HIGHER EDUCATION LEGLISLATIVE PLAN FOR NEEDY STUDENTS (HELP)

Sponsored by: Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning

Program Overview

Created by the Mississippi Legislature, this program is designed to provide tuition assistance to qualified students whose financial need, as demonstrated by federal student aid eligibility, will not be met with gift aid from other sources.  The program provides full tuition to qualified students for up to four years.

Deadlines:

• Application dates: October 1- March 31
• Supporting Documents (including certified HELP Core Curriculum): April 30

Initial Eligibility Requirements for the Graduating High School Senior:

• Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi
• Have a high school cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 on a 4.0 scale
• Have scored a minimum of a 20 on the National ACT
• Have completed a specific high school core curriculum.  Learn about the HELP Core Curriculum below.
• Meet income limitations.*
• Demonstrate need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Be accepted and enrolled full-time at an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi
• Must be pursuing first certificate, first associate’s degree, or first bachelor’s degree

Review the complete program Rules and Regulations: HELP Rules and Regulations

*Income limitations have changed.  The maximum Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for eligibility was scheduled to increase from $39,500 in 2015-16 to $42,500 in 2016-17.  However, SB2868 (FY2017 Appropriation for Student Financial Aid) freezes the income threshold at the 2015-16 level of $39,500.

Initial Eligibility Requirements for Students Currently Enrolled in College

• Be a legal resident of the State of Mississippi
• Be within one year of high school graduation (current college freshman)
• Have scored a minimum of a 20 on the National ACT
• Have a minimum of a 2.50 cumulative college grade point average
• Have completed a specific high school core curriculum.  Learn about the HELP Core Curriculum below.
• Attend an approved postsecondary institution in Mississippi
• Meet income limitations..*
• Demonstrate need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Not be in default on a student loan or on any repayment of state awards
• Enroll and complete full-time enrollment each semester
• Must be pursuing first certificate, first associate’s degree, or first bachelor’s degree

Review the complete program Rules and Regulations: HELP Rules and Regulations

Award Amount/Length of Eligibility 

• Tuition and required fees at a public institution
• Participants attending a private institution will receive an award amount equal to the award of a student attending the nearest comparable public institution.
• Max 8 semesters (12 trimesters) or bachelor’s degree completion, whichever comes first

To Apply – New Applicants:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Complete the online application.
3. Submit the following supporting documents:

• Residency (must document one year of residency with two distinct forms of documentation):
  – Preferred forms of residency documentation include: (1) Copy of Mississippi driver’s license, unless you elected to submit it electronically during the online application (NOTE: Dependent student’s should provide parent’s driver’s license. Independent students should provide student’s driver’s license. Am I dependent or independent?); and (2) FAFSA
• Household/Family Size: Completed HELP Scholarship Worksheet (also referred to as the Household Verification Worksheet)
• Financial Need (must document one year of income):
  – FAFSA
• Verification of completion of specific high school core curriculum.  Learn about the HELP Core Curriculum below.

How to Submit Supporting Documents

To Apply – Renewal Applicants:Renewal Applicants are applicants who have previously received an award through the program.

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Complete the online application.
3. Submit the HELP Scholarship Worksheet (also referred to as the Household Verification Worksheet).
4. A college transcript may be requested if needed.

How to Submit Supporting Documents

HELP Core Curriculum

REQUIRED CPC + 1 – The HELP Core Curriculum is seventeen and one-half (17-1/2) units of high school course work that includes the REQUIRED IHL College Preparatory Curriculum (CPC), plus one (1) additional advanced elective unit.

Required CPC: http://riseupms.com/apply/#1/

Download a HELP Core Curriculum Checklist.

The IHL Office of Academic and Student Affairs maintains a complete list of courses that can be used to satisfy the CPC requirements here: http://www.mississippi.edu/admissions/curriculum.asp.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why must I reapply for HELP every year?
   Current legislation requires “…the board shall create a renewal application for each student who received the award for one or more terms during the immediately preceding academic year.” At a minimum, a student must file the following renewal document no later than the close of business on the deadline date.
2. Is my grade point average (GPA) checked at the end of each semester or at the end of the academic year? Besides my GPA, what else is checked?While an updated grade point average will be received from the college at the end of each semester/trimester; continuing eligibility based on GPA will be assessed only once annually at the end of the spring semester/trimester. HELP recipients will be monitored for continuous full-time enrollment at the end of each semester/trimester.
3. I have lost eligibility for HELP. How can I regain eligibility?
   If a student loses HELP eligibility due to less than full-time enrollment status, that student must attend and pay for, without the benefit of HELP funds, one full-time semester or trimester during a regular academic year, before regaining eligibility unless an exception for cause has been granted. If a student loses HELP eligibility due to having less than a 2.5 GPA that student will regain eligibility when the cumulative GPA is improved to the required minimum.
4. I graduated from high school three years ago and just learned about HELP. Am I eligible to apply?
   No. HELP applicants must apply and qualify for HELP within one year of high school graduation.
5. Is HELP available to me for summer school?
   No. HELP is available during the regular academic year only.
6. Do students have to have COMPLETED all of the courses in the Core Curriculum by the April 30 document deadline? 
   No.  Students must be enrolled and must complete the core curriculum before the end of the spring semester.  The core curriculum may not be completed through courses taken in summer school following the student’s senior year.
7. How do I submit supporting documents to the Office of Student Financial Aid?
   How to Submit Supporting Documents