Higher Education Services Corporation NYSFAAA 45th Annual Conference 2013

TAP Topics Processing Statistics Good Academic Standing Pursuit of Program Satisfactory Academic Progress Beneficial Placement TAP Waivers Customized Reports TAP Training Modules

Processing Update 2012-13 Over 619,000 applications processed as of October 1, 2013 ETA 2% Renewal Process 26% FAFSA Direct 26 % Anytime TOTW 46 %

Processing Update 2013-14 Over 542,000 TAP applications processed as of October, 2013 ETA 1% Renewal Process 30% FAFSA Direct 33% Anytime TOTW 36%

Good Academic Standing Two components measure student’s academic progress: Pursuit of Program (PO) measure of effort to complete a program Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) measure of achievement of earning credits toward a degree or certificate with specified GPA Evaluated each term at certification Consists of two components that measure a student’s academic progress: Pursuit of Program (POP): a measure of the student’s effort to complete a program Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP): a measure of the student’s achievement of earning credits toward a degree or certificate with a specified grade point average These are evaluated each term at certification.

Good Academic Standing – POP Pursuit of program Student must receive a passing or failing grade in a certain percentage of courses each term Based on number of TAP payments student has received POP 8 NYCRR 2408.7 Pursuit of program A requirement that a student receive a passing or failing grade in a certain percentage of courses each term Based on the number of TAP payments the student has received

Good Academic Standing – POP Payment Must Receive Grade for 1, 2 50% of min. full-time requirement (6 credit hrs./semester) 3, 4 75% (9 credit hrs.) 5 or more 100% (12 credit hrs.) POP 8 NYCRR 2408.7

Good Academic Standing – SAP Satisfactory academic progress Accumulate a specified number of credits Achieve a specified cumulative grade point average each term Based on number of TAP payments students have received C average requirement after 4th payment NOTE: After students have received the equivalent of four semester payments, students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Good Academic Standing – SAP Before Being Certified for This Payment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits 6 15 27 39 51 66 81 96 111 With At Least This Grade Point Average 1.5 1.8 2.0 NOTE: After students have received the equivalent of four semester payments, students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Beneficial Placement Applies when a recipient of State student aid in good standing transfers to another institution, or changes academic programs within same institution Student is repositioned on SAP chart based on number of credits earned or number of payments received, whichever is more beneficial to student Beneficial placement applies only to satisfactory academic progress Can go back to previous screen and demo on chart No bearing on POP For example, if a student has received four or more State award payments, the student is at the 100 percent pursuit level and must complete/get a grade in the minimum full-time or part-time course load to satisfy this requirement. e.g., student has received 4 semester TAP payments but has earned only six transferable credits at a new institution, the student would be placed on the chart of satisfactory academic progress based on credits accrued rather than payments received. In this situation, it is to the student’s benefit to be placed at a point on the progress chart that requires the student to earn fewer credits than would be the case if the student were placed at the credit accrual point for a fifth payment. Another example: a NYS student transferring from an out-of-state institution who had never received TAP but has 30 transferable credits would be placed beneficially at the first payment point on the satisfactory academic progress chart. This student would, in effect, have 30 credits “in the bank” and not have to worry about meeting the credit accrual requirements for several terms. Again whatever is more beneficial to the student .

Beneficial Placement Beneficial placement does not have a bearing on POP requirement Students must still meet 2.0 GPA requirement if they have received two or more years of payment, even if they are repositioned at a point on the chart where a GPA of less than 2.0 is required

Exceptions and Waivers Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) May be eligible for TAP for 3 credits or more (1 class) Medical/Health Waiver Serious illness or other adverse physical condition which requires restricting the student’s program of study Combine course work of multiple terms to meet full-time study requirement Medical documentation Document special conditions in student file

Waivers One-time GAS waiver C average waiver Document all waivers Extenuating circumstances A one time waiver is possible if the institution makes its criteria and procedures for waivers available to students and the public Based on school’s published criteria C average waiver Death of relative Student illness or injury Document all waivers Schools must grant waivers using the same posted criteria for each student. Once the GAS waiver is granted it will be noted on each certification screen for student. This will shown the term and year in which the waiver was used.

TAP Reports and Forms Customized Reports Application status Payment status

Application Status

Application Status

Application Status Parameter selections and results

Application Status Query summary totals

Application Status Report produced

Payment Status

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Payment Status Parameter selections and results

Payment Status Query summary totals

Payment Status Report produced

TAP Training Modules Created to assist new FA professionals and those who need a refresher Application process Eligibility requirements Award determination Good academic standing G&S Transaction Processing Student Record Maintenance (SRM) DocTrac process HESC is pleased to announce the availability of Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) training modules on the HESC website. The modules were created to assist new financial aid professionals and for those who may need a refresher course. Currently available are six PowerPoint modules, ranging between 3-12 minutes in length and covering the TAP application process, eligibility requirements for a TAP award, award determination, good academic standing, G&S Transaction Processing and Student Record Maintenance (SRM) and using the DocTrac process to submit additional information on behalf of a student.

TAP Training Modules Additional topics Suggestions? Your input is valuable to us Contact Priority Services 866-431-4372 or Priorityservices@hesc.ny.gov We will be adding additional topics to the current selection. Your input is valuable to us. If you have suggestions of other areas where you have need for training, please contact Priority Services at 866-431-4372 or Priorityservices@hesc.ny.gov.

Questions?

Thank You HESC Contact Barbara Hochberg Director of Grant and Scholarship Programs bhochberg@HESC.ny.gov