November 2, 2006
Technical college lottery tuition assistance maintained at $996 for Spring 2007 semester

The South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE) has finalized the amount of lottery tuition assistance (LTA) available to eligible students who attend any of the state’s 16 technical colleges for the upcoming Spring 2007 semester. The maximum amount of lottery-funded tuition assistance available to full-time students (12 or more credit hours) for the Spring 2007 semester will be maintained at $996 and $83 per credit hour for eligible part-time students.

“We’re very pleased that the per-student dollar amount for lottery tuition assistance has been maintained at nearly $1,000 for the Spring semester,” said System President Barry Russell. “The ability to rely on LTA funds to offset tuition costs has been invaluable for many South Carolinians seeking post-secondary education at our state’s technical colleges, and I’d like to thank the General Assembly for its support of our students.”

The amount of tuition assistance available to students for the Spring 2007 semester is the same as the amount available to students for Fall 2006. The per-student dollar amount was determined by CHE after review of the actual participation rates for the Fall 2006 semester. A total of $47.6 million from lottery proceeds was designated by the General Assembly for use in this program.

To be eligible for lottery-funded tuition assistance, students must meet the following requirements:

• * Complete a 2006-2007 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA forms can be found online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov and at each technical college;
• Be able to qualify for in-state tuition rates and be a South Carolina resident for at least one year;
• Be enrolled in a certificate, diploma or associate degree program and maintain at least six credit hours each semester;
• Make clear progress toward completion of a certificate, diploma or associate degree;
• Not be a recipient of a LIFE scholarship award;
• Not be in default on any government student loan program.

* The eligibility requirement relating to the submission of the FAFSA may be waived if:

• The applicant is a high school student enrolled in a dual enrollment program;
• The applicant already has earned a bachelor’s degree and will provide a transcript or copy of his/her diploma;
• The applicant is not enrolled in a program that is eligible for Title IV aid;
• The applicant is a dependent student who can not obtain his/her parents’ or guardians’ tax form(s).

Those seeking a waiver of the FAFSA requirement should contact the Financial Aid Office at the technical college they plan to attend.

More information about the South Carolina Education Lottery and lottery tuition assistance can be found by visiting the South Carolina Technical College System’s web site at:

http://www.sctechsystem.com/lottery/eligibility.htm.

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