Louisiana Offering Grants Up to $1,000 for Students to "Return to Learn"

The Louisiana higher education commissioner announced up to $1,000 in financial aid grants for current, former and potential college students displaced by last year's hurricanes, to help them enroll or re-enroll in Louisiana colleges in the fall 2006 semester.

The Louisiana Board of Regents set up a "Return to Learn" Web site at http://www.returntolearn.info/ that details which students qualify for the additional aid and how to apply for the aid.

"We hope all of our displaced students and future students will pursue this opportunity to re-enroll or return to Louisiana to pursue their education," said Commissioner of Higher Education Joseph Savoie. "We have recognized from the outset that a key requirement for long-term, sustainable recovery for Louisiana will be higher educational levels for more citizens."

The funds will be allocated to participating institutions through a process similar to the LEAP program, which is administered by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA). The program will be jointly administered by the Louisiana Board of Regents (BoR) and LOSFA.

The amount of funds allocated to eligible institutions will be based on the number of undergraduate students enrolled at institutions affected by the hurricanes and the number of students enrolled at undamaged institutions, but from parishes affected by the storms. Eligible students are selected and certified for the funds by the school's financial aid office.

The grants are available to students who were enrolled in fall 2005 at an eligible postsecondary institution impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; have a permanent residence in a parish impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; or were enrolled in fall 2005 at a state approved public, private, or home school in a parish impacted by Katrina and Rita and have graduated from high school in the 2005-06 school year.

The parishes impacted by the storm were: Cameron, Calcasieu, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, and Vermillion.

To qualify, a student must also:

• Be a U.S. citizen or national or eligible non-citizen
• Be registered with Selective Service, if required
• Annually submit the FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA by the deadline set by the school
• Meet admission requirements or be eligible to continue enrollment and meet the satisfactory academic progress policy requirement at the institution selected
• Be selected and certified by the school to receive this award, contingent upon final approval by LOSFA
• Be certified as an undergraduate student in an eligible program at an eligible institution
• Have substantial financial need that exceeds $199
• Be in compliance with the terms of other federal and state student aid programs that are administered by the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission
• Not have a criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations
• Agree that the award proceeds will be used exclusively for educational expenses
• Not have defaulted student loans

"Most students who have the necessary academic qualifications and can demonstrate a legitimate financial need will likely qualify," Savoie said.

To apply for the aid students must:

• File a current FAFSA
• Apply for Admissions at a participating College or University
• Register personal contact information to receive updates

By Haley Chitty
NASFAA Assistant Director for Communications

Posted May 5, 2006 on www.NASFAA.org, the Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA).
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