1. What Advisors and Students Need to Know Financial Aid & DAC Prepared by: Academic Advisement 100 Netzer (607) 436-3390

2. OVERVIEW General Information Who, What, and Why General FA Rules Examples/Templates Who is responsible for what? Using DegreeWorks as a tool for DAC

3. WHO? ~80% of students receive some sort of aid at some point in their career. 3

4. WHAT? Federal and State financial aid rules require aid be awarded for Degree Applicable Credit ONLY. 4

5. WHY? Failure to comply with the state and federal rules can result in serious financial penalties to an institution. 5

6. BASIC RULE – WHAT IS DAC? Degree Applicable Credit (DAC): The credit needed to complete the primary major along with overall college requirements – 122 total credits (sh) – 60 or 90 Liberal Arts sh – 48 upper division sh – 45 sh in residence – 30 of last 60 sh in residence – ½ the major in residence 6

7. Degree Requirements = DAC DAC - 122 Credits 7 Electives Related Major Courses Major Core General Education

8. PLANNING FOR GRADUATION (and DAC) STARTS WITH THE FIRST SCHEDULE Selecting a major helps students Stay on track Be assigned an advisor from their area of interest Be eligible for awards/scholarships within major Participate in “major” pre-enrollment Be eligible for aid

9. Degree Applicable Credit (DAC) Planning: 12sh = full time There are some forms of aid that allow ½ and ¾ time (aid is prorated) 9

10. Key for Plans Students need 10 Gen Ed courses. They are identified as GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4,…GE10. If 12 major courses are required, they are identified as MJ1, MJ2, MJ3, MJ4, ….MJ12. If two Related Work Courses are required, they are identified as RW1 and RW2. Second Major courses are identified as MJ2-1, MJ2-2, MJ2-3, MJ2-4,…MJ2-12. Minor Courses are listed as MN1, MN2, …MN6. NOTE: Some majors and minors require more courses, so these are just some of the possible plans. 10

11. SEM 1 MJ1 / GE1 RW1 / GE 2 GE 3 GE 4 Elective 15 sh SEM 2 RW2 / GE 5 GE 6 GE 7 Elective 15 sh BASIC PLAN: Assume new GE (30sh), 36 sh major with 6sh of related work; Related work overlaps with Gen Ed as does one course in the major: SEM 7 MJ 8 MJ 9 Elective 15 sh SEM 8 MJ 10 MJ 11 MJ 12 Elective 15 sh SEM 3 MJ 2 GE 8 GE 9 Elective 15 sh SEM 4 MJ 3 GE 10 Elective 15 sh SEM 5 MJ 4 MJ 5 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh SEM 6 MJ 6 MJ 7 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh

12. Dual Majors & Minors – DAC? Dual majors and/or minors can be DAC if the coursework needed is taken in place of elective credit. Exception: Adolescence Education majors that require a dual major. These are jointly registered and therefore both majors are DAC. 12

13. SEM 1 MJ1 / GE1 RW1 / GE 2 GE 3 GE 4 Elective 15 sh SEM 2 RW2 / GE 5 GE 6 GE 7 Elective MJ 2 - 1 15 sh DUAL MAJOR EXAMPLE: Assume same plan as the Basic Plan w/ 36 sh in 2 nd major & 6sh of related work; related work overlaps with Gen Ed and one course in the major. Key is to use specific courses for electives. SEM 7 MJ 8 MJ 9 Elective MJ2 – 9 MJ2- 10 15 sh SEM 8 MJ 10 MJ 11 MJ 12 Elective MJ2 – 11 MJ2- 12 15 sh SEM 3 MJ 2 GE 8 GE 9 Elective MJ2 – 2 15 sh SEM 4 MJ 3 GE 10 Elective MJ2 – 3 MJ2 - 4 15 sh SEM 5 MJ 4 MJ 5 Elective Elect (1sh) Elective MJ2 – 5 MJ2- 6 16 sh SEM 6 MJ 6 MJ 7 Elective Elect (1sh) Elective MJ2 – 7 MJ2- 8 16 sh

14. SEM 1 MJ1 / GE1 RW1 / GE 2 GE 3 GE 4 Elective 15 sh SEM 2 RW2 / GE 5 GE 6 GE 7 Elective MN 1 15 sh MAJOR & MINOR EXAMPLE: Assume same plan as the Basic Plan w/ 18 sh in minor; two related work courses overlap with Gen Ed and one course in the major. Key is to use specific courses for electives. SEM 7 MJ 8 MJ 9 Elective MN 6 15 sh SEM 8 MJ 10 MJ 11 MJ 12 Elective 15 sh SEM 3 MJ 2 GE 8 GE 9 Elective MN 2 15 sh SEM 4 MJ 3 GE 10 Elective MN 3 15 sh SEM 5 MJ 4 MJ 5 Elective Elect (1sh) Elective MN 4 16 sh SEM 6 MJ 6 MJ 7 Elective Elect (1sh) Elective MN 5 16 sh

