Undergraduate Catalog 2012-2013

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Financial Aid

Student Financial Aid Office

Building 2A, Room 401

Director, Philippe Marius

Telephone: 718.982.2030

Fax: 718.982.2037

E-mail: finaid@mail.csi.cuny.edu

Website: www.csi.cuny.edu/finaid

The Student Financial Aid Office assists students and families in applying for grants, loans and scholarships.

Application Procedures and Deadlines

The first step in the financial aid application process is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The CSI FAFSA College code is 002698.

After submitting the FAFSA online, applicants should print the CONFIRMATION PAGE for their records. At the top of this page, New York State residents should also click on the hyperlink NY State Residents to file the TAP ON THE WEB (TOTW) application for the New York State Tuition Assistance Program. The CSI TAP College code is 1417.

A PIN should be used to sign the FAFSA and the TOTW electronically. Applicants (and their parents, if dependent) can request a federal PIN at www.pin.ed.gov. The federal PIN can be used to sign both the FAFSA and the TOTW. Applicants should promptly complete and return any subsequent supplemental application form sent by CUNY or the College in order to ensure consideration for as much aid as possible. Current and prospective students may use computers in the Student Service Center in Building 2A, Room 407 to file aid applications online and are invited to call (718) 982-2601 to make an appointment.

Transfer Students

Transfer students must follow the application steps listed above to apply for federal and state financial aid. If an application has already been filed for the current year, correct the FAFSA online to include CSI in the list of colleges. The CSI FAFSA College Code is 002698. Also, go to www.hesc.com to change the College code on the TAP application. The CSI TAP College code is 1417.

Priority Deadlines

All aid applications should be submitted by the following Priority Deadlines: March 31 for the summer and fall terms; November 30 for the spring term. Applying after the applicable Priority Deadline makes it less likely that financial aid awards will be available for payment of tuition and fees by the due date of the bill. The Student Financial Aid Office, at its sole discretion, may assist students whose circumstances reasonably prevented them to file the FAFSA in a timely manner. Such students might be helped only if they printed the CONFIRMATION PAGE after submitting the FAFSA online and have it available.

Ability to Benefit Regulations

In order to receive Title IV federal financial aid students must have a high school diploma or its equivalent (e.g. GED) on file with the Office of Recruitment and Admissions.

Attendance

Students must attend class in each course for which they receive federal aid. Students must repay aid paid on the basis of any course in which there was no attendance.

Withdrawal

Students who withdraw from classes, either officially or unofficially, will have their records reviewed to determine if the federal aid disbursed to them exceeds the amount they were entitled to receive. Any overpayment will be billed to the student. Failure to repay an overpayment within the applicable deadline will result in the College withholding all academic privileges, and the overpayment will be reported to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and referred to the United States Department of Education for collection.

Some Financial Aid Is Taxable

Federal tax regulations now require that students report some grants, scholarships, and fellowships to the Internal Revenue Service as taxable income. In addition, Federal Work Study wages are taxable. Recipients of funds from these sources are strongly urged to consult their tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service to determine the impact of such grants on their personal tax circumstances. All students are urged to maintain accurate records of financial aid received and receipts for expenses related to attendance at college, such as books, supplies, tuition, and fees.

Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress

In order to make satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, for purposes of receipt of Title IV Federal Student Assistance, an undergraduate student must achieve at least the GPA required for probationary status at the institution: after two years of enrollment at the college, have at least a C average, or its equivalent, or academic standing consistent with the requirements for graduation; and have accumulated credits toward the degree according to the following standards:

1. Cumulative credits are equal to or greater than two-thirds of the attempted credits at the institution;
2. Attempted credits are not more than 150% of the credits normally required for completion of the degree. If the standards in 1. and 2. are not met, eligibility may be retained by meeting conditional standards;
3. For baccalaureate programs, accumulated credits are equal to or greater than [(.75 cumulative credits attempted)-18] or for associate degree programs, accumulated credits equal to or greater than [(.875 credits attempted)-21]. Students will be measured against the satisfactory 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/Probation: Undergraduate students who fall below the conditional standard may appeal through the Registrar's Office to retain eligibility for receipt of Title IV federal student assistance. There is no limit to the number of times a student may appeal.

Transfer Students: Transfer students shall have their status initialized for purposes of satisfactory academic progress measurement by using the number of credits determined to be acceptable toward the degree as both the cumulative attempted credits and cumulative earned credits.

