Show and Tell

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Show and Tell

• The South Carolina National Guard College
  Assistance Program
• Presented by
• Sandra Davis SC State University
• Kim Jenerette USC Upstate

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SCNG-CAP

• Introduced in the Senate on 1.24.07
• Introduced in the House on 2.27.07
• Passed by the General Assembly on 5.16.07
• Signed by Governor Sanford on 6.4.07
• Section 59-114-10 cited as the South Carolina
  National Guard College Assistance Program Act

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SCNG-CAP

• Reference SC Commission on Higher Education
  Regulation 62-250, 5 October 2007, South Carolina
  National Guard College Assistance Program.
• Purpose To improve the strength and readiness of
  the SCANG by providing an education benefit for
  recruiting and retaining members in the SCANG.
• Purpose To improve the strength and readiness of
  the SCARNG by providing an educational incentive
  for enlisting or remaining in the SCARNG.

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SCNG-CAP Overview

• Qualifying members of the SCANG (Air)/SCARNG
  (Army) may receive college assistance program
  benefits up to an amount equal to one hundred
  percent of college tuition and fees.

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SCANG-CAP Eligibility

• The SCANG has determined that all members are
  considered in areas of critical need therefore
  all SCANG members are eligible to apply.
  Applications and fund availability will be
  considered in the following priority

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SCANG-CAP Priorities

• Priority 1 Members currently enrolled in the
  State LRP (loan repayment program).
• Priority 2 New Enlistments and Reenlistments.
• Priority 3 240th CBCS Cross trainees.

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SCANG-CAP Priorities (cont)

• Priority 4 Traditional Guard Status.
• Priority 5 Technician.
• Priority 6 AGR (active duty guard/reserve).
• Note these priorities are not in affect as of
  today. This would/will be implemented upon
  limitation of funding for the program.

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SCARNG-CAP Eligibility

• The SCARNG soldiers identified as critical need
  are eligible for SCARNG-CAP upon joining,
  re-enlisting, or accepting a commission in the
  SCARNG.

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SCARNG-CAP Critical Need Areas

• Company and Junior Grade Officers without a
  degree.
• NPS (non-prior service) and PS (prior service)
  enlisted Soldiers.
• Re-enlisting Soldiers.
• This critical list was eliminated in January of
  2008.

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SCNG-CAP (Air and Army)

• Applicants must
• Be in good standing throughout the entire
  academic year for which benefits are payable
• Have valid tuition fee expenses from an eligible
  institution
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress
  identified by the institution.

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SCNG-CAP (Air and Army)

• Applicants must
• 4) Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
  who meets the definition of an eligible
  non-citizen under State Residency Statutes
• 5) Be admitted, enrolled and classified as a
  degree-seeking student who is full-time or
  part-time at an eligible institution in SC and
• 6) Satisfy additional eligibility requirements as
  may be promulgated by the Commission.

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SCNG-CAP (Air and Army)

• Application
• A member of the National Guard enrolled or
  planning to enroll in an eligible institution may
  apply to the South Carolina National Guard for a
  college assistance program.
• SCNGCAP Application and Statement of
  Understanding (SOU)
• Ineligible if uniform code of military justice
  (charge), AWOL, or dishonorable discharge.

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SCNG-CAP

• Eligible Institution
• Public Institution as defined in Section 59-103-5
  and an independent institution as defined in
  Section 59-113-50 and
• Public or Independent bachelors level chartered
  before 1962 whose major campus and headquarters
  are located within SC or an independent
  bachelors level institution which was
  incorporated in its original charter in 1962, was
  granted a license to operate by CHE, has
  continued to maintain a campus in SC, and is
  accredited by the Southern Association of
  Colleges and Secondary Schools. Institutions
  whose sole purpose is religious or theological
  training or the granting of professional degrees
  do not meet the definition of public or
  independent institution for purposes of this
  chapter.