15. Transfer Credit – DAC? Credit earned at Oneonta or elsewhere moves a student closer to degree completion. This is especially important to understand for freshmen with credit from high school. 15

16. SEM 1 MJ1 / GE1 RW1 / GE 2 GE 8 GE 9 Elective 15 sh SEM 2 RW2 / GE 5 GE 10 Elective 15 sh Assume new GE (30sh), 36 sh major with 6sh of related work; Related work overlaps with Gen Ed as does one course in the major: AND, student transfers in 12 sh (all are GE) SEM 7 MJ 10 MJ 11 MJ 12 Elective 18 sh SEM 8 SEM 3 MJ 2 Elective 15 sh SEM 4 MJ 3 Elective 15 sh SEM 5 MJ 4 MJ 5 MJ 6 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh SEM 6 MJ 7 MJ 8 MJ 9 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh IN HS GE 3 GE 4 GE 6 GE 7 12 sh Graduate in 7 semesters (= 4 years’ of credit) 7 SEMESTER PLAN

17. SEM 1 MJ1 / GE1 RW1 / GE 2 GE 8 GE 9 Elective 15 sh SEM 2 RW2 / GE 5 GE 10 Elective 15 sh Assume new GE (30sh), 36 sh major with 6sh of related work; Related work overlaps with Gen Ed as does one course in the major: AND, student transfers in 12 sh (all are GE) SEM 7 MJ 10 MJ 11 MJ 12 Elective 18 12 sh SEM 8 Elective 12 sh SEM 3 MJ 2 Elective 15 12 sh SEM 4 MJ 3 Elective 15 12 sh SEM 5 MJ 4 MJ 5 MJ 6 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh SEM 6 MJ 7 MJ 8 MJ 9 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh IN HS GE 3 GE 4 GE 6 GE 7 12 sh Graduate in 8 semesters (= 4 years’ of credit) 8 SEMESTER PLAN

18. DEVIATIONS FROM THE PLAN? If students don’t follow their DAC plan, they may find themselves with less or no aid eligibility. 18

19. SEM 1 MJ1 / GE1 RW1 / GE 2 GE 3 GE 4 Elective 15 sh SEM 2 RW2 / GE 5 GE 6 GE 7 Elective 15 sh ORIGINAL BASIC PLAN: SEM 7 MJ 8 MJ 9 Elective 15 sh SEM 8 MJ 10 MJ 11 MJ 12 Elective 15 sh SEM 3 MJ 2 GE 8 GE 9 Elective 15 sh SEM 4 MJ 3 GE 10 Elective 15 sh SEM 5 MJ 4 MJ 5 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh SEM 6 MJ 6 MJ 7 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh

20. SEM 1 MJ1 / GE1 RW1 / GE 2 GE 3 GE 4 Elective 15 18 sh SEM 2 RW2 / GE 5 GE 6 GE 7 Elective 15 18 sh STUDENT DEVIATES FROM THE PLAN If a student adds an elective each of the first four semesters, the student only has 9sh of DAC the last two semesters. SEM 7 MJ 8 MJ 9 Elective 15 9 sh SEM 8 MJ 10 MJ 11 MJ 12 Elective 15 9 sh SEM 3 MJ 2 GE 8 GE 9 Elective 15 18 sh SEM 4 MJ 3 GE 10 Elective 15 18 sh SEM 5 MJ 4 MJ 5 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh SEM 6 MJ 6 MJ 7 Elective Elect (1sh) 16 sh

21. There are many rules for and types of Financial Aid. Only financial aid can help students understand the options. 21

22. EXAMPLE – Repeats and DAC: 22 FEDERAL AIDSTATE AID - Can repeat a course that has been passed with less than an A or failed. - Only one repeat per course permitted. -Course must be one that can only be taken once OR can be taken once the maximum number of allowable times has been reached. -Can repeat a failed course….OR…. one in which the minimum grade was not achieved and the course is the only option in the program. -Can repeat each course multiple times (if permitted by the institution) until the min. grade is achieved.

23. EXAMPLE – Last semester and DAC: 23 FEDERAL AIDSTATE AID - Students’ aid is based upon the number of Degree Applicable Credits in the schedule. If less than 12sh are DAC, aid is prorated. -If the courses for the semester include everything a student needs to graduate And… -if the student has less than 12sh of DAC but at least 3sh of DAC AND… -If the student is enrolled in a total of at least 12sh of new (non-repeated) courses, THEN… -the student can be awarded full NYS aid.