Readmitted Students: Upon readmission after at least a one-year period of non-enrollment, the student will receive assistance for the terms in the academic year of readmission and will be evaluated for future eligibility at the end of the spring term against the appropriate standard for the degree program in which the student is enrolled. If a student is readmitted after less than one year of non-enrollment, the academic record will be evaluated for satisfactory academic progress under these standards as the record stood at the end of the last term of attendance.

Federal Financial Aid

Eligibility: To be eligible for any of the federal financial aid programs, a student must:

1. be a U.S. citizen, or
2. be an eligible non-citizen, and
3. be matriculated, and
4. take at least six equated credits a semester, unless otherwise noted below, and
5. not be in default of a Federal Loan (Perkins, Stafford, or Direct Loan) or have completed the required process to qualify for “Renewed Eligibility” and
6. not owe a refund on any Title IV Grant, and
7. be making satisfactory progress toward a degree, and
8. provide proof of high school graduation or its equivalent.

Federal Programs

Federal PELL Grant Program: For eligible students, the grant will vary depending on whether the student is less than half-time, half-time, three-quarter-time, or full-time. A student must be an undergraduate who has not already earned a bachelor’s degree. A student usually receives half of the Federal Pell Grant in the fall semester and half in the spring semester. College seniors who will graduate at the end of the fall semester are eligible to have their first disbursement of a Federal Pell Grant in the summer and the last disbursement in the fall, provided they submit a written request to the Financial Aid Office. Students who received less than a full-time Pell Grant in the fall or spring semester may receive a disbursement the following summer term from the same award.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program: Grants are targeted to Federal Pell Grant recipients. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree are ineligible.

Federal Work-Study Program: This program offers students the opportunity to earn money that may be used to pay tuition and education expenses. Jobs are available both on- and off-campus. On-campus jobs currently pay $8 per hour for undergraduate and $10 per hour for graduate students. Students with special skills (e.g., computer programming) may be paid a higher wage. Work schedules are developed around a student’s class schedule and the average work schedule cannot exceed 20 hours per week.

Federal Perkins Loan Program: This is a loan program and funds received under this program MUST be repaid. All students receiving a Federal Perkins Loan must attend a Federal Perkins Pre-loan conference and take and pass the CUNY 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 an exit interview upon graduation, or if they cease to be enrolled for at least six credits at the College. Students should be aware that federal regulations require the University to report the disbursement/default of a Federal Perkins Loan to credit bureaus. Deferments and cancellations are available on these loans in certain circumstances and are discussed in detail at the exit interview. If a student defaults on a loan, all College services will be withheld.

Federal Direct Loan: Direct Loan applications are available online at www.csi.cuny.edu/finaid or from the Office of Student Financial Aid. The Office of Student Financial Aid cannot process a Direct Loan application until it receives the applicant's valid FAFSA data from the federal government. Borrowers must sign an electronic-Multi Year Promissory Note (e-MPN) before any loan funds can be disbursed to them or credited to their tuition and fees accounts. The e-MPN can be signed online at www.dlenote.ed.gov.

Note for first-time borrowers: Students who wish to receive a Direct Loan for the first time at the College must complete Entrance Counseling before a loan application can be processed. The Counseling can be completed online at www.dlssonline.com. During the session prospective borrowers are informed about the various types of Direct Loans, and they must pass a test at the end of the session to qualify for a loan. After passing the test, applicants should print the Entrance Counseling page and submit it to the Office of Student Financial Aid together with the Direct Loan application.

Borrowers must complete an Exit Interview upon graduation, or if they cease to be matriculated and enrolled for at least 6 credits at the College. Borrowers must also notify the Office of Student Financial Aid of any change of address.

Federal Subsidized Direct Loans: Subsidized Direct Loan eligibility is based on a borrower's need as calculated by CUNY according to federal rules. A student's need is the difference between the cost of education and the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) to the student's cost of education as calculated by the federal government from the FAFSA. No interest is charged to the borrower while he or she is enrolled on at least a part-time basis in an approved post-secondary institution.

Federal Un-subsidized Direct Loans: Unsubsidized Direct Loan eligibility is based on the borrower's cost of education during the period covered by the loan. Interest on the loan begins accumulating upon disbursement.