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SCNG-CAP

• Academic Year
• Defined as that 12 month period as defined by the
  institution for the awarding of financial aid to
  a student and which includes regular terms (Fall,
  Spring, trimester) or other terms (summer and
  other) in any combination.

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SCNG-CAP

• Program Benefits and Maximum Assistance
• Qualifying members may receive up to an amount
  equal to 100 of the COA.
• Disbursements typically made in the Fall/Spring
  semesters and equal disbursements.
• May use summer (trailer) if any unused funds are
  available.
• If the recipient is in his/her final term of
  enrollment, they may receive the full annual
  benefit in the final (one) semester (provided
  aggregate limits are not reached).

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SCNG-CAP

• Program Benefits and Maximum Assistance
• A member shall not qualify for the benefits for
  more than 130 semester hours or related quarter
  hours from their initial eligibility of the
  program (student centered).
• Students who have been conferred a bachelors or
  graduate degree are not eligible for the benefit.
  Benefits are not to be awarded for graduate
  degree courses.
• Annual limit of 4500.
• Aggregate limit of 18000.
• Effective Fall 2008, Air National Guard annual
  limit may be up to 9000.

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SCNG-CAP

• Less than full-time students
• Benefits cannot exceed the COA as defined by T-IV
  regulations.
• Benefit funds will be prorated to students
  enrolled less than FT.
• The prorated method is based on the Pell Grant
  model of ¾ time, ½ time, and less than ½ time.

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SCNG-CAP

• Continued Eligibility and Transfers
• Students must meet the following criteria to
  renew eligibility for the SCNG-CAP Benefit
• Continue to meet all eligibility requirements as
  stated in the NGCAP Program Terms (62-253(C) and
• Students who initially enroll in college mid-year
  (spring term) may be eligible to receive the
  tuition assistance the same academic year.

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SCNG-CAP

• Continued Eligibility and Transfers
• Transfer students who receive CAP funds and
  transfer mid-year to another institution may be
  eligible to receive assistance for the spring
  term provided they meet eligibility requirements.
• New institution will determine the classification
  of the entering student based on initial college
  enrollment and will use this classification to
  determine the remaining terms of eligibility
  (62-252).

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SCNG-CAP Additional Information in the Law

• Eligibility begins on the day of enlistment
  (enlistment into the NG).
• NG members receiving a full ROTC Scholarship are
  not eligible for the CAP grant.
• Administrative Cost Allowance of up to 5 for
  the Commission, not schools.

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SCNG-CAP Additional Information in the Law

• Loan Repayment Program
• Beginning with the 2007-08 academic year this
  program not allowed to accept new participants.
• Those receiving loans pursuant to this section
  prior to 2007-08 may continue to receive their
  loans, including subsequent academic years, and
  have their loans forgiven.

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SCNG-CAP Additional Information in the Law

• Previously enlisted and after completing the AIT
  (advanced individualized training).
• Student has a loan and submits an application for
  the loan to be forgiven/repaid annually.
• Up to 4500 annually repaid from CHE to the
  lender.
• Program repealed on June 4, 2007 via S322 (those
  already in the program continue to receive LRP
  benefits and CAP funding.

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Service Commitment

• Enlisted members must continue their service in
  the SCANG/SCARNG during the term of the courses
  covered by the benefit received.
• Offices must continue their service with
  SCANG/SCARNG for at least 4 years after
  completion of the most recent benefits awarded or
  degree completion.

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Access and Notification

• Initially informed that school access, via the
  CHE website, would be available in the late
  fall/early spring semester.
• Hopefully will have access this week.
• Should allow for institutions to search via
  school/name/SSN (along the lines of NSLDS) to
  ensure annual and aggregate limits compliance.
• CHE has been providing the list of eligible
  students throughout the semester.
• If a student is NOT on the list but provides the
  school with a signed copy of the SOU (with the
  eligibility date prior to the term), the student
  is otherwise eligible for that particular term
  (even if the student is NOT on the list provided
  by CHE).