Frequently Asked Questions
- B-On-Time confirmation deadline
- Forgiveness Eligibility Criteria
- Student Eligibility Appeals
- PPA Program Eligibility
- 5 Year Engineering Degree Exemption
- Credit Hours vs. Years Taken
- "Cumulative GPA Upon Graduation" Definition
- "Borrower Initial Enrollment Date"
- "Credit Hours Attempted"
- Other 5 Year+ Programs?
- Disability and Hardship Provisions
- Credit Hours after Graduation
1 What is the deadline for completing “B-On-Time loan forgiveness eligibility confirmation form”? If there is a deadline, is the deadline for the student or for the institution?
There is no deadline, per se. If we do not receive verification of the borrower’s eligibility for loan forgiveness within approximately 90 days after receiving notification that he/she has ceased to be enrolled at least half-time, the account will be scheduled for repayment with the first payment due at least six months after the last date of enrollment. As we have recently converted to a new software system, a six-month grace period is being allowed for all borrowers even if the last date of enrollment was more than six months ago.
The sooner the verification is received, the sooner we can process the loan forgiveness.
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2 In section 2, “Forgiveness Eligibility Criteria”, what does within 4 calendar years, mean? Example: If a student began in summer 2007, when would the 4 calendar year end, please state semester and year?
Answer: If a student began on June 1, 2007, the 4-year period would end on May 31, 2011.
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3 If a student disagrees with the determination made by the designated agent for eligibility criteria for forgiveness of the loan, who should the student appeal to? Until further notice, such appeals should be sent to
Director of Loan Program Operations
THECB
P.O. Box 12788
Austin, TX 78711
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4 Our PPA program is a 5 year program at the end of which they earn both an undergraduate and a graduate degree. Can the student be assured if he or she is pursuing this program, and meets other eligibility requirements, that their loan will be forgiven after earning both these degrees; BBA, MPA if they meet other eligibility requirements?
If the total # of credit hours minus the # of hours required for the graduate degree yields a difference that is no more than 6 hours more than the number of hours required for the undergraduate degree, the student has met the requirements.
Back to Top 5 If in an institutional catalog, an engineering degree takes only 4 years to complete; will the Coordinating Board still allow five years to be forgiven for the B-On-Time loan?
Yes, as the statute states that 5 years is allowed for an engineering degree.
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6 Regarding criteria “graduated with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a four-point scale, and with a total number of credit hours……” does the number of years the student took to complete the degree matter?
No, as long as the total number of credit hours is not more than 6 hours more than the number of credit hours required to complete the baccalaureate degree.
Back to Top 7 We need a definition of "Cumulative GPA upon graduation". - is that just the institutional GPA or do you expect us to calculate a GPA including transfer course work?
You may enter the Institutions GPA without including the transfer work in the calculation.
Back to Top 8 Regarding "Borrower Initial Enrollment Date", does this mean we should list the date they enrolled in an institution of higher education (Texan, of course) right after high school? Or can we just list their FSE at our institution? Also, it asks for a month, day and year – where can such information be found? Is this something the Board can provide to our institution?
Please state the date right after high school that the student enrolled in a Texas institution of higher education. It is fine to state the month and year only.
Back to Top 9 Can you provide us a definition for credit hours attempted?
The number of hours for any courses enrolled in, including hours dropped.
Back to Top 10 What other “programs determined by the Board require more than four years to complete?”
Unfortunately the Board does not have an inventory of such programs. We will consider trying to build this in the future.
Back to Top 11 Does your forgiveness criterion apply any differently if the student has a disability that would cause them to take more than 4 or 5 years to complete his or her degree?
The hardship provisions in the statute do not apply to the determination of eligibility for forgiveness. However, borrowers who meet the GPA requirement can qualify for loan forgiveness as long as they graduate with fewer than 6 hours more than the number of hours required for the degree, regardless of the number of years taken to graduate.
Back to Top 12 If a student is enrolled at our University after the graduation semester, should we include hours after graduation in “Number of credit hours attempted”?
Since the number of hours attempted is being reported only for purposes of BOT forgiveness, the hours after graduation should not be included.
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