| DCLPublicationDate: 3/1/95 DCLID: SG-95-2 AwardYear: Summary: This letter conveys the application that each participating state must submit to receive fiscal year 1995 funds for the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. March 1995 SG-95-2 SUMMARY: This letter conveys the application that each participating state must submit to receive fiscal year 1995 funds for the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. FEDERAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID HANDBOOK REFERENCE: This letter supplements the information contained in Chapter 9 of the 1994-95 Federal Student Financial Aid Handbook. Dear State Colleague: We are forwarding with this letter your state's fiscal year 1995 application (Enclosure A) to participate in the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) Program. In accordance with the Notice of Application Closing Date for State Applications published in the Federal Register on March 29, 1995 (See Enclosure B), you should submit the completed form to the following address not later than April 28, 1995, to assure receiving program funds for the academic year 1995-96: Fred H. Sellers, Acting Chief Grants Branch Room 3053, ROB-3 Student Financial Assistance Programs U.S. Department of Education 600 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, DC 20202-5447 Please note that the Department of Education again requires you to provide on the consolidated certifications form (ED Form 80- 0013; Enclosure C) the following certifications, as appropriate, with your application to receive funds for fiscal year 1995: (1) Nonprocurement Debarment and Suspension Certification. (2) Drug-Free Workplace Certification. (3) Lobbying Certification. We are providing the estimated fiscal year 1995 allotment table (Enclosure D) for your use in answering item 5 on the application. To assist you in assuring that the application is completed properly, we are enclosing an application review sheet (Enclosure E). If you have any questions about completing the application form or submitting the certifications, please call the SSIG Program office on (202) 708-4607. Sincerely, William L. Moran Director for Student Financial Assistance Programs Enclosures: A Application to Participate in the SSIG Program (with instructions) B Notice of Closing Date for State Applications C Consolidated Certifications (ED Form 80-0013) D Estimated Allotment Table E 1995-96 Application Review Sheet Enclosure E STATE STUDENT INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM 1995-96 APPLICATION REVIEW SHEET Before you mail the SSIG Program 1995-96 application, check the following: - Section III. Item 6. Be sure you entered the total state (non-Federal) funds you expect to expend for the 1995-96 award year for both need-based and non-need- based grants and work-study awards to undergraduate and graduate students. This amount should at least equal the amount you entered in Section II. Item 5. plus your state's base-year amount, if any. Item 7. Be sure that the amount you enter is AT LEAST equal to each amount you enter in Sections II. Item 5 and IV. Item 10. - Section IV. Item 10. Be sure that the amount you enter is equal to or greater than the average of the amounts you enter in Section IV. Item 8(a), (b), and (c). The amount you enter in Section IV. Item 8(c) must equal the amount you reported as the total in Section III., "Total State Funds" on your 1992-93 SSIG Program Performance Report. Item 11. If you cannot check the blank space in Item 11 then be sure that the amount you enter in Item 11(e) is equal to or greater than the average of the amounts you enter in Item 11(a), (b), and (c). Note: States are required by section 415C(b)(8) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), to meet or exceed the maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirement. The minimum MOE requirement is the average expenditure for the past three completed years as demonstrated by state appropriated funds in Items 8-10 or by full-time equivalents in Item 11. - Section V. Item 12(f). You must fully describe your State's "independent student" definition used in the SSIG Program if defined differently than section 480(d) of the HEA. In addition, you must provide a justification, with accompanying supporting documentation, demonstrating why the variant definition should be approved. For further guidance, see the preamble discussion concerning this requirement in the final regulations for the SSIG Program published on January 28, 1994. - Section V. Item 13. You must fully describe the criteria (standards) used by your state to determine whether a student's need is substantial. - Section VII. The assurances must be signed and dated by the CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER of the agency designated to administer the program in the state's Federal-State Relationship Agreement, as provided under section 1203 of the HEA. - Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug- Free Workplace Requirements Certifications. Please be sure to sign and return the consolidated certification form in Enclosure C. (See Enclosure C for details.) |