Common Cent$

FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

SUNY Ulster offers the following Federal and NY State financial aid programs:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Work Study
• Federal Family Education Loan Program:
  • Stafford/Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
• Federal Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
• NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) - for full-time students
• NYS Aid for Part-time Study (APTS) - for part-time students
• NYS Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
• NYS SUNY Empire Minority Honors Scholarship
• Veterans Benefits

INSTITUTIONAL ASSISTANCE

• Student Aide - employment
• Honors Scholarship - students admitted into Honors have the ability to receive full tuition for up to four semesters. Students must be in the top 10% of an Ulster County high school graduating class. Students are required to apply for both Federal PELL and NYS TAP.

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS

2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): The FAFSA is the application that must be completed for all Federal financial aid programs and to receive the NYS Express TAP Application. Students should request a PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov and then go to www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the FAFSA online.

Express TAP Application (ETA): The student can complete the ETA online after completing the FAFSA online. If a student completes the paper FAFSA, the student will receive a paper ETA within 2 weeks of sending out the FAFSA. The ETA must be completed, signed and sent in the enclosed envelope. Students can check on their award status and can request a duplicate ETA at www.hesc.org.

Stafford Subsidized/Unsubsidized Master Promissary Note: New loan recipients at SUNY Ulster must complete the Master Promissory Note online at www.hesc.org. Additionally, a loan cover sheet (available in the Financial Aid office) is required of all loan borrowers.

Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS): Parents of dependent children may apply for the PLUS by completing the application online at www.hesc.org. A loan cover sheet (available in the FA office) will also need to be completed and returned.

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP): The application for participation in EOP is available from the Financial Aid Office. Students applying for EOP are required to meet the educational admission requirements and financial standards, must apply on a FAFSA by the required deadline date, and submit 2008 income documentation by the deadline date. Funding and the number of students in the program is limited.

Student Information Record (ISIR) must be received in the Financial Aid Office by the student's last date of attendance or June 30, 2010, whichever comes first. A valid ISIR may include providing income information and other required documentation requested by the U. S. Department of Education/college.

FINANCIAL AID AND ACADEMICS:

The Guidelines

• 1. Your enrollment should include only those courses that apply toward the declared program of study. Students who are taking 12 credits that apply toward their degree may take other courses as enrichment, but should limit those courses to a maximum of 9 credits (over their entire undergraduate academic career…at SUNY Ulster and other colleges). Your awards may be recalculated or denied based on course applicability. Remember that courses taken for an audit grade do not count toward degree requirements. (Intermediate Studies courses and/or other required remedial/developmental courses are considered applicable but limited to 30 credits for Federal financial aid funding.)
• 2. Students who add courses may be eligible for additional financial aid. Stop in the Financial Aid Office with a copy of your registration.
• 3. Students who drop courses may not be eligible for the original amount of financial aid awarded (for example, a student who enrolls for 12 credits and drops to 9 credits). Check with the Financial Aid Office BEFORE DROPPING THE CLASS to learn how the change will affect your financial aid awards for both the current semester and future semesters.
• 4. Students who must repeat a required course for the program of study as a result of having a non-acceptable grade may still be eligible for financial aid.
• 5. Students who never attend class(es) will be withdrawn by the College only if the student notifies the college prior to the beginning of classes. Financial Aid awards will reflect the allowable amounts based on enrollment and attendance.
• 6. Students who forge names on college and/or financial aid documents, or otherwise intend to receive financial aid funds erroneously, may have their financial aid denied, be academically dismissed, and/or have other penalties imposed.
• 7. Students who do not meet the attendance requirements of all classes may have their financial aid checks placed on hold until verification of attendance is received from the instructors.
• 8. All matriculated students are reviewed for satisfactory academic progress at the end of each semester for Title IV eligibility. TAP/APTS recipients are reviewed for satisfactory academic progress standards, which are available from the Financial Aid Office and are in the College catalogue.
• 9. According to both Federal and State regulations, students are limited to six (full-time equivalent) semesters of eligibility for a two year program (three semesters for a one-year program). The Financial Aid Office will notify Title IV recipients of their loss of eligibility, and TAP notifies students who have used 6 semesters of TAP/APTS.

PAYING FOR COLLEGE

Students are expected to pay their college bill by a specific date each semester. Getting into college takes preparation, and it includes deciding how to pay for college. There are several payment options that are available:

• Apply for Federal and NYS financial aid, including Federal Stafford/Unsubsidized Loans
• Apply for a payment plan from Academic Management Services (applications and information are available at the Student Accounts Office, VAN 204)
• Use your credit/debit card - students can charge tuition and fees and their books (at the campus Follett Bookstore)
• Search for employment - students who are seeking job opportunities both on and off-campus can contact Job Services - VAN 119 - or view the job board outside the office
• Search for scholarships - scholarships are awarded on a variety of criteria and have deadline dates that span an entire year. Best sources include:
  • high school guidance office
  • SUNY Ulster Foundation (after the completion of 12 college credits with a 3.3 gpa; applications available the first day of the Spring 2007 semester)
  • Apply for an alternative educational loan - from a private lender for students are matriculated and non-matriculated students
  • Review for employer reimbursement - check with your employer (or a parent's employer) for possible tuition reimbursement
  • File for the Hope Scholarship/Lifetime Learning tax credit - students/parents can use the tax credit opportunity to apply toward an upcoming semester. Go to www.irs.gov for more info.

CONTACT THE STUDENT ACCOUNTS OFFICE,
VAN 240, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PAYMENT OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES.

HELPFUL WEBSITES

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Financial Aid Office
Vanderlyn Hall Room 105
SUNY Ulster County Community College
Stone Ridge, New York 12484
(845) 687-5058 FAX (845) 687-5172
financialaid@sunyulster.edu