Georgia's HOPE program, 2006-2007 academic year [July 2006]

Georgia's HOPE Program
2006 - 2007 Academic Year

HOPE Program
Georgia's HOPE Program helps students in several ways:
Scholarships for students in degree programs at public and private colleges and universities,
Grants for students enrolled in certificate or diploma programs at public colleges or technical colleges, and
General Education Development (GED) awards for high school equivalency certificate recipients who are entering college.
This information and much more can be found at GAcollege411.org, Georgia's comprehensive website that helps you plan, apply, and pay for college. Visit the website to learn about the many financial aid opportunities available in addition to HOPE.
HOPE Scholarship
Scholarship Award Amounts
At a public institution, the HOPE Scholarship award amount covers tuition, HOPE-approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance of up to $300 per academic year.
At a private college or university, you may receive a HOPE Scholarship award of $3,000 per academic year if you are a fulltime student (12 hours). If you enroll as a half-time student (6-11 hours), you may receive an award of $1,500 per academic year. Full-time students attending eligible private colleges also may be eligible for a Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant; check with the school financial aid office or GAcollege411.org for additional information.
Eligibility
To be eligible as an entering freshman, you must have or meet the following qualifications:
Be a U.S. citizen or meet the eligible non-citizen requirements.
Meet HOPE's Georgia residency requirements. Meet the Selective Service registration requirements. Be a 1993 or later graduate of an eligible high school if you
plan to attend a public college, university, or technical college. Be a 1996 or later graduate of an eligible high school if you
plan to attend a private college or university. Beginning May 1, 2007, all students entering college must
earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale for all core curriculum coursework in the college preparatory curriculum (CPC) or Earn a 3.2 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale for all core curriculum in the career/technical curriculum. All core curriculum coursework attempted in the student's high school career (grades 9-12) will be counted toward the

HOPE Scholarship cumulative grade point average, and numeric grades will be converted to the 4.0 scale.
If you meet eligibility requirements, you may receive first-year HOPE Scholarship assistance for the first 30 semester or 45 quarter hours attempted or until the 1st Spring checkpoint at any eligible Georgia public or private college, university or public technical college.
Graduates of Georgia high schools that are not certified by statute may retroactively receive the HOPE Scholarship for the first 30 semester or 45 quarter hours attempted at any eligible Georgia public or private college, university or public technical college, if they have earned a 3.0 grade point average.
Eligibility Checkpoints
The HOPE Program has established certain eligibility checkpoints. At these checkpoints you must have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average to renew your HOPE Scholarship.
First checkpoint occurs after a freshman student has attempted 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours), and at the end of every Spring term or at the end of the first three enrolled terms as a less-than-full-time student.
The second eligibility checkpoint occurs after you have attempted 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours), and at the end of each Spring term.
The third eligibility checkpoint occurs after you have attempted 90 semester (135 quarter) hours, and at the end of each Spring term.
NOTE: For information about maintaining your HOPE Scholarship, refer to the HOPE section of GAcollege411.org.
HOPE Scholarship Award Limits
A college degree-seeking student becomes ineligible for the HOPE Scholarship once the student has:
Received payment from any combination of HOPE Scholarship, HOPE Grant, and Accel Program funds totaling 127 semester hours (190 quarter hours) of credit; or
Attempted 127 semester hours (190 quarter hours) of college degree credit, regardless of whether HOPE funds were received while attempting the hours; or
Earned a baccalaureate (four-year) college degree, regardless of whether HOPE funds were received while earning the degree.
Applying for the HOPE Scholarship
The application process for HOPE:
At a public college, university, or technical college, you may apply for HOPE two ways: (1) by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using either a paper or electronic application, or (2) by completing the online GSFAPPS application. You can complete both the FAFSA and GSFAPPS applications online at GAcollege411.org. Completing the FAFSA also will enable the college to consider you for other financial

aid programs in addition to HOPE. At a private college or university, you can apply for the
HOPE Scholarship online using the GSFAPPS application at GAcollege411.org. Some colleges also require the student to complete the school's financial aid application. Contact the college financial aid office for more information. Please see the Application Deadline section of this brochure.
HOPE Scholarship for Students Ineligible as Entering Freshmen
If you graduated from high school before the HOPE Scholarship and Grant Program began in 1993, or if you were not academically eligible immediately after high school graduation, you may become eligible for a HOPE Scholarship if you enroll at an eligible college or university and earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at a HOPE checkpoint of 30 semester (45 quarter) hours, 60 semester (90 quarter) hours, or 90 semester (135 quarter) hours attempted. The scholarship is not retroactive.
Regaining the HOPE Scholarship
The HOPE Scholarship is a reward for scholastic achievement and an incentive to continue working hard in school. If you fall below a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at an eligibility checkpoint, you may continue your college studies at your own expense. If you then earn a 3.0 cumulative grade point average after attempting 30 semester (45 quarter) hours, 60 semester (90 quarter) hours, or 90 semester (135 quarter) hours, you may re-enter the HOPE Program and regain the HOPE Scholarship.
HOPE Grant
Grant Award Amounts
The HOPE Grant covers tuition, HOPE-approved mandatory fees, and a book allowance of up to $300 per academic year.
Eligibility
Georgia residents meeting HOPE's citizenship requirements and who are attending a Georgia public technical college or public college or university and enrolled in a certificate or diploma program are eligible for HOPE assistance regardless of high school graduation dates or grade point averages. Full-time enrollment is not required. You must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress according to the college's policy to maintain eligibility, but a 3.0 cumulative grade point average is not required.
Grant Award Limits
A student may receive the HOPE Grant for up to 63 semester hours (95 quarter hours) of study. However, any previous coursework for which you have received HOPE Scholarship and/or Accel payments will count toward the lifetime award limit of 127 semester hours

