FACTS

FINANCIAL AID CERTIFICATION TRACKING SYSTEM (FACTS)
FACTS is a Web-based financial aid tool designed to determine student eligibility for New York State financial aid program, Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). It is available to all degree-seeking undergraduate students. Advisors, faculty, and selected staff will also have access for the purpose of monitoring student eligibility through their academic careers. 

In order to receive New York State financial aid awards, students must apply and be approved in order to be considered for selected state financial aid programs. Please click here for more information on applying for New York State financial aid programs. 
 

Accessing FACTS
Undergraduate students can access FACTS through the CUNYfirst Student Services Center using their CUNY Login credentials  (CUNYfirst Username@login.cuny.edu and CUNYfirst password).  

Advisors, faculty, and staff can access FACTS through the CUNYfirst Campus Community Center using their CUNY  Login credentials (CUNYfirst Username@login.cuny.edu and CUNYfirst password).  If you are a new staff member, please click here to complete an online form to request a FACTS account.
 

FACTS Audit
A FACTS audit will display for every student who is registered and determine if a student is eligible for an award each semester.

When changes are made to CUNYfirst, it will typically take 24-72 hours to reflect in the FACTS audit. These changes include newly registered courses, course requirement designation changes, grade changes, changes to transfer credits, and changes to majors, concentrations, and minors. 
 

FACTS Disclaimer
FACTS is not an official financial aid record. All official financial aid information is stored in CUNYfirst.  

A disclaimer will appear explaining that FACTS helps students to understand their eligibility for TAP. 

If students have any questions or concerns about their official financial aid records, please submit an inquiry to FACTS or please visit the Enrollment Services Center located in Bldg. 2A, Rm. 106.

Current Eligibility
To review Current Eligibility in FACTS, click on SUMMARY under the heading in the drop-down menu or hover the mouse over the FACTS TRANSCRIPT heading and click on FACTS TRANSCRIPT CURRENT. 

  • Courses marked “Y” under ELIGIBLE FOR STATE AID are required for the degree program.  
  • Courses marked “N” under ELIGIBLE FOR STATE AID may not be required for the degree program.

If a class does not meet compliance for State Aid, please review the DegreeWorks audit.

If there is a discrepancy, please use the Contact Us button in the DegreeWorks audit or visit the Enrollment Services Center located in Bldg. 2A, Rm. 106. 

 

The audit will be reviewed, and if necessary, the programming of that degree/major/minor will be updated. In the event that the programming cannot be updated an exception may be applied to the students’ audits.

To review prior semester eligibility, hover the mouse over the FACTS TRANSCRIPT and click on FACTS TRANSCRIPT HISTORY.
 

Eligibility Status
Based on current and/or prior registered course(s) FACTS will determine student eligibility for New York State financial aid program, Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).  FACTS will indicate if a student has been deemed ELIGIBLE or NOT ELIGIBLE. Click on the ELIGIBLE or the NOT ELIGIBLE link for an explanation of how the Eligibility Status was determined. 
The following criteria, when applicable, are used to determine eligibility status: 

  • New York State Residency
  • TAP points or  POINTS
  • Enrollment Status
  • GPA
  • Major/Degree TAP
  • Ability to Benefit (ATB)
  • Progress and Pursuit (P&P)
  • Beneficial Placement

Below is a brief description of the listed criteria. If students have questions, please refer them to the office provided in the description.  
 

New York State Residency
Eligibility for state-sponsored awards is limited to students who meet the following New York State residency requirements:

  • Citizenship: A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or other federally acceptable immigration status.
  • NY State Residency: New York State resident
  • Degree Status: Enrolled as a degree-seeking student.

If an X appears next to U.S. Citizen and or New York State resident and the student is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or in a qualifying immigration status, please direct the students to the appropriate office listed below: 

  • First-Semester Incoming Freshmen/Transfer Students: Complete the NYS Residency application and bring to the Office of Admissions, Bldg. 2A, Rm. 101.
  • Continuing/Readmit Students: Complete the NYS Residency Application and bring to the Registrar’s Office, Bldg. 2A, Rm. 107.

