Graduate Catalog 2012-2013

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Financial Aid

In this section Application Procedures and Deadlines College Codes Priority Deadlines Federal Financial Aid Withdrawing from Courses May Affect Your Financial Aid Review to Determine If Federal Aid Funds Must Be Repaid Some Financial Aid May Be Taxable Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines Appeals Federal Work-Study Program Federal Perkins Loan Program Federal Direct Loan Programs Federal Direct Subsidized Loans Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans New York State Financial Aid TAP Progress and Pursuit Standards Appeals CSI Financial Aid Graduate Progress Chart

Up one level Graduate Catalog 2012-2013

Office of Student Financial Aid

North Administration Building (2A), Room 401

Director: Philippe Marius

Telephone 718.982.2030

Fax: 718.982.2037

Website: www.csi.cuny.edu/finaid

Application Procedures and Deadlines

Obtain/Use a Federal PIN Number at www.pin.ed.gov

Graduate students/spouses – you will need a federal PIN to sign the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and TAP (Tuition Assistance Plan) applications when you file on the Web. This federal PIN will also be needed to sign the electronic Multiple-Year Promissory Note (e-MPN), if you apply for a Direct Loan, the PIN may also be used to access your federal grant and loan history, which is located at www.nslds.ed.gov.

You may obtain a federal PIN www.pin.ed.gov. You may also have your current PIN emailed to your email address if you have forgotten it.

College Codes

CSI’s FAFSA college code is 002698 and the TAP code is 1417.

Apply on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov

Use our Student Service Center where you will be able to ask questions regarding your applications. Appointments may be made by calling 718.982.2601.

If you filed a FAFSA for the last academic year you must file a RENEWAL FAFSA. The RENEWAL FAFSA will have most questions answered with last year’s data. If the data is unchanged, you advance to the next question. Answer all unanswered questions and submit your application. When the Confirmation Page appears on your screen, print a copy for your records. Then use the hyperlink on the Confirmation Page under the heading “New York State Residents” to go to your TAP on the web application. Complete and submit the application for processing. Your federal PIN number on your FAFSA is also recognized as your signature on your TAP on the web application.

Priority Deadlines

The priority deadline is March 30 for students applying for federal and state financial aid for the summer/fall semesters, and November 30 for students applying for federal and state financial aid for just the spring semester.

Federal Financial Aid

Eligibility: To receive Title IV federal financial aid, a student must:

1. be a U.S. citizen, or an eligible non-citizen, and
2. be matriculated, and
3. not be in default of any federal loan or, if in default, have completed the required process to obtain “Renewed Federal Aid Eligibility,” and
4. not owe a refund on any Title IV Grant, and
5. be making satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree, and
6. meet all applicable eligibility criteria of individual aid programs.

Withdrawing from Courses May Affect Your Financial Aid

Federal and state financial aid programs have academic guidelines that students must meet in order to maintain their eligibility. To learn more about these requirements, review the Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines and the TAP Progress and Pursuit Chart. Withdrawing from or failure to attend class in one or more courses may affect eligibility status.

Review to Determine If Federal Aid Funds Must Be Repaid

Students who withdraw from all classes, officially or unofficially, or who have no passing grades at the end of a semester, will have their records reviewed to determine if they must repay any federal aid paid to them or to their student account.

Some Financial Aid May Be Taxable

IRS regulations require that some grants, scholarships, and fellowships be reported on a student’s federal tax return. All students are urged to maintain accurate records of the financial aid received and to keep receipts of related educational expenses. For more information about possible federal tax liability, consult your tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service.

Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Guidelines

In order to be making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, for purposes of receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance, a graduate student must meet at least the GPA required for good academic standing at the institution and:

1. Accumulate credits toward the degree greater than or equal to two-thirds the cumulate credits attempted at the institution;
2. Not have attempted more than 150% of the credits normally required for completion of the degree. Students will be measured against the satisfactory academic progress standard at the end of the spring term to determine eligibility for receipt of Title IV student financial assistance for the upcoming year.

Appeals

Graduate students who fall below Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines may appeal through the Center for Advising and Academic Success, South Administration Building (1A), Room 101, to regain eligibility for receipt of Title IV federal student assistance.

Appeals will be evaluated for mitigating circumstances resulting from events such as personal illness, injury, personal tragedy, changes in academic program, and the reasonableness of the student’s capability for improvement to meet the appropriate standard for the degree program in which the student is enrolled.

Federal Work-Study Program

This program provides on- and off-campus employment opportunities for eligible students. At the time this Catalog was prepared, on-campus wage rates were $10 per hour for graduate students. Work schedules are developed around a student’s class schedule and the average work schedule consists of ten hours per week.