Eligibility Amount – Borrowers are first considered for Subsidized Direct Loans. If a borrower is not eligible for a Subsidized Loan for the full amount requested, he or she is then considered for an Unsubsidized Loan. Below are the limits to the amount of subsidized and unsubsidized loans that can be borrowed in a year:

Federal Direct PLUS Loans: Parents of dependent students can borrow Federal Direct PLUS Loans to pay for their children’s education. To apply, the students’ parents must complete a separate application available at the Office of Student Financial Aid. Before receiving any loan funds, parents will receive promissory notes that must be completed, endorsed, and returned to the processor. The College will verify that the student for whom the parent is borrowing the money meets all applicable loan requirements. Parents are not required to attend a Pre-loan or exit interview.

Federal Aid to Native Americans: For information regarding this program, interested students should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.

New York State Programs

The State of New York offers a number of grant programs that provide assistance to eligible students. To apply, the student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the TAP on the Web (TOTW) application and the CUNY Supplement, which will be available after the FAFSA data has been received by the University. The principal New York State Aid programs at CSI are the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) for full-time students and Aid for Part-Time Studies (APTS) for part-time students. The criteria listed below are common to all State Aid programs listed unless otherwise noted.

A student should:

1. be a New York State resident for the year preceding the award, and
2. be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen as defined in the Federal Title IV aid guidelines, and
3. be a matriculated student, and
4. meet the TAP Progress and Pursuit guidelines, and
5. not be in default on a Federal Loan or if in default, have completed the required process to obtain “Renewed Eligibility,” and
6. be economically eligible based on current New York State criteria.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): This program is designed to provide tuition grants for full-time students. These grants are awarded by the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation. Students must meet the TAP Progress and Pursuit guidelines prior to the start of each term. These guidelines are also published in the Semester Information each semester.

If a student does not meet either the Progress or Pursuit standard(s), he/she loses his/her TAP eligibility. The Registrar will notify a student if he/she fails to meet these standards and outline how he/she may apply for a waiver. The Committee on Course and Standing reviews all appeals. Only one waiver may be issued during a student’s undergraduate years.

Conditions/Restrictions for the waiver are:

1. A student must have a good overall record with academic difficulties concentrated in one term.
2. The appeal must be based on circumstances outside the College, such as a car accident or an eviction.
3. The reason must be extenuating, extraordinary, or unusual. Normal family responsibilities, work, and fear of failing a class do not meet this standard.
4. The student must provide documentation to support the waiver request.

TAP will not pay for a student to repeat a course to get a better passing grade unless the College requires that the course be repeated. Students who take several remedial courses that carry no credits must make sure that they also take at least three degree credits for their first TAP and six degree credits for all other TAP awards. See the TAP/APTS Progress-Pursuit Chart to determine the number of degree credits that must be accumulated before a TAP/APTS award can be credited to the tuition bill.

Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS): Undergraduate students who complete the CUNY Financial Aid Supplement and are matriculated part-time students enrolled for at least six credits applicable to the major are considered for this award at CUNY. This award uses up a portion of the student’s TAP eligibility.

Part-Time TAP: To be eligible for an award a student will have to:

• be a freshman in academic year 2006-2007 or later
• be a New York State resident
• be enrolled for six to 11 credits/equated credits in the semester for which the award is granted
• have earned at least 12 credits in each of two consecutive semesters
• maintain a C average or better

Vietnam Veteran Tuition Awards: Vietnam Veteran Tuition Awards provide up to $500 per semester (full-time attendance) or $250 per semester (part-time attendance) to Vietnam veterans enrolled in an undergraduate program at a degree-granting institution in New York State.

Eligibility:

1. residency in New York State on April 20, 1984, or at the time of entry into service and resumption of residency by September 1, 1987;
2. service in the U.S. Armed Forces in Indochina between January 1, 1963 and May 7, 1975;
3. discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces under other than dishonorable conditions;
4. enrolled in an approved undergraduate program in a degree-granting institution in New York State;
5. files an application for TAP and PELL.

If a TAP award is also received, the combined awards can be no greater than tuition. Where the combined awards exceed tuition, the TAP award will be reduced accordingly.

Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK): Students wishing to enter the SEEK program must meet family income and academic guidelines. When filling out the application for admission, the student should indicate a desire to enter the SEEK program. Applicants will be contacted by the College’s SEEK Office and invited to a SEEK financial aid workshop where the SEEK program will be explained in detail. At this workshop, applicants will be guided through the financial aid applications and asked to supply required documentation. Financial aid reserved for students in the SEEK program is in the form of grants for stipends, to purchase books, and to pay the Student Activity Fee. To be eligible for SEEK financial aid, the student must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) and also apply for TAP.

Other New York State Programs: Regents Nursing Scholarship, Regents Award for Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans, State Aid to Native Americans. Information on these programs is available from the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12255, telephone number 888.697.4373.

How to Read the TAP/APTS Charts

• Students who received their first TAP award between July 1981 and July 2006 must meet the requirements shown in the TAP/APTS Progress and Pursuit Chart A (see lines 1 and 2 for TAP; lines 1 and 3 for APTS). Before you can receive a third or later TAP award, you must accumulate a minimum number of CREDITS (see line 4, e.g., six credits before third award, 18 credits before fourth award, etc.), and you must achieve a minimum GPA (see line 5 on CHART A, e.g., 1.00 GPA before third award, 1.20 before fourth award, etc.)
• Students who received their first TAP award after July 2006 and are matriculated in a baccalaureate degree program must meet the requirements shown in the TAP/APTS PROGRESS AND PURSUIT - CHART B (line 1 and 2 for TAP; lines 1 and 3 for APTS). Before you can receive a second or later TAP award, you must accumulate a minimum number of CREDITS (see line 3, e.g., three credits before second award, 9 credits before third award, etc.), and you must achieve a minimum GPA (see line 4, e.g., 1.1 GPA before second award, 1.2 before third award, etc.).
• Students who received their first TAP award after July 2006 and are matriculated in an associate degree program must meet the requirements shown in the TAP/APTS PROGRESS AND PURSUIT - CHART C (lines 1 and 2 for TAP; lines 1 and 3 for APTS). Before you can receive a second or later TAP award, you must accumulate a minimum number of CREDITS (see line 2, e.g., three credits before second award, 9 credits before third award, etc.),and you must achieve a minimum GPA (see line 4, e.g., 0.5 GPA before second award, 0.75 before third award, etc.).

Students who receive their first TAP award prior to July 1981 and officially or unofficially withdraw from all courses during a semester in which TAP is awarded lose future TAP eligibility. Eligibility may be reinstated for a student who applies for and is granted a TAP waiver under the criteria listed below. Questions about the information contained in the progress/pursuit charts should be directed to the Office of the Registrar, Building 2A, Room 110. Students who fail to meet applicable standards may apply for TAP waiver. Applications for this TAP waiver are available from and should be submitted to the Office of Academic Advisement.

Conditions/restrictions for the waiver are:

• Must have a good overall record with academic difficulties concentrated in one term.
• An appeal must be based on circumstances outside the College, such as a car accident or an eviction.
• The reason must be extenuating, extraordinary, or unusual. Normal family responsibilities, work, fear of failing a class do not meet this standard.
• Documentation MUST be provided to support a waiver request.

A student who received his/her first TAP award after July 1981 is restricted to one waiver as an undergraduate student and one waiver as a graduate student. A student may apply for multiple waivers of the "C" average requirement.

*The TAP C-average regulation requires that a student must have a C average (2.00) prior to receiving their fifth TAP semester. Transfer students who have received two or more years of TAP are eligible for TAP for their initial term at CSI but must meet the C-average requirement thereafter.

**A student who has received two academic years of State-funded financial aid including TAP (four semesters/payments) must have a cumulative C average (GPA = 2.00) in order to continue to receive payments.

*The TAP C-average regulation requires that a student must have a C average (2.00) prior to receiving their fifth TAP semester. Transfer students who have received two or more years of TAP are eligible for TAP for their initial term at CSI but must meet the C-average requirement thereafter.

**A student who has received two academic years of State-funded financial aid including TAP (four semesters/payments) must have a cumulative C average (GPA = 2.00) in order to continue to receive payments.

*The TAP C-average regulation requires that a student must have a C average (2.00) prior to receiving their fifth TAP semester. Transfer students who have received two or more years of TAP are eligible for TAP for their initial term at CSI but must meet the C-average requirement thereafter.

**A student who has received two academic years of State-funded financial aid including TAP (four semesters/payments) must have a cumulative C average (GPA = 2.00) in order to continue to receive payments.

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