Maintaining NY State Eligibility

Failure to meet one or more of the established standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will make a student ineligible for financial aid.

Financial aid SAP status includes all previous academic history, even if the student did not receive financial aid. Standards are reviewed at the end of each semester, including summer. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor academic progress and to understand the criteria needed to maintain New York state financial aid eligibility.

New York State Academic Progress Requirements (TAP, APTS)

Failure to make satisfactory academic progress towards the completion of a degree or certificate may result in the loss of one or more semesters of New York State TAP or Aid for Part-time Studies (APTS). At the conclusion of each semester, the Financial Aid Office reviews all grades to determine if recipients are making satisfactory academic progress. To remain in good standing for NYS, a student must achieve a certain GPA and earn a certain number of cumulative credits before being certified for the next semester’s TAP payment.

Pursuit of Program

Satisfactory program pursuit is defined as receiving a passing or failing grade in a certain percentage of a full-time course load each term an award is received. The percentage increases from 50 percent of the minimum full-time course load in each term of study in the first year an award is received, to 75 percent of the minimum full-time course load in each term of study in the second year an award is received, to 100% of the minimum full-time course load in each term thereafter (refer to the table below). Students may not receive more than six (6) semesters of TAP in their pursuit of an Associate's Degree unless they are Educational Opportunity Program students.

Minimum full-time course load: 12 credits

*The credits are prorated for students receiving aid for Part-time study.
**Applicable to Educational Opportunity Program students only.

Standards of Good Academic Progress

A student must be able to meet the College's Standards of Progress, Pursuit of Program requirements, and the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards to remain eligible to receive State aid. Some of the programs affected are the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), Child of Veteran Award, and Aid for Part-time Study (APTS).

The following chart should be used for students who first received TAP prior to 2010-11 or those who meet the definition of remedial student (below).

A "remedial student" is defined as a student:

1. whose scores on a recognized college placement exam or nationally recognized standardized exam indicated the need for remediation for at least two semesters, as certified by the college and approved by the State Education Department (SED); or
2. who was enrolled in at least six semester hours of non-credit remedial courses (i.e., DST courses) in the first term they received a TAP award; or
3. who is or was enrolled in an opportunity program (HEOP, EOP, SEEK CD).

The following chart should be used for students who first received TAP in 2010-2011 or later.

How State Aid Requirements Treat…

Non-Credit Remedial Coursework

For purposes of determining state aid eligibility, non-credit remedial coursework (i.e. DST courses) are NOT considered when determining standards of good academic progress and cumulative GPA. However, completed DST courses will be used to determine satisfactory pursuit of program.

Courses Outside a Degree Program

Full-time students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours within their degree program each semester to be eligible for a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award. If a student is receiving a TAP award and wishes to enroll in coursework outside his/her degree program, the course(s) must be above and beyond the minimum full time load of 12 credit hours. An exception is made for students who are entering their final semester (that is, the semester the student is scheduled to graduate). In the final semester, the student is not bound by the requirement and is permitted to enroll in coursework outside of his/her degree program in addition to the courses necessary for graduation to receive a TAP award. (This is not allowed for federal aid.)

Part-time students receiving Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS) can only be funded for courses related to their degree program.

Repeat Courses

In determining a student’s eligibility for State aid, repeating a course in which a student earned a ‘D-’ grade or better cannot be counted toward a full-time or part-time course load unless it is required by the student’s curriculum. Full-time students must maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours, not including the repeat course, to be eligible to receive a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award. Part-time students receiving Aid for Part Time Study (APTS) will not receive payment for the portion of the award that would be used to cover the repeated course.

New York State Excelsior Scholarship Program Requirements

Maintaining eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship is a two-step process. The Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) first verifies a student is in compliance with the income requirements. For the second step in the process, the college must certify a student meets the eligibility outlined below.

Eligibility Criteria

• Be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and
• Complete/earn at least 30 credits each year applicable toward your degree program and
• No break in enrollment

Failure to Meet Excelsior Scholarship Requirements

Recipients who do not meet the annual credit or continuous enrollment requirements due to one of the conditions indicated below may be able to retain their Excelsior Scholarship awards. If you meet any of the following conditions, you have the option to submit an Excelsior Appeal Form. Please note that documentation will be required. FLCC will notify HESC if it is determined that you are eligible to receive your award.

You may be eligible to retain your award under the following conditions:

• You experience a death of an immediate family member
• You are called to active military duty
• You interrupt your studies to take care of your new-born child (parental leave)
• Your medical or health care provider determines that your medical condition or mental health prevents you from beginning or continuing the term or from continuing a full-time course load.
• You interrupt your studies to care for an immediate family member whose medical or health care provider has determined to need additional support or care, which impacts your ability to begin or continue the term or from continuing a full-time course load.

Please be aware that other circumstances other than those indicated above may not allow you to retain your award under State laws and regulations.

Appeal for Reevaluation

Students who lose their eligibility for the Excelsior Scholarship will be notified by email. Notices will be sent after students are reviewed at the start of the semester. The option to appeal will be included in the email.

Please keep in mind, although a student may have received an award certification from NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), they still may not qualify for Excelsior if they are not meeting the requirements for the program.

Excelsior Scholarship Duration

A recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship is eligible to receive award payments for not more than two years of full-time undergraduate study in a program leading to an associate degree.

Failure to Meet State Standards

Suspension of State Aid

A student who fails to meet the academic standards for NYS financial aid will be notified by mail or email. Notices will be sent upon completion of the term once grades are submitted and reviewed. Students will automatically be sent a Waiver for Reinstatement of State Financial Aid Eligibility.

Please keep in mind that academic eligibility is determined by the institution. Although a student may have received a TAP award certificate from NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) or the Financial Aid Office at FLCC, a student may still not qualify for TAP if they are not meeting the academic requirements for the program.

Reinstatement of Eligibility

Waiver for Reinstatement of State Financial Aid Eligibility

Students who lose their eligibility for New York State financial aid (Tuition Assistance Program/TAP, Aid for Part-time Study/APTS) for failing to make Pursuit of Program and/or Standards of Good Academic Standing (noted above) may apply for this waiver to have their State financial aid eligibility reinstated. If approved, state aid will be reinstated. Such a waiver can be granted only one time in a student’s undergraduate academic career. In order to apply for a Waiver for Reinstatement of State Financial Aid Eligibility, the student must demonstrate that an unusual/extenuating circumstance existed while the student was enrolled at FLCC and had affected his/her academic performance; that the circumstance is now resolved or no longer exists; and provide documentation of the circumstance. Waivers must be submitted by the appropriate deadline. Late waivers will not be considered.

Coursework

State aid eligibility will be reinstated after a student meets Pursuit of Program and Standards of Good Academic Progress mentioned above or has not used TAP for at least one year. Exception: Students that have received 4 semesters of TAP must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA before state aid can be reinstated.