Federal Perkins Loan Program

This is a loan program and funds received under this program must be repaid. All students awarded a Federal Perkins Loan complete a Web Federal Perkins pre-loan conference and take and pass the Default Reduction Test before the first disbursement of the loan proceeds each year. No Federal Perkins Loans will be disbursed to students who do not comply. Students are required to disclose their driver’s license number when applying for a Federal Perkins Loan and must provide, in writing, changes of address to the Office of Student Financial Aid within ten days of the change. Federal Perkins Loan borrowers must complete a Web Exit Interview prior to graduation, if they plan to transfer to another institution, leave the College for any reason, or continue their education as a less than half-time student (less than six credits). The online Entrance and Exit Interview sessions may be reached through the office Website www.csi.cuny.edu/finaid. Borrowers should be aware that federal regulations require the University to report the disbursement of and default on a Federal Perkins Loan to credit bureaus. Deferments and cancellations are available on these loans in certain circumstances, and these are covered in the Exit Interview. These loans are awarded to students by The University. College services are withheld if a borrower defaults on a loan.

Federal Direct Loan Programs

The elements listed below are common to all the Federal Direct Loan programs unless otherwise noted:

1. The application may be obtained from The Hub (2A-106), the Student Financial Aid Office (2A-401), or from the CSI Website at www.csi.cuny.edu/finaid.
2. Promissory notes must be completed on the Web at www.dlenote.ed.gov. You will need your federal PIN to sign your note electronically. This electronic Multiple-Year Promissory Note (e-MPN) is cumulative. After signing the e-MPN, a disclosure notice will be sent to you each time a disbursement is made.
3. All Direct Loans must be repaid.
4. A Web Entrance Interview is required for the first loan at CSI. This is available through www.csi.cuny.edu/finaid.
5. Students who carry fewer than six credits a term or who leave the College for any reason must complete a Web Exit Interview. The Exit Interview can be accessed through the College Website www.csi.cuny.edu/finaid. Holds will be placed on the academic records of students who fail to complete the Exit Interview.
6. Report changes of address to the Student Financial Aid Office and the Federal Direct Loan Service.
7. College academic services will be withheld for anyone defaulting on a loan.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loans

FAFSA data must be received before a Federal Direct Loan can be processed. Graduate students may borrow up to $8,500 annually if the College budget permits. The aggregate graduate Federal Direct Loan limit is $138,500, which includes undergraduate borrowing.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

A student applicant must establish his/her eligibility or ineligibility for the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan before a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan can be processed. While attending school, students borrowing under this program must either capitalize the interest or pay the interest by the due date while attending graduate school. The maximum yearly amount a student can borrow from both the Federal Direct Subsidized and Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Programs combined is $20,500.

New York State Financial Aid

Eligibility: A student must:

1. be a New York State resident for a year prior to the start of a semester, and
2. be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, and
3. be a full-time matriculated student, and
4. enroll for at least 12 credits that meet the requirements of the student’s curriculum, and
5. meet the TAP Progress and Pursuit guidelines, and
6. not be in default on a Federal Loan or if in default, have completed the required process to obtain “Renewed Eligibility,” and
7. be economically eligible based on current New York State criteria.

TAP Progress and Pursuit Standards

Students must meet the TAP Progress and Pursuit guidelines prior to the start of each term. Students who do not meet one of these standards lose their TAP eligibility and are notified of this by the Registrar. The Pursuit and Progress Chart appears below.

Appeals

A student who has failed to meet either the Progress or Pursuit guidelines or both may apply for one waiver which, if granted, will allow that student one additional TAP award. At the end of the waiver semester, the student must meet the TAP Progress and Pursuit requirements to be eligible for all future TAP awards.

Appeals will be evaluated for mitigating circumstances resulting from events such as personal illness, injury, personal tragedy, changes in academic program, and the reasonableness of the student’s capability for improvement to meet the appropriate standard for the degree program in which the student is enrolled.

CSI Financial Aid

Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available for full-time graduate students in recognition of academic excellence and community/College service. Designated scholarships are awarded for study in a variety of fields. Information and applications are available at the Career and Scholarship Center, South Administration Building (1A), Room 105; telephone 718.982.2300. Applications are also available on the Web at www.csi.cuny.edu. See the deadline dates on the Web.

Aid for Doctoral Candidates

Information about fellowships, assistantships, and other financial aid opportunities for doctoral candidates taking coursework at CSI is available through the Financial Aid Office at the Graduate School and University Center at 365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4309; telephone 212.817.7460; and via the Web at www.gc.cuny.edu. You may also link to the Graduate School Website from CSI’s Financial Aid Webpage at www.csi.cuny.edu/finaid.

Graduate Progress Chart

	PROGRAM PURSUIT*
	To be certified for payment #:	1	2		3	4	5		6	7	8		9	10	11		12	13	14	15	16
	student must have completed this percentage of coursework the last semester State aid was received	0	50		50	75	75		100	100	100		100	100	100		100	100	100	100	100
	*Undergraduate payments, if any, are counted toward program pursuit for graduate students.
	ACADEMIC PROGRESS
	To be certified for payment #	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8
	[payment points to be accrued]	6		12		18		24		30		36		42		48
	at the end of the prior semester, student must
	(a) have earned this # of credits*	0		6		12		21		30		45		60		75
	(b) with at least this GPA	0		2.00		2.50		2.75		3.00		3.00		3.00		3.00
	*Includes successful completion of credit-equivalent work as set forth in Section 145.2.1 of the Commissioner’s Regulations.

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