Guidance Regarding Full-Time Study for the NYS Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program

This Bulletin clarifies the definition of full-time study for purposes of the STEM Incentive Program, specifically regarding:

• Recipients who have enrolled in more than one STEM-approved major, and
• The enrollment requirement for the final year of study.

The STEM Incentive Program regulations define successful completion of a term to mean, among other requirements, the completion of at least 12 credit hours or its equivalent in a course of study leading to an approved undergraduate degree in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

Recipients Enrolled in More than One STEM-Approved Major

To satisfy the full-time requirement, recipients who have enrolled in more than one STEM-approved major must successfully complete a combined total of 12 credit hours in their STEM-approved majors. Accordingly, students who complete 12 credit hours applicable to multiple STEM-approved majors should be certified as meeting the full-time eligibility requirements for the STEM Incentive Program.

Schools should take the necessary steps to certify any STEM recipient who was decertified for failure to enroll in 12 credits in his/her primary major since fall 2014.

Recertifying Students Who were Decertified in 2014-15 or 2015-16

To recertify recipients who were decertified for either the 2014-15 or 2015-16 academic years:

1. Complete the STEM Recertification spreadsheet (HE9079).
2. Save the document using the acronym "STEM" and your school name; e.g., "STEMUAlbany.xls"
3. Upload the completed spreadsheet via the HESC secure file transfer process.

Recertifying Students Who were Decertified in 2016-17 or 2017-18

If you are recertifying a recipient for the 2016-17 or the 2017-18 academic year, please use the standard process for submitting certifications (i.e., the HESC system).

Final Year of Study

The requirement for a recipient to be enrolled in 12 credits applicable to his or her program(s) of study per semester is waived during the final year of study, as defined in the Commissioner's regulation.

A STEM recipient is deemed to meet the full-time study requirement in his/her last semester if he/she takes at least one course needed to meet his/her graduation requirements and enrolls in at least 12 credits. Additionally, effective December 27, 2017, a recipient is deemed to meet the full-time study requirement in the semester prior to his/her last semester if he/she takes at least six credits need to meet their graduation requirements and enrolls in at least 12 credits.

Questions

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