1. Higher Education Services Corporation NYSFAAA 45th Annual Conference 2013

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

3. Processing Update
Over 619,000 applications processed as of October 1, 2013
ETA %
Renewal Process %
FAFSA Direct %
Anytime TOTW %

4. Processing Update
Over 542,000 TAP applications processed as of October, 2013
ETA %
Renewal Process %
FAFSA Direct %
Anytime TOTW %

5. 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.

6. 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
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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 .

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.

14. TAP Reports and Forms Customized Reports Application status
Payment status

15. Application Status

16. Application Status

17. Application Status
Parameter selections and results

18. Application Status
Query summary totals

19. Application Status
Report produced

20. Payment Status

21. Payment Status

22. Payment Status
Parameter selections and results

23. Payment Status
Query summary totals

24. Payment Status
Report produced

25. 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.

26. TAP Training Modules Additional topics Suggestions?
Your input is valuable to us
Contact Priority Services or
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 or

27. Questions?

28. Thank You HESC Contact Barbara Hochberg
Director of Grant and Scholarship Programs