I. Background

The CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship program, funded by CollegeInvest, and the Colorado Student Loan Program, is designed to make college a reality for students who work hard to succeed in school, but whose families may have difficulty paying for college.

To make sure students prepare for college while they are still in high school, the CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship requires students to complete high school coursework with a minimum cumulative, weighted grade point average of 2.50. The CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship will help fill the gap in their college financing.

II. Student Registration

a. Middle School and High School-when and under what conditions a student can register to be considered for the CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship upon high school graduation.

i) Residency requirement – must be a Colorado resident who qualifies for in-state resident tuition while in college.

ii) School district requirement – must be attending and graduate from a public Colorado middle or high school, or from a private Colorado middle or high school.

iii) Grade level requirement – any time while enrolled in grades 7-9 (apply by June 1 at conclusion of 9th grade).

iv) Application - must have both the student and parent or legal guardian signatures in a format prescribed by CollegeInvest.

b. College Certification

i) Certify annually Pell Grant eligibility by completing FAFSA by June 1 and determine how much remaining unmet need each student has after all other resources have been applied to the cost of attendance.

ii) Certify annually by June 1 that the student is meeting college financial aid satisfactory academic progress, to include attainment of a cumulative G.P.A. of at least a 2.0.

III. Scholarship Eligibility and Criteria

a. Eligible Colleges

i) State or private institutions eligible for payment of the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend.

ii) Junior colleges that are part of junior college districts.

iii) Area vocational schools.

(1) Must be earning credits that may transfer to an associate degree at a community college or into a degree program at a four year institution of higher education.

b. College Enrollment 2 Board Adopted June 12, 2008

i) Either full-time or part-time-enrollment. Fulltime=12 semester credit hours per term or equivalent, part-time=6-11 semester credit hours per term or equivalent.

ii) Must begin college course work within three (3) years of high school graduation.

(1) Maximum of five (5) academic years of payment. Student eligibility for the scholarship will cease upon receipt of bachelor degree, 5 years from first receipt of scholarship payment, or maximum 5 years of payment under the scholarship program, whichever occurs first.

c. College Academics and Programs

i) Must meet admission requirements of institution.

ii) Must continue to meet all criteria for initial award and meet student financial aid satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements established by individual college/university, plus maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of at least a 2.0.

iii) Student must have graduated from high school; must have applied for the College Opportunity Fund; and must have authorized that the COF stipend be paid to their college/university.

iv) Students who are suspended from financial aid in accordance with their institution’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements are also ineligible for payment of the CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship, regardless of their cumulative G.P.A.

v) The scholarship remains payable during a term of “CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship Warning”. CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship Warning is defined as the status resulting from the student’s failure to maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of at least a 2.0 from term to term during the same academic year.

vi) To be eligible for consideration for the following academic year, the student must meet the institutional satisfactory academic progress (SAP) requirements and achieve a cumulative G.P.A. of at least a 2.0 as of June 1st, but no later than August 1st each year. If the student fails to meet both requirements for continuing eligibility as stated above, the CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship will be placed in a “Rescinded Status” for the following fall term, or until such later time as the student:

(1) achieves institutional SAP and achieves the required cumulative G.P.A. of at least a 2.0, and

(2) submits a written appeal for reinstatement of the CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship to the financial aid office.

NOTE: ALL PERIODS OF ENROLLMENT IN WHICH THE COLLEGEINVEST EARLY ACHIEVERS SCHOLARSHIP IS IN A “RESCINDED STATUS” ARE INCLUDED IN THE MAXIMUM OF 5 ACADEMIC YEARS OF PAYMENT AS DEFINED IN III.b.ii. ABOVE.

d. Financial Eligibility and Award

i) Eligibility is defined as demonstrated financial need through Pell grant eligibility.

ii) Remaining financial need equals COA-EFC-Pell-other scholarship assistance work/study (any work/study amount that is declined by the student must also be included in the estimated financial aid)-Stafford student loan (minimum borrowing limit at each grade level, $3,500/Freshman, $4,500/Sophomore, $5,500/Junior/Senior).

iii) Daniels Fund, GOS and other full ride scholarship/grant recipients are excluded from eligibility.

iv) Maximum award is $1,500 for full-time students and $750 for part-time students.

(1) If financial need exceeds total available annual scholarship dollars, the individual scholarships will be reduced equally by the percentage of need to 3 Board Adopted June 12, 2008 available dollars (Example: Need=$8.0M, Available Annual Scholarship Dollars=$2.5M, every individual award would be reduced by 30%).

v) Students who withdraw from college/university, and who have an authorized refund, will have the amount refunded to the CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship after the Title IV refund policy is satisfied.

vi) CollegeInvest Early Achievers Scholarship recipients who transfer to another eligible post-secondary institution are responsible for requesting, in writing to CollegeInvest, that the scholarship be transferred to the new institution. Prior to disbursement at the new institution, CollegeInvest will verify that the student has maintained eligibility for receipt of the scholarship (remaining unmet need, G.P.A./SAP, enrollment status, etc.)