POSTED 07/11/16: TULANE UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL AID OFFICE
Latest Update Concerning 2016-17 TOPS Awards for Incoming and Continuing Students – July 11, 2016
The Louisiana State Legislature completed their most recent “special session”, deciding that 2016-2017 TOPS funding will only be at 70% of the amounts originally scheduled. However, there still remains some confusion on the specific details, and so Tulane is currently waitingto receive official guidance from the State instead of proceeding with 2016-2017 TOPS awards based on assumptions and possible misunderstandings.
We want to at least share with you what we do know at this time:
The original 100% funded annual awards for 2016-2017 TOPS were to be…
TOPS Tuition Award=$5,567*($2,783.50 each semester)
TOPS Stipend**=$800($400 each semester)
OR=$400($200 each semester)
OR=$0
*Students enrolled in a regionally accredited independent college or university (non-public) in Louisiana that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (which includes Tulane) receive a tuition award as determined by the State of Louisiana using a weighted average of the amount paid at public institutions. $5,567 represents the 2016-2017 weighted average that a Tulane TOPS recipient would receive IF the State were funding at the 100% level.
**The TOPS program awards stipends based on a student’s qualifications. Students receive either an $800/year stipend; a $400/year stipend; or no stipend, as determined by the State. These stipend amounts represent the stipends that a TOPS recipient might receive IF the State were funding at the 100% level.
The 2016-2017 TOPS annual awards BASED ON THE LEGISLATURE’S 70% FUNDING LEVEL are expected to be as follows…
TOPS Tuition Award=$3,896($3,896 = 70% of original $5,567)
TOPS Stipend**=$560($560 = 70% of original $800)
OR=$280($280 = 70% of original $400)
OR=$0
HOWEVER #1, THE LEGISLATURE HAS MANDATED THAT THE 2016-2017 TOPS AWARDS BE FRONT-LOADED!
This means that a TOPS recipient would receive the full original amount of their award during the 2016 fall semester, and the balance of the 70% award during the 2017 spring semester.
For example:
Front-loaded disbursement scenario for the 2016-2017 TOPS Tuition Awardof $3,896
$2,783.50 2016 fall semester award represents 100% of the original funded award
+$1,112.50 2017 spring semester award represents remaining balance of 70% total award
=$3,896.00TOTAL TOPS Tuition Award for 2016-2017
Front-loaded disbursement scenario for the 2016-2017 TOPS Stipend of $560
$400 2016 fall semester award represents 100% of the original funded award
+$160 2017 spring semester award represents remaining balance of 70% total award
=$560 TOTAL TOPS Stipend Award for 2016-2017 (based on original $800 annual level)
Front-loaded disbursement scenario for the 2016-2017 TOPS Stipend of $280
$200 2016 2016 fall semester award represents 100% of the original funded award
+$ 80 2017 spring semester award represents remaining balance of 70% total award
=$280 TOTAL TOPS Stipend Award for 2016-2017 (based on original $400 annual level)
HOWEVER #2, WHILE THE LEGISLATURE HAS MANDATED THAT THE 2016-2017 TOPS AWARDS BE FRONT-LOADED, THE STATE IS REPORTING THAT THERE IS MOST LIKELY TO BE A 5% SHORTFALL IN THE 2016 FALL SEMESTER FUNDING LEVELS!
This means that a TOPS recipient would receive 95% of the full original amount of their award during the 2016 fall semester, and the balance of the 70% award during the 2017 spring semester.
For example:
Front-loaded disbursement scenario for the 2016-2017 TOPS Tuition Award of $3,896
$2,644 2016 fall semester award represents 95% of the original funded award
+$1,252 2017 spring semester award represents remaining balance of 70% total award
=$3,896 TOTAL TOPS Tuition Award for 2016-2017
Front-loaded disbursement scenario for the 2016-2017 TOPS Stipend of $560
$3802016 fall semester award represents 95% of the original funded award
+$180 2017 spring semester award represents remaining balance of 70% total award
=$560 TOTAL TOPS Stipend Award for 2016-2017 (based on original $800 annual level)
Front-loaded disbursement scenario for the 2016-2017 TOPS Stipend of $280
$190 2016 fall semester award represents 95% of the original funded award
+$ 90 2017 spring semester award represents remaining balance of 70% total award
=$280 TOTAL TOPS Stipend Award for 2016-2017 (based on original $400 annual level)
As you can see, there is still confusion as to the TOPS award amounts for each semester of the 2016-2017 academic year, and thus the reason we have currently not tried to identify a TOPS amount on our present 2016-2017 awards. You are welcome to use the aforementioned scenarios in attempting to determine your anticipated TOPS award for 2016-2017.
Finally, since TOPS will not be fully funded for 2016-2017, the State cites that students can elect to opt out of TOPS for the academic year in order to retain eligibility for when TOPS might be fully funded. We have no details on how this process will work, but we will keep you posted on the latest developments as soon as Tulane receives further guidance from the State of Louisiana.