TAP Coach

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Term Definition
Part-time Study

Section 145-2.1(a) of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education defines part-time study for general awards (other than Veterans Tuition Awards and Aid for Part-Time Study) and for academic performance awards (scholarships) as “enrollment for at least 6, but fewer than 12, semester hours or the equivalent for a semester of not less than 15 weeks, inclusive of examination periods; or at least 4, but fewer than 8, semesters hours a quarter.”

For Veterans Tuition Awards and Aid for Part-Time Study, the minimum part-time course load is three semester hours. Three semester hours is also the minimum part-time course load for ADA Part-Time TAP. A student who is receiving aid through one of these programs and is taking remedial courses will have to take at least three semester hours of credit-bearing work in addition to the remedial study to be eligible.

Part-time TAP

Legislation enacted in 2006 created a Part-time TAP program, effective for the 2007-08 academic year. Part-time undergraduate students at approved institutions in New York State who were first-time freshman in academic year 2006-07 or thereafter, may be eligible for Part-time TAP to help pay for college beginning in the summer of 2007. Students who have attended college and/or received TAP prior to academic year 2006-07 are ineligible. The 2022-2023 Budget eliminates the prior full-time enrollment requirement.

Part-time TAP is an entitlement program that uses up TAP eligibility (a maximum of 48 points for four years of full-time or eight years of part-time undergraduate study or 60 points for students enrolled in approved five-year programs).

Approved institutions include the campuses of the State University and the City University of New York and not-for-profit independent degree-granting colleges and universities. Students attending proprietary degree-granting institutions are not eligible.

In addition to the general eligibility criteria that apply to all State award programs, certain requirements are specific to the Part-time TAP program. To be eligible, students must:

  • Be matriculated and enrolled in an approved undergraduate program at SUNY, CUNY, or an independent (not-for-profit) NYS institution
  • Be enrolled for at least 6 but fewer than 12 semester hour credits or the equivalent
  • Maintain a C average and meet good academic standing requirements
  • Meet income eligibility limitations (income limits are the same as for TAP)

A Part-time TAP award is calculated using the student's actual part-time tuition charge and the number of credits taken.

Note: The “C average” for Part-time TAP is an eligibility requirement that cannot be waived using the C average waiver.

 
Payment Points

The NYS Higher Education Services Corporation maintains records of student TAP awards by assigning points for each payment. A full semester TAP award equals six (6) payment points; a trimester or quarter award equals four (4) payment points; and a half-time award equals three (3) payment points. PT TAP and PT VTA points will reflect prorated points based on the certified number of credits a student is enrolled in.

As provided in Education Law, an undergraduate student has a total of four years (or a total of 48 points) of award eligibility or five years (or 60 points) if enrolled in an approved five-year program.

Program Changes

College academic programs are eligible for State student aid based on the State Education Department’s review and approval, resulting in program registration. The Department maintains an Inventory of Registered Programs of all approved programs and indicates financial aid eligibility for each one.

Colleges must offer registered programs as approved for the programs to continue to be eligible for financial aid. When conducting financial aid audits, the Office of the State Comptroller reviews catalogs and may question if a program appears to have changed and is no longer being offered as approved.

Because of possible audit problems, it is important, therefore, for colleges to seek State Education Department approval of any program changes in a timely way. The change can be as simple as a new title or a more substantive change in content.

Information about procedures for submitting a request for approval of program changes is available from the State Education Department.

Program Pursuit

To remain eligible for State student financial assistance, a student must remain in good academic standing. Two elements make up good academic standing: making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree and pursuing the program of study. 

Program pursuit is defined in regulations as completing—getting a grade in--a percentage of the minimum full-time course load in each term an award is received. The percentage, as specified in regulations, begins at 50 percent of the minimum full-time course load in each term of the first year an award is received, to 75 percent in each term of the second year an award is received, to 100 percent in each term of the third year an award is received and thereafter.

Pursuit is an effort or completion requirement rather than an achievement requirement, so courses in which a student receives either passing or failing grades can be used to satisfy the pursuit requirement. Thus, grades of A through F and any other grade that indicates the student completed the course and all necessary assignments (e.g., P, S, U, R) are acceptable to meet the pursuit requirement. W grades or any grade which indicates the student failed to complete the course or assignments cannot be used to satisfy the pursuit requirement. Incomplete (I) grades can be used to meet the pursuit requirement providing college policy requires the grade to be resolved to a passing or failing grade no later than the end of the subsequent term. 

Grades earned in remedial courses as well as credit-bearing courses can be included in meeting the pursuit requirement.

