The Tuition Assistance Program is an entitlement program, which means that all eligible applicants receive awards. Award amounts are determined by type of school, level of study, tuition charges, and New York State net taxable income as reported on the New York State Express Tuition Assistance Program Application (ETA) for TAP and other state aid.

In order to be eligible for state aid, a student must:

• be a U.S. citizen, or eligible non-citizen;
• be a New York State resident for at least one year prior to the semester for which aid is sought;
• be enrolled full-time and matriculated in an approved New York State post-secondary program (students may be enrolled on a half-time basis for summer);
• be in good academic standing;
• have graduated from high school, have a GED, or demonstrate the ability to benefit;
• be within the prescribed income limitations;
• not be in default on a student loan guaranteed by HESC, and not be in default on any repayment of state awards;
• have, at least, a cumulative "C" average after receipt of two annual payments of state-sponsored student financial aid.
• have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Renewal FAFSA.

Annual TAP awards for the academic year 2007-08 will range from $275 - $5,000 for dependent students, and independent students who are married or have tax dependents, and from $425 and $3,025 for independent students who are single with no tax dependents. Undergraduate students can receive up to eight semesters of TAP for full-time study in a baccalaureate program.

To determine the number of credits students must complete and the minimum grade point average they must achieve to remain in good academic standing and eligible for financial aid, students should consult the chart on page 57 of the NYSCAS 2004-2007 Bulletin. Students may not be eligible to receive their TAP Award if, in the previous semester, they:

• Withdrew from all courses sometime after the first day of classes; or
• Completed less than 6 credits in each semester of the first year of awards, less than 9 credits in each semester of the second year of awards, and less then 12 credits in each semester of the third and fourth year of TAP awards; and/or
• Earned fewer credits than required (according to the Chart on Academic Standing) in order to be eligible to receive further TAP awards for subsequent semesters.

According to New York State Guidelines, students may receive only one waiver of these guidelines during their undergraduate career, and one during their graduate career.

Beginning with the Fall of 1996, students could not be certified for a fifth TAP payment without a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00. Students who fail to achieve the 2.00 GPA may petition the Committee on Academic Standing for a "C" waiver. A student can receive more than one "C" waiver, providing the circumstances are not the same.

APTS is a campus-based program rather than an entitlement program. This means that the college selects recipients and determines their individual award amounts, based on funding levels and the number of eligible applicants.

In order to be eligible for APTS awards students must meet the TAP eligibility requirements, but must:

• be enrolled on a part-time basis (at least 3 but less than 12 semester hours per semester);
• be matriculated in an approved undergraduate degree program, at a degree-granting institution in New York State;
• have earned at least 6 semester hours of credits;
• have remaining Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility.

Students who wish to apply must complete the APTS Application, available in the Financial Aid Office, and should submit it at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester for which the application is being made. Awards for less than half-time study are available only when funding permits.

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