Increased Maximum TAP Award
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Transcript Increased Maximum TAP Award
NYS Higher Education Services
Corporation
• 2014-15 Budget Update
• Avoiding Audit Disallowances
NYSFAAA 2014
2014-15
NYS Budget Changes
2014-15 Budget Changes
Increase in maximum TAP award
– Dependent student
Change in Award Schedule
– A, D and E
Science, Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics Incentive Program
(STEM)
NYS Young Farmers Loan
Forgiveness Incentive Program
Increased Maximum TAP
Award
Increased maximum TAP award for
undergraduate dependent students by
$165 annually
Must be:
Attending degree-granting institution or
a registered not-for profit business
school
Schedules A, D and E
Change in Award Schedule
New Petition Status and change in award
schedule for students who qualify as an
orphan, foster child or ward of the court
Currently: TAP award calculated using
independent schedules
Change: TAP award calculated using
dependent schedules A, D and E for
increased award amount
STEM Awards
Students must:
Be in the top 10 percent of their high
school graduating class
Be matriculated in an approved
undergraduate program leading to a
degree in Science, Technology,
Engineering or Mathematics at a SUNY
or CUNY college
Execute a Service Contract agreeing to
reside and work in a STEM field in New
York State for five years
STEM Awards
Equal the SUNY resident tuition rate
or actual tuition, whichever is less
Reduced by the amount of any
duplicative (tuition only) assistance
Paid directly to the student’s SUNY
or CUNY college on behalf of the
recipient
STEM Certification
Separate payment roster
TAP award will be included on the
roster
Must report additional tuition only
assistance
STEM Certification (cont.)
Use certification code = 1 (eligible)
to certify students meeting all
eligibility requirements
Use certification code =2 (TAP no
Scholarship) for students who do not
meet STEM program requirements
but are eligible for a TAP award
New York State Young Farmers
Forgiveness Incentive Program
Provides loan forgiveness awards to
college graduates who agree to
operate a farm in NYS for five years
Up to 10 annual awards to qualified
applicants
Up to $10,000 per year, per
applicant
Evaluating Student Eligibility
and Avoiding Audit
Disallowances
Evaluating Student Eligibility
HESC first
Schools confirm eligibility (certification)
– Access to student
– Access to records
Office of the State Comptroller (OSC)
– Audits schools
– Audit disallowances
Avoid audit disallowances
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Know your students
Trust but verify - document student statuses
Maintain student records (7 years)
Maintain school records supporting program approval
Student Eligibility Criteria
HESC
Schools
– Citizenship
– New York State
residency
– Income eligibility
– Financial independence
– Not in default on a state
or federal student loan
– High School diploma
– Approved program of
study
– Enrolled
• Study abroad
• Out of state study
–
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Matriculated status
Full-time status
Good academic standing
Level of study undergraduate only
Citizenship
Federal requirements
Title IV eligibility
NYS Residency
Who is
Who isn’t
• Student residing in New
York State permanently
• Student can evidence
domicile/permanent abode
• Members of Armed Forces
stationed in NYS and
immediate family members
• Student financially dependent
on parent(s) who are also
legal residents of NYS
• Financially dependent student
is considered resident of state
where parents reside
• Student merely living in
New York State to
attend college
• Student cannot
evidence domicile /
permanent abode
• Student financially
dependent on parents
who reside in another
state
Residency - Points
Legal resident 12 months prior to term
Parents retired to Florida
– If student claimed as dependent – student
now Florida resident
– Ineligible for TAP
Residency appeal
– Log into HESCWeb and request a Residency
Questionnaire
– HESC will evaluate
Residency
Warning signs
– Parents have a non-New York address
– Student off-campus address not in New York
– H.S. diploma not from New York school
Consult with HESC
– Don’t certify if unsure
– Log onto HESCWeb–Student Record Maintenance to
request RFI or Residency Questionnaire be sent to
student
– Send any documents you have using Doc Trac
DocTrac
– E-mail: [email protected]
– Fax: (518) 473-1414
Income Eligibility
Income determines award
What is income?
– NYS Net Taxable Household Income
– Pensions not included on tax return
HESC verifies income with NYS Department
of Tax & Finance
Maximum income
–
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Dependent or married with dependents - $80,000
Independent, single with dependents - $80,000
Independent, married, no dependents - $40,000
Independent, single, no dependents - $10,000
Financial Independence – Basic
Conditions
Does not and will not live with parents for
more than six weeks during preceding,
current and future tax year
Did not receive support from parents
exceeding $750 during preceding, current
and future tax year
Is not claimed as dependent on parent(s)
tax return(s) for preceding or current tax
year
Honorably discharged from US military
service and not claimed by parents for
preceding or current tax year
Financial Independence – (cont.)
35 years old as of June 30 of the academic
year (June 30, 2014, for 2014-15)
22-35 years old as of June 30 and meet
basic conditions
Married on or before December 31 preceding
the academic year and meet basic conditions
Previously approved for financial
independence and meet basic conditions
Under 22 years old
– Meet basic conditions and
– Meet special conditions
Financial Independence – Special
Conditions
Under 22
Both parents are
– Deceased; or
– Totally and permanently disabled; or
– Declared incompetent
Applicant receives public assistance
Applicant is ward of the court
Involuntary dissolution of family unit
High School Diploma
Diploma or certificate from high school
within the United States
Equivalent exam acceptable to NYS
Education Department (e.g. TASC –
Test Assessing Secondary Completion
Passing score on Ability to Benefit Test
(ATB)
Maintain documentation in student file
Matriculated
Applied for admission at school
offering approved program
Enrolled in courses fulfilling degree
requirement
Full-Time
12 credits or more per semester
toward degree program
No repeated courses for better grade
Can retake failed course if Good
Academic Standing requirements
met
Good Academic Standing
Good academic standing (GAS)
components
– Pursuit of Program (POP)
– Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
POP + SAP = GAS
Evaluated each term at time of
certification
Good Academic Standing – POP
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
POP Chart
Good Academic Standing – SAP
Satisfactory Academic Progress
– Accumulate a specified number of credits
– Achieve a specified cumulative grade point
average each term
– Based on the number of TAP payments
students have received
SAP Chart
– C average requirement after 4th payment
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
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One-time waiver
Extenuating circumstances
Based on school’s published criteria
Improperly granting waiver may result in
audit disallowance
C average waiver
– Death of relative
– Student illness or injury
– Extenuating circumstances
Consistency – follow published guidelines
Document all waivers
Certification Components
When?
– HESC processes no earlier than 14 days
after term start date
– 60 days from the roster date or 30 days
from end of term, whichever is later
Other benefits
Enrollment status – “FT”
Academic waiver – GAS Waiver Only
5 year program?
OSC Audits
Office of the State Comptroller (OSC)
Draft Audit Report
School comment
Final Audit Report
HESC may enforce audit findings –
payment of audit disallowances
Avoid Audit Disallowances –
Document!
HS Diploma
Full-time Status
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Waivers
– 1 Time GAS waiver
– C average waiver
Student Transcripts
Residency
Citizenship
Enrollment Records
Any information you possess that may
affect a student’s TAP award
QUESTIONS?
Contact:
[email protected]