Applications and Downloads

I have read and understand the conditions of this form; the information contained on the application is true, complete, and correct; and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I am eligible for the Florida Resident Access Grant as defined under Florida laws.

The Florida Resident Access Grant provides tuition assistance to resident students attending non-profit private colleges and universities located in the state. The program is administered by the Florida Department of Education pursuant to Florida statues and administrative rules adopted by the State Board of Education. Each participating eligible institution administers the program for and on behalf of the eligible students it enrolls. Funds for support of the Florida Resident Access Grant (FRAG) are contingent each year upon the appropriations made available by the Florida Legislature.

1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
   
   
   1. Applicants must submit applications each year to the participating postsecondary institution.
      
      
   2. An applicant must be a Florida resident for twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the first day of classes of the academic term for which assistance is requested. The primary intent of establishing residence in Florida must not be for the purpose of obtaining an education. An individual who comes to Florida as an out-of-state resident to enroll in a Florida postsecondary educational institution will not meet the Florida residency requirement for state financial aid purposes regardless of the length of time enrolled.

      Dependent students may take the residency of either parent who meets the Florida residency requirement even if claimed as a dependent by a non-resident parent. A parent is either a natural or adoptive parent or a legal guardian. A dependent applicant will be considered to have met the requirements of Florida residency if the applicant has lived with a relative for the past five years who has had day-to-day supervision of the individual, and the relative meets all the requirement for Florida residency.

      For the purpose of residency, an independent applicant must not be eligible to be claimed as a tax exemption by any person other than a spouse, must be self-supporting for twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the first day of classes of the academic term for which assistance is requested, and have the intent, for purposes other than education, that Florida be their legal state of residence.

      Residents of Florida stationed out-of-state on active military duty, their spouses and dependent children, will retain Florida residency status.

      Active duty members of the armed forces stationed in Florida, their spouses and dependent children, and full-time instructional and administrative personnel of state public schools, colleges and universities, and their spouses and dependent children are classified as Florida residents.

      An applicant receiving funds through this program, who subsequently loses Florida residency status, may be eligible to continue to receive funds for a period of twelve (12) months.

      Applicants who have questions regarding residency status should contact the financial aid office of the institution they plan to attend.

   3. Applicants must be enrolled in a first bachelor.s degree program at an eligible independent Florida college or university.
   4. Applicants must enroll each academic term for a minimum of twelve (12) credits.
   5. Recipients must not owe a repayment under any state or federal grant or scholarship program.
   6. Recipients must not be in default on any Federal Title IV or state student loan program unless satisfactory arrangements to repay have been made.
   7. Applicants must have met the registration requirements of the Selective Service Act.
   8. Students shall be eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of nine (9) semesters or fourteen (14) quarters. However, students participating in college preparatory instruction or students enrolled in a 5-year undergraduate program shall be eligible to receive financial aid for a maximum of ten (10) semesters or fifteen (15) quarters. Five-year eligibility does not extend to a program which leads tot he simultaneous award of a graduate and an undergraduate degree.
   9. Applicants who are on the program for the first time are not required to have a minimum grade point average.
   10. Renewal applicants shall have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and have earned twelve (12) credits per term or the equivalent for the number of terms for which aid was received.
   11. Applicants who fail to earn the minimum number of credits required for renewal shall lose their eligibility for renewal for a period equivalent to one academic year. However, they may apply for reinstatement during a subsequent application period and may be eligible for an award if they have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
   12. The cumulative grade point average and the number of credit hours earned for renewal or reinstatement of an award will be determined a the end of the second semester or third quarter. A course for which a student receives an incomplete at the end of the second semester or third quarter will not be used in evaluating the student.s eligibility for a renewal or reinstatement award.
   13. A student who earns the minimum number of credits required for renewal but who fails to meet the minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average, may be granted a probationary award for up to the equivalent of one (1) academic year and shall be required to earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale by the end of the probationary period to be eligible for subsequent renewal.
   14. A student who receives an award and subsequently fails to meet the academic progress requirements due to verifiable illness or other emergency beyond the student.s control, may be granted an exception from the academic requirements. Such a recipient shall make a written appeal to the institution. The appeal shall include a description and verification of the circumstances. Verification of the illness or other emergency may include, but not be limited to, a written statement of a physician, parent or college official. The institution shall recommend each exception to the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Florida Department of Education.
   15. Applicants must not be enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree in theology or divinity.
   16. Applicants must be making satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college or university in which they are enrolled.
   17. Each award shall be awarded for one academic year. The award issued to a full-time student shall:
       1. Be no more than 40% of the full cost to the state per academic year for an undergraduate student in public postsecondary education, or the amount specified in the General Appropriations Act.
       2. Be paid on a prorated basis each quarter or semester.
       3. Be adjusted when the amount of other scholarships and grants designated for tuition and fees, combined with the award, exceeds the cost of tuition and fees.
   18. An applicant may transfer from one eligible institution to another, provided that he continues to meet all eligibility requirements.
   19. Applicants must submit application to the financial aid office they plan to attend by the date specified by that college. Intentional falsification of information shall result in the denial of any pending application and revocation of any award currently held to the extent that no further payments shall be made. Students who knowingly falsify information are guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor.
   
   
2. AWARDS

   The amount of the award is based on the amount established in the General Appropriations Act. The student will be notified by the institution of the amount of the award. Awards are made to eligible students by the institution each academic term, excluding summer terms.

3. PAYMENTS

   Payments are made by the Florida Department of Education directly to the approved institution on behalf of and to the credit of each eligible student certified and invoiced by the institution to the Department of Education by the established deadline. Payments are made each academic term, excluding summer terms. Questions regarding specific individual circumstances will be answered by the authorized official of the educational institution the student is attending. Decisions with respect to student eligibility and qualifications for this program are made by each participating institution.

4. USE OF APPLICANT.S SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER/NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

   The Privacy Act of 1974 requires state agencies to inform applicants of the reasons for requesting their Social Security number (SSN). The Florida Department of Education requests a SSN on all applications for student financial assistance in order to correctly identify applicants, match each applicant.s financial aid record with the student record at the postsecondary institution the applicant attends and help coordinate state student aid programs with federal student aid programs.

   An applicant will not be denied financial assistance for failure to disclose the SSN. Without a SSN, correct identification of an applicant.s record cannot be assured and may result in an error in the award amount or a delay in the disbursement of an award.

   Pursuant to Florida Statute 228.2001, state student financial assistance is provided to eligible applicants without discriminating on basis of race, sex, national origin, marital status or handicap. Minority status will be considered when it is required by law as a condition of eligibility or selection.