Financial Aid

General Information

After having identified their educational costs and matching them to their own personal resources, most students discover that, in order for them to enter or to continue college, they need some form of financial assistance.

The financial aid staff at Medgar Evers College helps students receive all of the financial aid for which they are eligible. They do this through the provision of information, advice and services in accordance with Federal and State financial aid regulations.

Applying For Financial Aid

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online at www.fafsa.gov and must be completed each academic year. The academic year begins with the summer sessions and concludes with the subsequent spring semester.

The CUNY Supplement Form must also be completed in order to be considered for the Aid for Part Time Study (APTS). The application can be obtained from CUNYfirst Student Center.

Students may file their Financial Aid application via the Web in the Medgar Evers College Financial Aid Computer Lab located in Room S-106 of the Student Support Services building. The Lab Coordinator will assist all students. Students also can apply from any computer at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Verification

After filing a Financial Aid application and receiving a response, some students may be selected for verification. When an applicant is selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education, or the College, the student may be required to document his/her household size, number of siblings in college, adjusted gross income, taxes paid, child support, SNAP, and other untaxed income and benefits. A financial aid award will not be disbursed until the process is complete and the information on the application is correct. Suspected cases of fraud will be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General.

Federal Financial Aid Programs (Title IV)

General Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Title IV assistance, an applicant must meet the following general eligibility requirements:

1. Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment
2. Be a matriculated student
3. Be in an eligible program
4. Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
5. Be registered with the Selective Service System and sign a Statement of Registration Status (for males between the ages of 18-25)
6. Have a high school diploma or GED, pass an approved ability to benefit test (ATB), enroll in a school that participates in an approved state process, or complete his or her state’s requirements applicable to homeschooling
7. Maintain satisfactory academic progress
8. Meet enrollment status requirements
9. Not be enrolled concurrently in an elementary or secondary school
10. Not be in default on a Title IV Student Loan borrowed for attendance at any institution
11. Not have borrowed in excess of Title IV Loan limits
12. Not owe a repayment on a Title IV Grant for attendance at any institution

Campus-Based Financial Aid Programs

Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)

The purpose of the Federal Work-Study Program is to give part-time employment to undergraduate students who need the income to help meet the costs of postsecondary education. The program also encourages FWS recipients to participate in community service activities. To be eligible for this program, applicants must complete the FAFSA applications.

Federal Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

To receive an FSEOG, a student must meet the applicable general eligibility requirements for Title IV aid. Additionally, a student must have exceptional financial needs. A student is not required to repay this grant.

Non-Campus Based Financial Aid Program

Federal Pell Grant (FPELL)

The Federal Pell Grant is an award to help first-time undergraduates pay for their education after high school. A first-time undergraduate is one who has not earned a bachelor’s or first professional degree.

The award is based on financial needs and academic achievement.

Year-Round Pell

Beginning with the 2017-2018 academic year, an eligible student may now receive a full Federal Pell Grant award for summer 2018 even if they will receive a full Federal Pell Grant award during the fall and spring semesters. Year-round Pell allows students to receive up to 150 percent of a regular grant award over the course of the academic year so that they can continue taking classes in the summer and finish their degree faster or even complete their degree earlier.

To be eligible for additional Pell Grant funds:

1. Student must be eligible to receive Pell Grant funds for the payment period.
2. Student must be enrolled at least half-time in the payment period(s) (6 credit hours) during the semester the student exceeds 100 percent of the Pell award.
3. Student must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Please contact or visit the Office of Financial Aid for further details.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program provides student and parent loans. The Direct Loan Program differs from traditional student loan programs in that the Federal Government provides the loan principal; private lenders are not involved. (Flexible repayment options and consolidation are also available.)

