Crowder College in Neosho Missouri

The Missouri Department of Higher Education has proposed the following changes to the A+ Program.  The changes are anticipated to take effect October 30, 2011.  These changes to the rules will apply to all students eligible for the A+ program on the effective date of approval (unless stated otherwise) but are retroactive for the Fall 2011 semester.
Starting Fall 2011:

  • 1) Students must enroll as a full-time student (12 or more credit hours in the fall or spring) and successfully complete all coursework paid by A+.

2) A+ will not pay for repeated coursework

3) A+ will not pay for dropped or incomplete coursework.

This means that the number of credit hours dropped in a term will be deducted from a student’s eligibility for the next term of enrollment.  Students will be responsible for any costs not funded by the A+ program.

Example: A student enrolls in 12 hours, drops 3, and completes a total of 9.  A+ will pay for 12 hours but will deduct 3 hours from eligibility for the next term of enrollment.  In the next term of enrollment, the student enrolls in 12 hours to meet the full time requirement.  A+ will pay for 9 hours and the student is responsible for the cost of 3 hours.

  • A+ will no longer cover the $35 cost of the graduation fee.

 

  • A+ will pay for a student to be less than full time only if:
    • The student has a documented disability and has an ADA letter on file with the A+ Office from the Office of Disability Services Coordinator
    • The student plans to graduate at the end of the semester, has applied for graduation with the Record’s office, and has notified the A+ Coordinator.

The following is a link to the Missouri Department of Higher Education’s A+ website stating the new changes: http://www.dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/aplusscholarship.php

For more questions concerning these changes, feel free to contact Sarah Horine, A+ Coordinator at 417.455.5572 or sarahhorine@crowder.edu

A+ Program

The A+ program main goal is to assure that all students, when they graduate, are well-prepared to pursue advanced education, employment or both.

What Does A+ Cover?

* Tuition
* Fees common to all students

Checklist

* Graduate from an A+ accredited high school.
* Have the A+ certification on your high school transcript and send it to the A+ Coordinator at Crowder College. (Transcript must bear the A+ stamp.)
* Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have the information sent to the Crowder College Financial Aid Office for each academic year of A+ eligibility. If students are eligible for Federal Pell Grant (or any other form of federal assistance that does not require repayment) those funds will be applied to the student's account first. Any remaining tuition cost/fee will be biled to the A+ program.
* Fill out a Crowder College A+ Guidelines Agreement.
* Enroll in and complete at least twelve (12) credit hours per semester (six (6) in a summer semester.
* Maintain a minimum of a 2.50 grade point average (GPA.).
* Maintain At least a 95% high school attendance record.
* Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring of younger students.
* Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol.

Semester Abroad
Crowder offers a semester abroad at Canterbury Christchurch College in Canterbury, England. Pell Grants and A+ funds can be applied to the program. Crowder also offers scholarships for this particular program. For more information, contact the Canterbury Program Coodinator at 417-455-5600.

Eligibility

In what programs may you enroll?
A+ students may enroll in programs of study for an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science, or a Certificate.

For how long are you A+ eligible?
Your A+ benefits are good for four (4) years after your high school graduation or completion of 105% of the hours required for the degree program of study.

How do you keep eligibility?
To keep eligibility, you must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours in the fall or spring, 6 hours if taking summer classes, and maintain at least a 2.50 grade point average. Financial aid files must also be complete.

Loss of Eligibility

You can lose eligibility by:
* Not enrolling in or completing enough credit hours.
* Letting your cumulative grade point average fall below 2.50.
* Taking more than the required time to complete your degree. (4 years, or 105% of degree requirements.)
* Not completing all Financial Aid paperwork.
* Graduating from Crowder College.

How are you reinstated for A+ funding?
Depending on the reason that eligibility was lost, you must do one or all of the following to be reinstated for the next semester:
* Raise your cumulative grade point average to a 2.50 or higher and/or
* Complete the number of credit hours that you lack to be considered a full-time student and/or
* Complete the necessary paperwork for Financial Aid.

If you do not meet the above criteria, you will be responsible for all charges.

Missouri A+ Accredited High Schools

For Additional Information Contact:

Sarah Horine, A+ Coordinator/One Stop Student Services Advisor
417-455-5572 or aplus@crowder.edu

The A+ Schools Financial Assisstance program is dependent upon continued funding from the State of Missouri and is not the responsibility of Crowder College.