
program which leads to a certificate or diploma and prepares students for
gainful employment in a recognized occupation; and
(e) is accredited by a nationally recognized
accrediting agency or association or, if not accredited, is approved by the
Alabama Community College System, if the institution is a public postsecondary
vocational institution, or is an institution which has satisfactorily assured
the U.S. Secretary of Education it will meet the accreditation standards of an
approved agency or association within a reasonable time, considering the
resources available to the institution, the period of time it has operated and
its efforts to meet accreditation standards, or an institution whose credits
are determined by the U.S. Secretary to be accepted on transfer by at least
three accredited institutions on the same basis as transfer credits from fully
accredited institutions.
(23) Refunds.
(a) If a student becomes ineligible for a
state grant during the academic year of the award, and prior to the delivery of
Alabama Student Assistance Program funds to the student, the institutional
financial aid administrator will not disburse Alabama Student Assistance
Program grant funds to the student.
(b) Whenever an institution refunds monies to
the Alabama Student Assistance Program, the institution must provide to the
Alabama Student Assistance Program the refund amount and the institution must
maintain with the student's records documentation listing (a) the date the
student withdrew, (b) the net institutional charges to the student for the
period of the student's attendance, (c) the amount of the student's grant
award, and (d) the amount of refund due the Alabama Student Assistance
Program.
(24) Leveraging
Educational Assistance Partnership Program: The LEAP Program is a federal grant
made to the several states by the U.S. Department of Education to encourage
creation and/or expansion of state student assistance programs. Federal funds
must be matched with at least an equal amount of state funding. All federal
funds received plus the state matching funds must be returned to students.
Administrative cost of the program must be borne entirely by state
appropriations and/or institutional funds. Federal regulations require that a
single agency designated by the state shall administer the program.
(25) Student Application Procedure: Each
Alabama Student Assistance program applicant must submit the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid Application. Award priorities will be given in
accordance with dates established by the individual eligible
institutions.
(26) Undergraduate
Student: An undergraduate student is defined as a person who is in attendance
at an Alabama postsecondary educational institution and who has not earned a
baccalaureate or first professional degree. A student who is enrolled in a
program of study designed to extend for more than four academic years shall not
be considered an undergraduate student in that portion of the program that
involves study beyond the fourth academic year, unless the program leads to a
first degree and is designed to extend for a period of five academic
years.
Notes
Authors: Joseph T. Sutton, Timothy W. Vick
Statutory Authority: Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended.
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.