State scholarship program modified by Legislature, online applications encouraged

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

The Oklahoma Legislature has made several important modifications to Oklahoma’s Promise, one of Oklahoma’s most popular scholarship programs. Officials are working to inform students, parents and counselors about the changes and encourage students to apply online.

Approximately half of Oklahoma’s students can apply for Oklahoma’s Promise. This scholarship allows high school students from families whose annual income is $50,000 or less to earn free college tuition. To date, more than 75,000 students have enrolled in the program.

The scholarship program, formerly known as the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP), was created in 1992 by the Legislature to help more Oklahoma families send their children to college. Its goal is to prepare students academically for college and to provide them with financial assistance.

“Oklahoma’s Promise has been a key component of our efforts to produce more college graduates in Oklahoma,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “Thousands of Oklahoma students can be positively impacted based on this promise: They promise to prepare for college, and the state of Oklahoma promises the opportunity to earn free college tuition.”

Currently, to be eligible for Oklahoma’s Promise, students must apply during the eighth, ninth or 10th grade, and their annual family income must not exceed $50,000 at the time of application. By graduating high school, students must achieve a minimum 2.5 (C+) grade point average in 17 core courses that prepare them for college. They must also achieve a 2.5 GPA for all grades nine through 12 courses. Students also must attend class regularly and refrain from drug and alcohol abuse and delinquent acts.

The Legislature approved a significant change to Oklahoma’s Promise funding. Beginning in 2008-09, the scholarship program will have a permanent, dedicated funding source from the state’s general revenue fund. This means the program will be fully funded each year from a stable source of revenue.

“The permanent funding should assure Oklahoma families that this scholarship can be a dependable foundation of their children’s college plans,” Johnson said.

Other changes to the state scholarship program include:

• Second Income Limit Requirement: Beginning with Oklahoma’s Promise college students receiving the scholarship for the first time in 2009-10, families will be subject to a second income limit requirement. Students will not receive the scholarship if their families’ income exceeds $100,000 at the time the student goes to college.
• Minimum College GPA Requirement: Also practical for students receiving the award for the first time in 2009-10, a minimum college GPA of 2.0 will be required for courses taken during the sophomore year and a minimum of 2.5 GPA for courses taken during the junior and senior years.
• Homeschool Student Eligibility: Homeschool students are now eligible for the scholarship. They must sign up when they are 13 to 15 and must achieve a 22 on the ACT.
• College Conduct Requirement: Effective Jan. 1, 2008, an Oklahoma’s Promise college student suspended for more than one semester for conduct reasons will lose the scholarship permanently.
• Immigration Status: Beginning with students applying for the program in 2007-08, students must be U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the United States to receive the award in college. Undocumented immigrant students can still enroll in the program in the eighth, ninth, or 10th grade but must attain lawful status before they can receive the award.