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Release: Department of Higher Education addresses Bright Flight funding shortfall

Last month, the Missouri Department of Higher Education requested your input regarding two proposed responses to a potential Bright Flight funding shortfall in FY 2017. Thank you to those that responded. Although MDHE has requested an FY 2017 supplemental appropriation for the program, we will not know the outcome of that request until the spring of 2017.

The responses were unanimously in favor of delivering spring 2017 Bright Flight awards in two phases. Based on our review of this situation and the responses received from the financial aid community, MDHE will:

1. Provide an initial spring 2017 award at a level that seeks to expend all currently available funds. For example, assuming an annual award of $2,600 expends all available funding, eligible students would begin the spring semester with $1,100 of the $1,500 maximum semester award. The actual reduced award amount will depend on fall 2016 utilization and expenditures and will be announced as early as possible before the spring award cycle begins in January.

2. Evaluate award amounts once the status of the supplemental appropriation is known. If the supplemental appropriation is approved, eligible students will receive the remainder of their spring award as soon as the supplemental funds become available. Continuing the example from Phase 1, the students would receive the remaining $400. If the supplemental appropriation is not approved, the reduced amount ($1,100 in the example) will be the final spring 2017 award.

This situation has developed due to greater than normal growth in the number of eligible students in the 2016-2017 academic year. Receipt of MDHE’s requested $1.5 million supplemental appropriation will ensure eligible students who scored in the top 3 percent on the ACT or SAT exam continue to receive the $3,000 statutory maximum award.

Since it may be April or even May before we know the final status of the supplemental appropriation, implementing this two-phase approach will allow students to receive the maximum amount available as early as possible in the spring 2017 semester.

A letter template is attached to assist institutions in communicating this information to students. This information will also be posted to MDHE’s website.

Thank you again for your valuable feedback and for your assistance in communicating this information to students.

If you have any questions, please contact:
Connie Bestgen, financial aid specialist
800-473-6757, option 4, 573-751-1772, or connie.bestgen@dhe.mo.gov

Amy Haller, financial aid specialist
573-526-7958 or amy.haller@dhe.mo.gov

Kelli Reed, student assistance associate
573-751-2444 or kelli.reed@dhe.mo.gov