OSU-Oklahoma City, OSU-Okmulgee announce OHLAP assistance program
Friday, February 16, 2007
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City has created a new scholarship program offering
qualifying incoming freshmen a two-year scholarship that enhances the state’s Oklahoma
Higher Learning Access Program, or OHLAP.
The OSU-OKC Bright Futures Program provides additional financial aid and academic
support to eligible OHLAP recipients beginning in the fall of 2007. To apply for the
OSU-OKC Bright Futures Program, by April 1, 2007, students should complete the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (listing the OSU-OKC federal school code of 009647),
the OSU-OKC Bright Futures Program Request form and the OSU-OKC scholarship application.
“OSU-OKC is committed to providing excellent programs and services to its students,
and this program is one of many ways we will continue this tradition,” said Dr. Jerry
Carroll, OSU-OKC president. “Our goal is to help students fulfill their educational
goals by providing additional financial assistance.”
In addition to the cost of tuition covered by OHLAP, eligible students will receive
additional financial aid for tuition, mandatory fees and books for the first two years
at OSU-OKC. Students will also receive assistance with scholarships, state and federal
financial aid programs, personalized advisement and mentoring.
OSU-Okmulgee launches “HELP” to cut college costs for OHLAP freshmen
Oklahoma State University-Okmulgee is launching “Hire Education Learning Promise” (HELP), a program designed to supplement scholarship money awarded to high school students who qualify for Oklahoma’s Promise-OHLAP (Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program).
OHLAP is the state scholarship program that allows high school students to earn free
college tuition if they meet certain eligibility requirements.
Oklahoma’s Promise pays full tuition at public institutions and a portion of tuition
at private institutions. However, OHLAP does not cover mandatory fees or books, which
can cost nearly as much as tuition. OSU-Okmulgee’s HELP program was created to assist
students with these additional college costs. Officials at the school say the additional
financial aid could amount to $2,300 per academic year for a student enrolled in 36
credits hours for a three-semester year.
The HELP program starts in the fall of 2007 and will provide grants, scholarships,
and work-based programs to pay for many educational costs not covered by OHLAP. For
example, HELP will offer a substantial book allowance.
Eric Tuck, interim director of Student Financial Services, says to qualify for HELP, students need to complete the OHLAP requirements, apply and be admitted to OSU-Okmulgee (which includes the Learning Site in Pryor), and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2007-2008.
“We will gladly help students and parents complete the FAFSA application so they can
take full advantage of this opportunity," Tuck said.
To earn an Oklahoma’s Promise-OHLAP scholarship, students must sign up for the program
in the eighth, ninth or 10th grade, meet the family income requirement, attend classes
regularly, complete homework assignments, achieve a minimum 2.5 (C+) grade point average
in 17 core courses and earn at least a 2.5 GPA for all courses in ninth through 12th
grade. In addition, students must refrain from drug and alcohol abuse and delinquent
acts.
OSU-Okmulgee’s Hire Education Learning Promise program is only available to new students,
and Tuck reminds all prospective and current students that the university’s deadline
for scholarship applications is March 1. Applications should be submitted before April
15 to get the best consideration for state grants.
“This is a great way of putting young Oklahomans on the path to realizing their educational dreams and becoming part of a highly trained, flexible and productive workforce that will make Oklahoma the envy of other states.”