24. Study Abroad? Study Abroad coursework is reviewed in the same manner as any other registration. The coursework must be DAC. Exception: A major that specifically requires a study abroad experience, regardless of the coursework taken, may be DAC. 24

25. Internships, TA, research, etc? Coursework is reviewed in the same manner as any other registration. The coursework must be DAC. 25

26. Prior Approval? Prior Approval for post-matric transfer of credit will be granted if the coursework is needed for completion of any of a student’s programs or prerequisites. Financial Aid applicability will be based upon DAC. Taking “extra” coursework during a summer or winter could affect DAC in a future semester. 26

27. Who is responsible for what?: Students must: take degree applicable credit each semester. regularly review academic plans with the faculty advisor(s). regularly review academic plans with the assigned financial aid counselor. understand that faculty advisors are not financial aid experts and financial aid counselors are not academic advisement experts. It is the combination of information from each support area that helps students make good and informed choices. 27

28. How do students & advisors know about DAC? Financial Aid website Academic Advisement Web site Semester emails with basic rules Meetings with financial aid counselors Programs/Trainings hosted by Academic Advisement Signing agreements accepting aid New students review DAC in the mandatory online advisement course (The ONE) and in the mandatory orientation advisement workshop 28

29. How do advisors know about DAC? Financial Aid website Academic Advisement Web site Semester emails with basic rules Meetings with financial aid counselors Programs/Trainings hosted by Academic Advisement Signing agreements accepting aid New students review DAC in the mandatory online advisement course (The ONE) and in the mandatory orientation advisement workshop 29

30. Who is responsible for what?: Advisors can: be aware of degree applicable credit and what it means in terms of schedule planning help students schedule for DAC and timely degree completion while also planning for rich and varied experiences. help students review their review academic plans encourage students to regularly review their academic plans with the assigned financial aid counselor. Faculty advisors are not expected to be financial aid experts and financial aid counselors are not academic advisement experts. It is the combination of information from each support area that helps students make good and informed choices. 30

31. Who is responsible for what?: Academic Advisement: Reviews Prior Approvals and Study Abroad for transferability and DAC. Assists faculty by providing tools and resources to work with students. Assists Financial Aid and Student Accounts in reviewing DAC. Processes veterans’ benefits according to the same DAC rules. 31

32. Who is responsible for what?: Financial Aid: Acts as the gatekeeper for the disbursement all federal and state dollars. Applies federal and state guidelines to students’ schedules to determine DAC. Approves the disbursement of aid based upon these rules. Alters aid based upon changes to students’ schedules or programs of study. 32

33. Who is responsible for what?: Student Accounts: Acts as the gatekeeper for the review of TAP eligibility. Applies state guidelines to students’ schedules to determine NYS DAC. Approves the disbursement of state aid based upon these rules. Alters state aid based upon changes to students’ schedules or programs of study. 33

34. CHANGING MAJORS: Rules: Must be able to complete within 150% time If less than 150% time – potential for aid If more than 150% - no aid at any time Coordination: Academic Advisement / Department / Financial Aid review 34

35. UNDECLARED Only General Education courses are DAC. 35

36. SEM 1 GE 1 GE 2 GE 3 GE 4 GE 5 15 sh SEM 2 GE 6 GE 7 GE 8 GE 9 GE 10 15 sh UNDECLARED and DAC: SEM 7SEM 8 SEM 3SEM 4 SEM 5SEM 6

37. UNDECLARED and DAC w/ HS credit: SEM 7SEM 8 SEM 1 GE 6 GE 7 GE 8 GE 9 GE 10 15 sh SEM 2 SEM 3SEM 4 IN HS GE 1 GE 2 GE 3 GE 4 GE 5 15 sh SEM 5SEM 6

38. 38 DW shows you what a student needs for overall requirements and the primary major. Students and advisors have constant access to the DW tool.

39. 39 Legend NEEDED COMPLETED ALMOST DONE (in progress)

40. 40 QUESTIONS? Financial Aid– 123 Netzer 607-436-2532 Processes and disburses aid based upon DAC Student Accounts– 240 Netzer 607-436-3389 Reviews DAC for state aid Academic Advisement– 100 Netzer 607-435-3390 Help students and advisors plan schedules for DAC

41. 41 SUMMARY – general planning rules for full time aid Federal Aid – must be in 12sh of federal DAC NY State Aid – must be in 12sh of NYS DAC Veteran’s Benefits – federal DAC rules apply SUNY Oneonta scholarships – must be in 12sh External scholarships – depends on the organization’s rules