6A-20.027. Rosewood Family Scholarship Fund

(1) General eligibility criteria for awards. To receive aid, a student shall meet the provisions of Sections 1009.40, 1009.42 and 1009.55, F.S. and Rules 6A-20.001 and 6A-20.0371, F.A.C., and:

(a) Be a direct descendent of the Rosewood family.

(b) If an initial applicant, submit a completed application to the Department, Form FFAA-1, Florida Financial Aid Application, as incorporated by reference in Rule 6A-20.019, F.A.C., by the established April 1 deadline. If a reinstatement or restoration applicant, submit a completed Form FFAA-3, Reinstatement/Restoration Application for Students and Teachers to the Department by the established April 1 deadline. Form FFAA-3 is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule to become effective with the effective date of this rule. A copy of Forms FFAA-1 and FFAA-3, Florida Financial Aid Reinstatement/Restoration Application (effective December 2014) (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-04785) to the Department by the established April 1 deadline. Form FFAA-3 is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule. A copy of Forms FFAA-1 and FFAA-3 may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400.

(c) Complete and submit annually to the appropriate processor a completed need analysis document which is designed to use the need analysis methodology currently approved by the U.S. Congress:

1. A Florida resident must submit the need analysis document in time for it to be processed, error-free, by the U.S. Department of Education no later than May 15.

2. A non-Florida resident must postmark a copy of the Student Aid Report received from the need analysis agency to the Department no later than May 15.

(d) Be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or certificate program at a state university, state Florida College, or state postsecondary vocational-technical school. A certificate-seeking student must be enrolled in a program that requires a minimum of nine hundred (900) clock hours to complete.

(e) At the end of the regular registration period, inclusive of the drop add period for each academic term for which aid is received, an eligible student shall be:

1. Enrolled for a minimum of twelve (12) credits for a degree program, or

2. Enrolled for a minimum of three hundred sixty (360) clock hours per term for a certificate program, to include the Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) Degree.

(f) Not have previously received a baccalaureate degree.

(g) Not owe a repayment of a federal Title IV grant, or any state grant or scholarship unless satisfactory arrangements have been made to repay.

(h) Not be in default on any state or federal student loan program unless satisfactory arrangements have been made to repay.

(2) Academic criteria for renewal awards. Academic eligibility is determined at the end of the second semester or third quarter of each academic year. To be eligible for a renewal award, a student shall:

(a) Have earned a minimum cumulative institutional grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for postsecondary work.

(b) If degree-seeking, have earned during the previous summer and two (2) semesters, a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours per term or the equivalent for the number of terms for which the award was received.

(c) If certificate-seeking, have completed eighty (80) percent of the clock hours for which the student was enrolled during the terms for which the award was received. A student who earns less than the required clock hours will be eligible for renewal if the institution certifies that the student successfully completed all competencies on an accelerated basis and that the student was unable to continue full-time enrollment because there were no courses available in the program of study.

(3) Probationary awards. A student who earns the minimum number of credit or clock hours, but who fails to earn the minimum cumulative 2.0 grade point average, may be granted a probationary award for two (2) semesters. To be eligible for renewal the following year, the student must earn the required credit or clock hours for the probationary award year and a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

(4) Restoration and reinstatement awards. A student who failed to earn the minimum number of credit or clock hours required for renewal, or who failed to meet the requirements for renewal of a probationary award, is eligible to apply for restoration after one (1) academic year if the student has earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale as of the end of the second semester or third quarter of the academic year preceding the year the award is sought. A student who met the requirements for a renewal award but did not receive an award during a full year of eligibility and wishes to reestablish use of the scholarship may apply for reinstatement in any subsequent year.

(5) Maximum terms of eligibility. A student will be eligible to receive an award for a maximum of one hundred ten (110) percent of the number of credit hours to complete program of study in which enrolled or until receipt of the first baccalaureate degree, whichever is less. Additional terms of eligibility for five (5) year degree programs will be based on the number of credit hours required by the institution for completion of the program of study.

(6) Appeals. An applicant may appeal decisions of ineligibility made due to failure to meet academic progress requirements or errors made by the Office of Student Financial Assistance under the provisions of Rule 6A-20.0371, F.A.C.

(7) Amount of award. The amount of each annual award is set in statute.

(8) Award procedures. The Department will make awards based on the annual appropriation, not to exceed the number of full awardees set in statute.

(a) A direct descendant of an African-American Rosewood family is an applicant whose ancestor is a member of a family identified as an affected Rosewood resident as provided in Section 1009.55, F.S. The applicant shall provide the Department proof sufficient to establish eligibility as a Rosewood descendant as defined by this rule. The Department may verify eligibility by using records already in possession of the State of Florida.

(b) Among eligible Rosewood family descendant applicants:

1. First priority will be given to renewal applicants.

2. Second priority for awards will be given to initial applicants. If the number of awards remaining is insufficient to award all such applicants, they will be ranked and selected first by the least family contribution as specified on the need analysis report and second by the earliest postmark or electronic receipt date of the application. If the number of awards remaining is insufficient to award all equally ranked applicants, the tie will be broken through random selection.

3. Third priority for awards will be given to reinstatement applicants. If the number of awards remaining is insufficient to award all such applicants, they will be ranked and selected first by the least family contribution as specified on the need analysis report and second by the earliest postmark or electronic receipt date of the application. If the number of awards remaining is insufficient to award all equally ranked applicants, the tie will be broken through random selection.

4. Fourth priority for awards will be given to restoration applicants. If the number of awards remaining is insufficient to award all such applicants, they will be ranked and selected first by the least family contribution as specified on the need analysis report and second by the earliest postmark or electronic receipt date of the application. If the number of awards remaining is insufficient to award all equally ranked applicants, the tie will be broken through random selection.

(9) Payment of awards. The Department will provide for the delivery of funds to students each academic term by transmitting the funds to the institution for distribution to students. To be eligible for payment, the student must be enrolled full time at the end of the institution’s drop/add period. After disbursement of funds to a student or to the student’s account, the student may not return part or all of the award for the purpose of restoring a term of eligibility.

(10) Institutional responsibilities. Participating institutions must verify the continued eligibility of awarded students, provide for the disbursement of funds to students, comply with the Department’s reporting and refund requirements as specified in Rules 6A-20.002 and 6A-20.0021, F.A.C.

Rulemaking Authority 1001.02(1), 1009.55(2) FS. Law Implemented 1009.40, 1009.55 FS. History–New 10-30-94, Amended 10-15-02, 9-22-08, 10-25-10, 12-23-14.