NYS Financial Aid Programs

New York State Financial Aid Programs

PELL, Federal Direct Student Loans, PLUS, FSEOG, College Work/Study

Required Credits for the Continued Title IV Aid Eligibility

Grade Point Average - Standards will be the same as the College standards. Students falling below these standards must apply to the Academic Standing Committee for reinstatement. The decision of the committee will determine if a student is allowed to return to the College. A student who is reinstated to the College who wishes to re-establish eligibility for Financial Aid may apply for a waiver showing extenuating circumstances. Forms are available in the Financial Aid Office.

Accumulated Credits - The total accumulated credits will be checked after the final grading process for each semester. If deficiencies are found, they must be made up before a student can qualify for further Title IV Aid. Grades of W, I, and Audit are not considered to have a status of passing and do not count toward accumulated credits.

Second Degree - Students who are attempting a second degree or who have completed a degree change may apply for a waiver to be granted additional financial aid eligibility beyond the maximum time listed.

Notification of Loss of Federal Aid - An attempt will be made by the College to notify students who will not be eligible for Federal Title IV Aid for the next semester. An academic dismissal notice appears on a student's grade report for the semester. Letters will be mailed to students lacking total accumulated credits. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of the standards and to appeal for reinstatement of federal aid.

Method of Appealing Loss of Aid - Appeals for reinstatement of aid due to unusual circumstances, or questions relating to these regulations, may be addressed to the College's Financial Aid Office at (315) 255-1743, ext. 2470.

Return of Title IV Funds - These Federal regulations govern the return of Title IV funds (Ford Federal Direct Student Loans, PELL, FESOG) for students who completely withdraw from Cayuga prior to completing 60% of the semester:

The federal policy assumes that a student earns aid based on the period of time enrolled. Unearned funds must be returned to the Federal Government. During the first 60% of the semester, a student "earns" Title IV funds in direct proportion to the length of time enrolled.

The percentage of the period that the student remains enrolled is determined by dividing the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the semester. Calendar days are used, but breaks of at least five (5) days are excluded from both the numerator and denominator.

The withdrawal date is:

The date the student began the institution's withdrawal process or officially notified the institution of intent to withdraw; or
The midpoint of the period for a student who leaves without notifying the institution, or
The student's last date of attendance at a documented academically related activity in lieu of any other withdrawal date.

If the student left without notification because of circumstances beyond the student's control, the institution may determine a withdrawal date related to those circumstances.

In the case of "unearned" portions of federally funded grants or scholarships, a student will be expected to repay 50% of the "unearned" portion to the school, or to make satisfactory arrangements with the U.S. Department of Education to repay that amount within 45 days. Failure to do so will result in the student becoming ineligible to receive further Federal financial aid.

This policy is based on 34 CFR, Section 668.22 of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

Required Minimum Accumulated Credits
Registered for a Semester

Full-time 12 credits

¾ time 9 credits

½ time 6 credits

Students who are within six credits of their minimum accumulated credits will be allowed one probationary semester of financial aid eligibility.

The chart reflects percentage of three years of time eligibility versus credits that should be accumulated.

Credits	Credits	Credits	Credits
1-1%	16-26%	31-51%	46-76%
2-2%	17-28%	32-53%	47-78%
3-5%	18-30%	33-55%	48-80%
4-6%	19-31%	34-56%	49-81%
5-8%	20-33%	35-58%	50-83%
6-10%	21-35%	36-60%	51-85%
7-11%	22-36%	37-61%	52-86%
8-13%	23-38%	38-63%	53-88%
9-15%	24-40%	39-65%	54-90%
10-16%	25-41%	40-66%	55-91%
11-18%	26-43%	41-68%	56-93%
12-20%	27-45%	42-70%	57-95%
13-21%	28-46%	43-71%	58-96%
14-23%	29-48%	44-73%	59-98%
15-25%	30-50%	45-75%	60-100%

Example: A student who has completed one year of full-time study must have accumulated 20 credits, which is equal to 33% of a degree program. Credit Equivalent (remedial) courses do not count as attempted credits or as credits accumulated.