For the purpose of receiving federal financial aid, satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is defined as earning a minimum number of credits to be measured at the end of the spring semester annually and maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average. It is expected that students will successfully complete a degree within six years of study or its part-time equivalent. Failure to meet these minimum requirements will result in loss of eligibility for federal financial assistance.

Transfer students will be placed according to the total credits accepted toward the student's academic program and years of previous study.

To meet the standards students must:

A course withdrawal which resulted in a "W" grade will result in zero credits earned.

Incomplete grades not resolved by the end of the date specified on the academic calendar will result in a "F" grade and zero credits earned.

Repeated coursework for which the student has already received credit does not count toward the number of cumulative credits earned. For further information, see Repeating A Course.

NOTE: Students placed on academic probation or part-time status by the Academic Standards Committee who do not meet the minimum guidelines above will be subject to lost or reduced financial aid eligibility.

Students may be eligible to receive a one-time waiver for federal aid if one of the following circumstances has resulted in failure to meet the stated requirements:

1. Death of a relative
2. Personal injury/illness
3. Other extenuating circumstances if it directly resulted in your failure to meet the requirements.

To be considered for a waiver, students must submit a written appeal to the Director of Financial Aid immediately. The written appeal must include (a) information indicating why the student failed to make SAP and (b) what has changed in the student's situation that would allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation. Only students that will be able to meet the SAP cumulative GPA and cumulative credits earned by the next evaluation will be considered for approval. The Academic Standards Committee reviews all appeal requests and makes the final decision.

If the waiver is granted, the student will be considered to be on financial aid probation. A student on financial aid probation may receive federal funds for one payment period however; the student's academic progress must improve to meet the minimum requirements prior to the start of the following semester. Students may not receive two consecutive probations.

Without a waiver, a student may receive federal grants, Perkins loans, and work-study funds upon reestablishment of satisfactory academic progress. For Stafford Direct and PLUS loans, eligibility is regained for the entire period of enrollment(academic year).

Note that the satisfactory progress guidelines for the NYS aid differ from the federal satisfactory academic progress criteria.

New York State Aid - Academic Progress Guidelines:

State requirements demand that students must meet the "standards of program pursuit", defined by the state regulations as receiving a passing or failing grade in a certain percentage of a full-time course load:

Non-HEOP Students
(Receiving 1st TAP Award in 2010-2011 and thereafter)

HEOP Students
(Receiving 1st TAP Award in 2006-2007 and thereafter)

*Only students enrolled in the HEOP program are eligible for ten TAP payments. The maximum number of payments for all other students is eight.

*Incompletes cannot be included unless they are resolved to a passing or failing grade by the end of the following term. Failing grades are included in the number of courses completed per semester. Only passing grades are included in the number of courses earned.

**Note: "W" grades will not satisfy this requirement. Grades for repeated courses, for which students have already received credit (D- , D, D+, C-) are excluded when calculating the semester hours required for TAP eligibility. Full time students repeating a course for which they have already received credit must carry 12 additional credit hours to be eligible for certification for TAP and other New York State programs. All students who have applied and been found financially eligible for TAP will be certified by the College if they are registered full time as of the TAP Certification Date. (See Academic Calendar for the Fall and Spring semester TAP certification dates.)

Note: Students placed on probation or part-time status by the Academic Standards Committee who do not meet the minimum guidelines above will be subject to lost or reduced financial aid eligibility.

Loss of Good Academic Standing: Students who lose good academic standing in a term when they receive a state grant or scholarship are not eligible for an award for the next term.

Reinstatement of Good Academic Standing: Students who have lost good academic standing may restore this standing in one of the following ways:

1. Make up past academic deficiencies by completing one or more terms of study without receiving any state grants or scholarships;
2. Be readmitted to school after an absence of at least one calendar year; or
3. Transfer to another institution; or
4. Be granted a waiver.

One-time Waiver: NYS permits students to receive a one-time waiver of the good academic standing requirement as an undergraduate and a one-time waiver as a graduate student. Note: Students are required to maintain a C-Average (2.0 cumulative GPA) after receiving the equivalent of two or more full years of NYS aid. Waivers of the C-Average requirement are separate from the one-time waiver and may be granted more than once if circumstances warrant.

Students may be eligible to receive a waiver for state aid if one of the following extenuating circumstances has resulted in failure to meet the stated requirements:

1. Death of a relative
2. Personal injury/illness
3. Other extenuating circumstance if it directly resulted in your failure to meet the NYS requirements.

To be considered for a waiver, you must submit a written appeal to the Director of Financial Aid. The Academic Standards Committee reviews all appeal requests and makes the final decision. If the waiver is granted, your NYS awards will be reinstated for the semester; however, your academic progress must improve to meet the minimum requirements prior to the start of the following semester.

All scholarships require full-time attendance. Scholarship eligibility is reviewed annually based on cumulative GPA. If the minimum requirement is not met, one semester of probation is granted. After the probationary period, if the cumulative GPA remains below the requirement, the scholarship will be reduced by 20% of the value. If, after subsequent semesters, the GPA requirement is met, full reinstatement of the award may be requested for future semesters; waivers of this policy are not granted.

Note: Students placed on probation or part-time status by the Academic Standards Committee who do not meet the minimum guidelines above may be subject to lost or reduced financial aid eligibility.