Renewal Requirements for TOPS Scholarships

 

The following information has been given to us by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance ("LOSFA") and applies to awards for the 2009-2010 year.

 

 What you need to know to renew your TOPS award:

  • All TOPS recipients must be continuously enrolled as a full-time student during the academic year and must earn 24 hours of credit OR the number of hours needed to complete their undergraduate degree. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of your TOPS award. The academic year is defined as the fall and spring semesters or the fall, winter and spring quarters.
  • Exceptions to the 24 hours of earned credit per academic year or the requirements may be granted by the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) for certain circumstances beyond the student's control. Students seeking waiver of this requirement must complete an Exception to Continuous Enrollment Request Form and provide all necessary documentation. If approved, and all other continuation requirements are met, the award will be reinstated. Requests for exception to continuous enrollment must be received no later than six months after the date of the notice of cancellation.
  • Earning 24 credit hours each academic year is the responsibility of the student. (The summer term and intersessions are not part of the academic year and credits earned will not be counted towards the academic year requirement of 24 credit hours).Advanced Placement, summer session and intersession hours will not count. Remedial courses that are required by your school will count toward your 24 credit hour requirement.
  • At the end of the academic year, the following cumulative grade point average (GPA) must be maintained:

    Performance or Honors Award recipients who fail to maintain a 3.00 cumulative GPA at the end of the academic year will revert to the Opportunity Award, provided they have maintained the GPA necessary for renewal of that award. Once the recipient reverts to the Opportunity Award, the Performance or Honors Award cannot be reinstated.

    • Opportunity Award: 2.30 the first academic year, 2.50 all subsequent academic years
    • Performance Award: 3.00
    • Honors Award: 3.00
  • Students who fail to maintain steady academic progress at the end of any semester or quarter shall be suspended. Steady academic progress is defined as a 2.00 cumulative GPA. Students whose awards are suspended for failure to maintain the required GPA or steady academic progress may be reinstated upon attainment of the required GPA, provided that the period of ineligibility did not persist for more than two years (one year for Tech Award) and the student had maintained continuous, full-time enrollment
  • To renew your TOPS awards for the 2009-2010 academic year, you must complete the 2009-2010 Free Application for Federal Student Aid ("FAFSA") or Renewal FAFSA by July 1, 2009, unless you can demonstrate that you do not qualify for Federal Grant Aid.

Note:

The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance does not recognize the value  "+"  or "-" grades when calculating a student's cumulative grade point average.

 

 

 

 

Updated November 9, 2009