3351-2-01. Part-time student instructional grants

(A) Intent and authority

(1) It is the intent of the Ohio student aid commission in promulgating this rule to establish and administer a part-time student instructional grant program which will provide financial assistance to eligible students who are enrolled in "eligible institutions of higher education" for part-time rather than full-time study.

(2) This rule is adopted under authority conferred upon the Ohio student aid commission by Am. Sub. H. B. No. 152, Section 84.08.

(B) Definitions

(1) Part-time student

A "part-time student" is a student who is enrolled in an "eligible institution of higher education" for not more than eleven credit hours per quarter or semester.

(2) Eligible institution of higher education

(a) An "eligible institution of higher education" is:

(i) An accredited Ohio public-assisted institution of higher education;

(ii) An accredited privately sponsored non-profit institution of higher education which holds a "Certificate of Authorization" issued pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;

(iii) An accredited hospital school of nursing which holds a "certificate of authorization" issued pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code;

(iv) An accredited proprietary school which holds a "Certificate of Registration" and program authorization from the state board of proprietary school registration to award an associate degree or which holds a "Certificate of Authorization" issued pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code to award a bachelor's degree.

(b) In the 1993-1994 academic year, "eligible institutions of higher education" shall include public assisted two- and four-year institutions only.

(3) Ohio resident

An "Ohio resident" is a student who meets the requirements of Ohio Board of regents' rule 3333-1-10 of the Administrative Code. Verification of Ohio residency for these purposes shall be made by the student's institution of higher education. Institutions shall provide students with a fair and adequate opportunity to present proof of Ohio residency.

(4) Displaced homemaker

A "Displaced homemaker" is a person who has not worked full-time in the labor force for approximately five years or more and has been a homemaker (i.e., has provided unpaid services to family members) during the term of unemployment.

(5) Academic year

For these purposes, an academic year is a period of instruction which begins at the start of the fall term and ends at the close of the summer term.

(C) Allocating funds to institutions

(1) Each year, the Ohio student aid commission shall allocate appropriated funds to each eligible institution of higher education. These allocations shall be calculated on the basis of the following formula:

Step 1: Part-time undergraduate head count divided by total undergraduate head count equals institutional part-time percentage.

Step 2: Institutional part-time percentage times the number of need-based federal and/or state grants recipients -- as designated by the Ohio student aid commission -- equals the institution's part-time need factor.

Step 3: Institution's part-time need factor divided by the aggregate part-time need factor for all "eligible institutions of higher education" equals institution's part-time share.

Step 4: Institution's part-time share times total program appropriation equals institution's part-time student instructional grant program allocation for the academic year.

(2) The Ohio student aid commission shall determine the source and academic year designation of the head count and need-based grant recipient data which are used in the allocation formula.

(3) Each participating institution shall receive its calculated allotment in two or three equal disbursements, depending on the academic calendar of the institution. Institutions with quarter calendars shall receive three disbursements; institutions with semester calendars shall receive two disbursements.

(4) In order to receive its allocation each year, each participating institution shall certify in writing its intent to comply with all program rules and regulations.

(D) Student eligibility requirements

(1) To be considered for a part-time instructional grant, a "part-time student" must meet each of the following eligibility requirements:

(a) The student must have financial need as determined by the financial aid office of the student's institution of higher education. When determining financial need, the institution shall give special consideration to students who are single-heads-of-household or displaced homemakers.

(b) The student must be enrolled in an undergraduate curriculum which leads to an associate or baccalaureate degree.

(c) The student must be an "Ohio resident."

(E) Awarding grants

(1) A part-time instructional grant shall not exceed the student's cost of tuition for the academic year.

(2) A part-time instructional grant shall not exceed the amount which the student would have received from the Ohio instructional grant program in each term of the award year had the student been enrolled for full-time study. Ohio instructional grant eligibility for these purposes may be calculated by the college financial aid administrator on the basis of data which is collected for other purposes.

(3) A part-time instructional grant may not be used to supplant educational assistance provided by a student's employer.

(4) A part-time instructional grant may not be used to supplant other sources of non-adjustable financial aid, such as scholarships or tuition waivers, which are restricted to the student's tuition charges.

(5) Provided that a student's award is in compliance with the parameters established in sections (E)(1) to (E)(4)of this rule, the amount of the student's award for each term of the award year shall be determined by the institution.

(6) A part-time student instructional grant awarded to a student who discontinues enrollment prior to the completion of a quarter or semester shall be adjusted in accordance with the institution's tuition refund policy.

(F) Institutional refunds and reporting responsibility

(1) No later than sixty days following the close of the summer term of each academic year, participating institutions shall report to the Ohio student aid commission on students who received part-time instructional grant benefits and the amount of any unused funds. The form of this report shall be prescribed by the commission.

(2) Part-time student instructional grant funds which are not used by the institution in the academic year for which the funds are provided shall be retained by the institution for use in the next academic year. The institution's allocation for the next academic year shall be reduced by this amount.

Eff 9-27-93 (Emer.); 7-15-94
Rule promulgated under: RC Chapter 119.
Rule authorized by: Section 84.08 (Am. Sub. H.B. No. 152, 120th General Assembly)
Rule amplifies: Section 84.08 (Am. Sub. H.B. No. 152, 120th General Assembly)