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Metro extends COF deadline
By Belen Ward
wardb@mscd.edu
Nearly 91 percent of eligible Metro students made Metro's Aug. 19 deadline to apply for their College Opportunity Fund stipend.
But for those students who missed the deadline, Metro has extended the deadline to Sept. 7.
COF provides a stipend to every eligible student paying in-state tuition at a Colorado public college or university. This is the first school year in the state for the program.
After the one-time application, students will receive a notification from Metro every year to authorize the stipend to be applied toward their tuition. Students who do not apply for the stipend will be responsible to pay the full stipend amount-on top of tuition.
The stipend amount this school year is $80 per credit hour for undergraduates attending public state colleges and universities.
Students should not expect to see a check in the mailbox. COF is not financial aid. The stipend is the amount of funds the state would usually send directly to the school, based on the number of students enrolled. Now, that money will go directly to the student, who must authorize its use. This means the money goes back to the school, or the student has to pay the stipend amount. For example, $1,200 is given for a student enrolled in 15 credit hours per semester.
As of last week, 192,969 eligible students state-wide had applied for COF. Some students have experienced problems with signing up for the program due to entering the incorrect social security number and name on the application. This incorrect information causes a delay in processing the application.
COF step-by-step
All students paying in-state tuition must sign up for and authorize the College Opportunity Fund.
To apply for the stipend:
1.Visit: https://cof.college-access.net/cofapp/
2. Click on the "Apply for a Stipend" link.
3.Provide your correct information.
4.Follow the instructions provided.
To authorize COF toward your tution:
1. Log on to MetroConnect.
2. Click on the "Student Records & Financial Aid" link.
3. Click on the "Student Records" link.
4. Click on the "COF Stipend Authorization" link.
5. Choose to authorize your COF stipend.
"The problem that the school is experiencing with this new program is students need to take the time to complete the one-time online application," said Metro Registrar Thomas Gray.
The state legislature will annually set the specified amount of stipend per credit hour, which will be the same for each eligible undergraduate, regardless of the state college or university the student attends.
Each student can apply for COF for up to 145 credit hours. If a student is unable to complete their bachelor's degree within the 145 credit hours, they can apply for a one-time wavier through the Colorado Commission on Higher Education.
Gov. Bill Owens signed COF into law last year.