This is determined by the number of TAP payments a student received each semester. Students enrolled in the SEEK program are eligible for two additional semesters of TAP. If students have any questions or concerns, please visit the Enrollment Services Center located in Bldg. 2A, Rm. 106.

To review the credits/courses that are eligible/not eligible for TAP, please click CURRENT ELIGIBILITY on the FACTS menu bar and select SUMMARY. 

  • In order to be eligible for TAP, a student must be registered for 12 credits/equated credits or more to fulfill degree requirements. You can verify this by checking the DegreeWorks  Worksheet/Audit. 
  • Eligible courses will be listed in the degree requirements.
  • Ineligible courses will be listed in the “Elective Credits Not Allowed” section.
  • If students do not have 12 other credits that count toward their degree requirements, they will not be eligible for TAP. If students have any questions or concerns afterward, they should make an appointment to visit with their assigned advisor or CAAS located in Bldg. 1A, Rm. 101.
  • Students may make adjustments to their course registration up to the seventh day of classes in order to be eligible for TAP. When changes are made to CUNYfirst, it will typically take 24-72 hours to reflect in the FACTS audit. These changes include newly registered courses, course requirement designation changes, grade changes, changes to transfer credits, and changes to  majors, concentrations, and minors. 

Based on the HESC TAP Progress and Pursuit chart, students are required to meet a minimum GPA requirement. The GPA requirement is determined by the amount of TAP payments received. Please refer to the Progress & Pursuit Chart for more information. If students have any questions or concerns, they should visit the Enrollment Services Center located in Bldg. 2A, Rm. 106.

 

 

At least 12 equated credits meeting the requirements of students’ major/degree are required to be eligible for TAP. The change of major deadline is listed in the Academic Calendar. Changes to students’ major may be done by students online or in person at the Registrar’s Office located in Bldg. 2A, Rm. 107, or at the Enrollment Services Center located in Bldg. 2A, Rm. 106. If students have any questions or concerns, they should make an appointment or visit with their assigned advisor or CAAS (located in Bldg. 1A, Rm. 101).

Students who do not hold a U.S. high school diploma or its equivalent must achieve a minimum score on appropriate ability-to-benefit tests by the add/drop period. For the add/drop period, please refer to the Academic Calendar.  If student have any questions or concerns, please contact the Student Financial Aid Office at 718.982.2030 or visit Enrollment Services, Bldg. 2A, Rm. 106. 

Progress
Students must have earned a minimum number of credits and retain a required cumulative GPA by the end or the prior financial aid term to be eligible for payment in the current semester/term. If students have any questions or concerns, they should refer to the Progress & Pursuit Chart or visit the Enrollment Services Center located in Bldg. 2A, Rm. 106.

Pursuit
Students must have completed the required number of credits toward their degree in the prior financial aid term to be eligible for payment in the current semester/term. If students have any questions or concerns, they should visit the Progress & Pursuit Chart or the Enrollment Services Center located in Bldg. 2A, Rm. 106.

If a Department or Program approve a course to be used as a substitution for a major or minor requirement, the Department or Program must submit a Course Substitution Form. This information will be processed as a substitution in DegreeWorks and a comment will be added to the students’ official CUNYfirst record by the Office of the Registrar within 3-5 days of receipt.

 

Due to the Financial Aid Census date, course substitutions for major or minor requirements must be reported at the point of registration or prior to the first day of the semester

In the event that course substitutions have been reported and processed after the FACTS Freeze date or there was an Error in DegreeWorks, a TAP waiver may be entered in FACTS by an authorized user in order for a student to be eligible for aid.
 

If a course is listed in the “Elective Courses Not Allowed” section of DegreeWorks and appears in the Catalog as a major/minor/degree requirement, please use the Contact Us inquiry button in the DegreeWorks audit or send an inquiry to Degree Works

The inquiry will be reviewed, and if necessary, DegreeWorks will be updated by an authorized user.  If an exception has been processed, all interested parties will be notified.