Progress Chart (Satisfactory Academic Progress)

For financial aid purposes, good academic standing consists of two elements: satisfactory academic progress and pursuit of program. Satisfactory progress is a measure of the student’s achievement, of earning credits toward a degree or certificate with a specified grade point average. Pursuit of program is a measure of the student’s effort to complete a program.

In accordance with section 145-2.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, each institution participating in State student financial aid programs must determine whether a student is in good academic standing based on a standard of satisfactory academic progress comprising a minimum number of credits to be accrued (earned) with a minimum cumulative grade point average in each term an award payment is received. The progress standard is most clearly presented in chart format (see below). 

Initially, the regulation provided that each institution establish and submit for the Commissioner’s approval its proposed standard of progress. However, for the 1995-96 academic year and thereafter, new legislation mandated a minimum cumulative C average after a student has received four full-time semester award payments or the equivalent (24 payment points). 

Effective for the 2010-11 academic year and thereafter, New York State Education Law requires a non-remedial student, whose first award year is in 2010--11 and thereafter, must meet new standards of satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Non-remedial students whose first year is 2007-08 through 2009-10 must meet the SAP requirements enacted in 2006. Those meeting the definition of "remedial student" are not subject to the new SAP standards, but will use the requirements established in 2006. The law enacted in 2006 mandated minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving their first State award in academic year 2006-07 year. 

Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress
for the Purpose of Determining Eligibility for State Student Aid

Effective 2010-11 for non-remedial students receiving first NYS award payment in 2010-11 and thereafter. Remedial students and students enrolled in an approved certificate program will use the 2006 SAP charts.

Program: Baccalaureate Program
Calendar: Semester 2010-11 and thereafter (non-remedial students)
Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits O 6 15 27 39 51 66 81 96 111
With At Least This Grade Point Average O 1.5 1.8 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

 

Programs: Associate Program
Calendar: Semester 2010-11 and thereafter (non-remedial students)
Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits O 6 15 27 39 51
With at Least This Grade Point Average O 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.0

 

Program: Baccalaureate Program
Calendar: Trimester 2010-11 and thereafter (non-remedial students) - C average must be met by 6th payment
Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits O 4 8 14 22 30 38 46 56 66 76 86 96 106 116
With at Least This Grade Point Average O 1.1 1.5 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

 

Program: Associate Program
Calendar: Trimester 2010-11 and thereafter (non-remedial students) - C average must be met by 7th payment
Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits O 2 6 14 22 30 38 46 54
With At Least This Grade Point Average 0 1.0 1.3 1.5 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0



Note: The 2011-12 enacted NYS budget mandates the following standards of progress, enacted in 2006-07, shall be used for non-remedial students who first receive State aid in 2007-08 through 2009-10 and for students who meet the definition of "remedial student" in 2010-11 and thereafter. The enacted budget defines remedial for purposes of SAP. 

Standard of Satisfactory Academic Progress
for the Purpose of Determining Eligibility for State Student Aid

Effective 2006-07

Program: Baccalaureate Program
Calendar: Semester 2006-07, 2007-08 through 2009-10 and 2010-11 and thereafter remedial students (if a student's first award was in 2010-11 and thereafter, and he/she does not meet the definition of a remedial student, see charts for non-remedial students)
Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits O 3 9 21 33 45 60 75 90 105
With At Least This Grade Point Average O 1.1 1.2 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

 

Program: Associate Program
Calendar: Semester Calendar 2006-07, 2007-08 through 2009-10 and 2010-11 and thereafter remedial students (if a student's first award was in 2010-11 and thereafter, and he/she does not meet the definition of a remedial student, see charts for non-remedial students)
Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits O 3 9 18 30 45
With At Least This Grade Point Average O .5 .75 1.3 2.0 2.0

 

Program: Baccalaureate Program
Calendar: Trimester Calendar 2006-07, 2007-08 through 2009-10 and 2010-11 and thereafter remedial students (if a student's first award was in 2010-11 and thereafter, and he/she does not meet the definition of a remedial student, see charts for non-remedial students)
Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits O 2 4 9 17 25 33 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
With At Least This Grade Point Average O 1.1 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0

 

Program: Associate Program
Calendar: Trimester Calendar 2006-07, 2007-08 through 2009-10 and 2010-11 and thereafter remedial students (if a student's first award was in 2010-11 and thereafter, and he/she does not meet the definition of a remedial student, see charts for non-remedial students)
Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits O 2 4 9 15 21 30 37 45
With At Least This Grade Point Average O .5 .5 .75 .75 1.3 2.0 2.0 2.0


Students who received their first award prior to the 2006-07 academic year continue to be subject to the standards of satisfactory academic progress approved by the Commissioner of Education. However, institutions may choose to adopt for all students standards mandated in Education Law by requesting State Education Department approval.

 
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