HESC UPDATE2018 June 2018

Program Updates Excelsior Scholarship Enhanced Tuition Awards NYS Part-time Scholarship Award Program STEM Loan Forgiveness Programs

Excelsior Scholarship Provides full in-state tuition coverage for students attending SUNY or CUNY Last dollar – less Pell, TAP and other aid covering tuition Must file FAFSA and TAP application prior to applying

Enhanced Tuition Awards (ETA) Provides tuition awards up $6000 to NYS residents attending participating in-state private schools Must file FAFSA and NYS Student Payment TAP application prior to applying Award reduced by TAP grant List of participating schools available online

Excelsior/ETA Income Requirements For 2018-19 academic year, combined federal Adjusted Gross Income of $110,000 or less based on tax year 2016 For 2019-20, combined federal adjusted gross income of $125,000 or less for tax year 2017

Excelsior/ETA Scholarship – Duration Up to two years for pursuit of an associate’s degree Up to four years for pursuit of a bachelor’s degree Five years for five-year programs and opportunity students

Excelsior/ETA Scholarship – Requirements Be and stay on track for on-time completion Enroll in at least 12 credits per term and complete 30 credits per year Banked credits count toward 12/30 credit requirement Remedial courses not included

Eligibility- ADA students May attend less than full time Must be continuously enrolled Successfully complete all credits enrolled in per term If student did not earn credits for all course attempted, missing credits can be earned during Summer/Winter sessions to get back on track

Excelsior/ETA Scholarship – Requirements Final year allowance Must live in New York State for number of years equal to awards received Continuing education may be out of state Military allowance

Income Appeal Income flexibility change in 2018 State Budget Income from 2016 is used except under these conditions: Death, total and permanent disability, divorce, or separation during 2017 or 2018 Applicants must complete Income Appeal form and provide documentation to support request to use 2017 income

Medical Appeal Medical Appeals Break in enrollment Reduction in course load

Freezing Tuition at 2016-17 Rate Student incurred full tuition liability and: Tuition charge liability exists after deducting required financial aid Enrolled in 12 credits applicable to program of study Additional financial aid brings Excelsior award amount to zero after 100% liability date A tuition liability newly exists after initially receiving a zero dollar award (loss of FA) Drops below 12 credits after 100% liability date

Charging Tuition at Current Year Rate Student incurred full tuition liability and: No tuition charge liability exists after deducting required financial aid Not enrolled in 12 credits in program of study (unless meets criteria using banked credits)

Certification- Excelsior and ETA College certifies eligibility at end of each term Complete all requested fields Be consistent with certification codes used for TAP/SAE/AIMs and Excelsior Awards New outgoing files for processing Excelsior/ETA Manifest (HE8976)

Certification: Excelsior and ETA Online or electronically Payments made to colleges at end of term Non-prepay Payments made on daily basis New college accounting reports

School Payment – Sample PAYDOCS 12/27/2017 Run 0062 Excelsior Term Payment Accounting Report (Institution Copy) Institution 0123 NYS College TERM: 2-17 Activity Reference Certified Payment Date Type Number Value Amount 11/22/2017 CERTIFICATIONS 8,250.00 - 11/29/2017   18,250.00 SUPPLEMENT 08631 12/06/2017 20,000.00 12/13/2017 08632 1,750.00 12/20/2017 22,000.00 8633 2,000.00 TOTAL

Excelsior/ETA Application process First-time applicants FAFSA TAP application Excelsior/ETA application Continuing recipients TAP Application

Excelsior/ETA Scholarship – Renewals

Loss of Eligibility Failure to complete 30 credits within 365-day evaluation period Cannot regain eligibility Income exceeds threshold Can apply for payment in future years NYS Residency Student remains ineligible if no longer NY resident

Excelsior/ETA Post Award Requirements Recipients must agree to live and work, if employed, in NYS for same period of time they received award Provision for out of state continued education Military

2018-19 Open Application Period Excelsior application: March 26 - July 23 ETA application: April 2 - July 31 Part-time Scholarship: March 29 - July 27 Master’s in Education: June 1 – July 17 STEM: October 1 - August 15th

New York State Part-time Scholarship (PTS) Part-time students attending SUNY or CUNY community college Up to $1,500 per semester for up to 2 academic years Tuition awards to students continuously enrolled Enrolled in at least six but less than 12 credits per semester Students with disabilities need only enroll in at least 3 credits

PTS Scholarship- Recipient Selection Lottery process Recipient selected using EFC and prior GPA must be 2.0 or higher for returning students Lower EFC places applicant higher on list Once applicant order determined, selection made proportionate to total number of applications received

PTS Scholarship- Certification Recipients placed on separate roster (500 series) Non-prepay Certification submitted at end of term Payments made after certification College accounting reports will be available

PTS Scholarship Applicants must file FAFSA and TAP application to receive payment First-time applicants file PTS application Students who fall below 2.0 not be paid for term If cumulative GPA is met in future terms, student is eligible to receive award

NYS STEM Incentive Provides tuition scholarships for undergraduate students at SUNY, CUNY, private colleges in NYS Up to annual tuition charged to NYS residents at SUNY Must pursue degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics Merit-based, no income restrictions Students ranked in top 10% of senior class

STEM Changes 2018 Recipients with more than one STEM- approved major Students attending private colleges now eligible Updated enrollment requirements for final year of study

STEM Changes 2018: Multiple Majors Students enrolled in more than one STEM approved major must complete a total of 12 credits in their programs of study

STEM Changes 2018: Private Colleges First-time students only may apply Limited funding Lottery process

STEM Changes 2018: Final Year of Study Effective December 27, 2017, students meet full-time requirement if: Enrolled in 12 credits with at least six credits in the program of study in the term before the final term Enrolled in 12 credits with at least one course in the program of study in the final term

NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship Program The NYS Child Welfare Worker Incentive Scholarship Program grants awards for child welfare workers employed at voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agencies licensed by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Recipients must agree to live in NYS and work at a voluntary not-for-profit child welfare agency licensed by OCFS for 5 years after graduation, and can use the award to get an associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree for not more than 2 years, 4 years, and 2 years, respectively

NYS Loan Forgiveness Programs NYS Teacher Loan Forgiveness Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness NYS Child Welfare Loan Forgiveness NYS Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness

NYS Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program 2018 NYS budget establishes new loan forgiveness program $1 million over four years to provide $5,000 annual awards to teachers serving in high need school districts in subject areas for which a shortage of teachers exists

Get on Your Feet Loan Forgiveness (GOYF) Earned undergraduate degree from NYS College after December 2014 Recipient must be enrolled in federal Income Based Repayment plan Income less than $50,000 Recipient receives maximum of 24 payments equal to monthly repayment plan payment

NYS Child Welfare Worker Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program Recipients must agree to work full-time at a not-for-profit child welfare agency in NYS licensed by OCFS for five years Must apply within two years of college graduation Awards up to $10,000 per year for up to 5 years of service or total student loan debt, whichever is less Forgiveness for undergraduate and graduate loans

NYS Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Up to $50,000 or applicants actual student loan debt whichever is less Annual award up to $10,000 Agree to operate a farm in NYS on a full time basis for at least 5 years Application available October 1, 2018

Thank You HESC Contact Lisa Simpson Director of College Services lisa.Simpson@hesc.ny.gov