(190 quarter hours) and will reduce the number of HOPE Grant hours for which you can receive assistance.
NOTE: Certificate programs offered through Continuing Education Departments do not qualify for HOPE assistance.
Applying for the HOPE Grant
You can apply for the HOPE Grant two ways:
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using either paper application or electronic application, or
Complete the online GSFAPPS application.
HOPE Award for GED Recipients
Residents of Georgia who meet HOPE's citizenship requirements and who have earned a General Education Development (high school equivalency) certificate awarded by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education after June 30, 1993 may receive a one-time $500 HOPE award. This award can be used toward tuition, books, and other educational costs at an eligible public technical college or public or private college or university in a degree, diploma, or certificate program.
Full-time enrollment is not required. You must use your HOPE eligibility within 24 months of the date of your GED certificate. Military personnel have 52 months to exercise eligibility.
In addition to the $500 award, GED recipients may qualify for assistance through other HOPE components.
Application Deadlines
You must complete the HOPE application process by one of these two dates, whichever occurs first:
Before the last day of the academic term, or Before your withdrawal date for the academic term. If you do not complete the HOPE Scholarship or HOPE Grant application process by the deadline, you will not receive HOPE payment for that academic term. Contact the financial aid office at your postsecondary institution for additional information regarding application deadline dates for the HOPE Scholarship and Grant Program.
For Additional Information
More information on the HOPE Scholarship and Grant Program is available at GAcollege411.org. Also, you may call toll-free in Georgia at 1-800-505-GSFC (4732). If you are in the Metro Atlanta area, call (770) 724-9000.
The financial aid office at the college, university, or technical college you plan to attend can provide information about residency determination and coursework eligible for HOPE assistance. Contact them directly.

HOPE Eligible Institutions

Public:
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Albany State University Armstrong Atlantic
State University Atlanta Metropolitan
College Augusta State University Bainbridge College Clayton State University Coastal Georgia
Community College Columbus State University Dalton State College Darton College East Georgia College Fort Valley State University Gainesville College Georgia College & State
University Georgia Gwinnett College Georgia Highlands College Georgia Institute of
Technology Georgia Perimeter College Georgia Southern
University Georgia Southwestern
State University Georgia State University Gordon College Kennesaw State University Macon State College Medical College of Georgia Middle Georgia College North Georgia College &
State University Savannah State University South Georgia College Southern Polytechnic
State University University of Georgia University of West
Georgia Valdosta State University Waycross College

Technical:
Albany Technical College Altamaha Technical
College Appalachian Technical
College Athens Technical College Atlanta Technical College Augusta Technical College Central Georgia Technical
College Chattahoochee Technical
College Columbus Technical
College Coosa Valley Technical
College DeKalb Technical College East Central Technical
College Flint River Technical
College Georgia Aviation &
Technical College Griffin Technical College Gwinnett Technical
College Heart of Georgia
Technical College Lanier Technical College Middle Georgia Technical
College Moultrie Technical College North Georgia Technical
College North Metro Technical College Northwestern Technical College Ogeechee Technical College Okefenokee Technical College Sandersville Technical College Savannah Technical College South Georgia Technical College Southeastern Technical College Southwest Georgia
Technical College Swainsboro Technical College Valdosta Technical College West Central Technical College West Georgia Technical College
Continued

HOPE Eligible Institutions (continued)

Private:
Agnes Scott College American InterContinental
University Andrew College Argosy University Art Institute of Atlanta Atlanta Christian College Bauder College Berry College Brenau University Brewton-Parker College Clark Atlanta University Covenant College DeVry University Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University Emmanuel College Emory University Georgia Military College Herzing College

LaGrange College Life University Mercer University Morehouse College Oglethorpe University Oxford College of
Emory University Paine College Piedmont College Reinhardt College Savannah College of
Art & Design Shorter College South University Spelman College Thomas University Toccoa Falls College Truett-McConnell College Wesleyan College Young Harris College

Administered by:
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Loans Scholarships Grants Giving students financial choices since 1965 2082 East Exchange Place - Tucker, GA 30084
(770) 724-9000 or 1-800-505-4732

The Georgia Student Finance Commission is a State of Georgia agency. GAcollege411 is a service of the State of Georgia provided by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, the Office of the Governor and many Georgia partners, including the University System of Georgia, the Department of Technical and Adult Education, the Foundation for Independent Colleges, the Department of Education, the School Counselors Association, the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services, Georgia Public Broadcasting, the Professional
Standards Commission, and the Georgia Public Library Service.
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