OVERVIEW:  WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ACCEL FUNDING AT KSU

The Accel Program of the HOPE Scholarship Fund
The Accel Program is for high school juniors and seniors at accredited public or private high schools in the state of Georgia, and is operated in all school terms except summer.  Accel will pay a JEHP student’s tuition and fees and provide a book allowance from HOPE Scholarship funds for approved courses.  The Accel program is overseen by the Georgia Student Finance Commission, which publishes a directory of Accel-approved courses on its website, www.gsfc.org.  This directory is reproduced in the back of the Course Selection and Accel Funding Guide accessible from this website.  Accel only pays for courses in the areas of the core graduation requirements for college preparatory students:  English, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, History, Economics and Foreign Language.

Out-of-Pocket Costs for Students
Mandatory fees:  Accel will pay students’ mandatory fees up to a cap of $283.  In Fall 2007, because KSU’s fees exceeded this state cap, students were responsible for paying $141 in fees each semester.  We anticipate a 3% annual increase in fees, although the exact amount will not be available until after the state legislature approves the state budget in the spring of each year. Students may opt to pay their fee balance from their Accel book funds.

Lab fees:  If students take a course with lab fees, they are responsible for paying these lab fees.

Textbook costs
Accel provides a book allowance based on the number of courses a student takes.  This allowance is credited to a KSU debit card, the Higher One card, or to your checking account.     The current Accel textbook allowance is $150 for 6 or more credit hours; $75 for less than 6 credit hours.  Depending on the textbooks required by particular classes, the cost of textbooks may exceed the Accel allowance.  In these cases, students are responsible for paying the balance owed.  We encourage JEHP students to purchase books early while used books, which are substantially discounted, are still available, as well as to avoid lines in the Bookstore.  Students may also find heavily discounted textbooks online.

Tuition and Fees for non-Accel Courses
Students may elect to take KSU courses that are not on the Accel-approved list.  Students are responsible for tuition and fees for these courses.  Students must meet prerequisites for these courses.

Parking permits
Parking permits are included in the student fees covered by Accel.  We encourage students from the same high school to carpool together if their schedules permit.  Drivers with carpool permits may park in specially designated spaces that are closer to main campus buildings than regular lots.

Applying for Accel Funds
There is nothing that prospective students need to do to apply for Accel funds until AFTER they have been accepted into the JEHP program.  During your advising session, we will supply the Accel application form and assist you in completing it with your parents and guidance counselor.

HOPE credits
The HOPE Scholarship will pay for up to 127 credits hours of college coursework.  The credit hours that are paid for by Accel to Joint Enrollment Students are subtracted from your total HOPE credits.  In short, you are drawing on your HOPE funds early because you are taking college courses early.

Evaluation for continued HOPE Eligibility at 30 credit hours
HOPE/Accel recipients must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA in college coursework at the 30 hour checkpoint to be eligible to renew their HOPE scholarships.  Although they are receiving Accel funds, JEHP students must still complete the e-HOPE application available from gacollege411.org to receive HOPE funding after high school graduation.  We encourage you to complete the e-HOPE application and a FAFSA application for other sources of financial aid by January of your senior year in high school.  

For more information:
Dr. Katherine Kinnick, Director of Pre-College Program
Kennesaw State University
1000 Chastain Road #1802
Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591
Office: LB 419
Phone: 770-423-6116
Fax: 770-423-6748
E-mail: kkinnick@kennesaw.edu

Send emails regarding this web site to: fbrantle@kennesaw.edu
This page last modified October 11, 2007
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