On Direct Subsidized Loans the Federal Government pays the accruing interest on the loan while the student is in school and during certain deferment periods. All students must complete a FAFSA in order to apply for a Direct Loan. An entrance and exit counseling interview is required. The loan is need-based and a student may not borrow more than his/her need. A student’s financial need is based on the following formula:

Cost of Attendance - Estimated Family Contribution = Financial Need

Direct Unsubsidized Loans

A student in need of additional aid may apply for and receive a Direct Unsubsidized Loan. (Interest accrues from the date of loan origination and is the responsibility of the borrower.) For both types of loans, repayment of loan principal does not begin until the student has left school and the grace period has expired. An entrance and exit counseling interview is required.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan

FPLUS Loans make funds available to parents borrowing on behalf of their children. The loan is unsubsidized, so parent borrowers are responsible for accruing interest from the date of loan origination.

Repayment begins while the student is still in school and there is no grace period. FPLUS Loans may be counted as part of the expected family contribution and are not based on demonstrated financial need.

Loan amounts depend on the student’s year in school and enrollment status. All students must be enrolled on at least a half-time basis to qualify for a loan.

Borrowers of all Direct Loan Programs must sign a promissory note agreeing to repay the loan.

Veterans Administration (VA) Educational Benefits

Financial assistance is available to eligible veterans and children of deceased veterans or service-connected disabled veterans. Award amounts vary. For more information and applications about the program, contact any regional Department of Veterans Affairs Office in your area or call 800 635-6534.

State Financial Aid Programs

General Eligibility Requirements

1. Meet one of the United States citizenship requirements
2. Meet New York State residency requirements
3. Enroll as a full-time student
4. Enroll in an approved program of study in a New York State postsecondary institution
5. Be in matriculated status
6. Be in good academic standing
7. Not be in default on any student loan
8. Have a minimum tuition liability of at least $200 per academic year ($100 per semester).

Excelsior Scholarship

The first-of-its-kind program that provides free tuition to New York State students whose families earn up to $110,000 annually for the 2018-19 academic year to attend a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college and reaching $125,000 per year for the 2019-20 academic year. For further information on the Excelsior Scholarship, please visit the Office of Financial Aid or www.hesc.ny.gov/Excelsior

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

TAP is an Entitlement Grant Program for New York State residents attending postsecondary institutions in the state. The Program provides grant assistance to help eligible full-time students meet tuition charges.

1. Students in an associate degree or certificate programs are eligible for up to three years of assistance (36 payment points).
2. Students in bachelor’s degree programs are eligible for up to four years of assistance (48 payment points).
3. SEEK students are eligible for up to five years of assistance (60 payment points). Awards vary according to tuition charges, type of institution attended, family net taxable income, and the academic year in which student receives his/her first payment.

Aid to Part-time Study (APTS)

This Program provides tuition assistance to eligible undergraduate students enrolled on a part-time basis. Unlike other grant and scholarship programs administered by New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC), the APTS Program operates as a campus-based program. To apply, students must complete the CUNY Supplement Form. The amount of the award will depend on a student’s financial need, the tuition cost, the college’s allocation of funds, and the total number of eligible part-time students attending the college who apply for the award.

APTS awards reduce a student’s total award eligibility for TAP. Once TAP eligibility is exhausted, students are no longer eligible for APTS. APTS is considered one-half of a TAP Award (3 payment points).

City University Supplemental Tuition Assistance (CUSTA)

The CUSTA Award is a City University administered program to assist students who experience a reduction in their TAP Award in their 5th semester of TAP eligibility. To be eligible for the CUSTA Award, students must be:

1. Enrolled in an undergraduate program at a CUNY Senior or Technical College.
2. Enrolled on a full-time basis.
3. Eligible for the maximum TAP Award.
4. At least a fifth-semester TAP eligible recipient who has not exhausted their TAP eligibility.

The Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) Program

This Program assists in providing higher education opportunities for educationally and economically disadvantaged students. Students are provided with specialized counseling, tutorial services, academic instruction, and additional financial aid stipends for books and fees.

Requirements for eligibility are on the Freshmen Application for Admissions.

Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP)

ASAP assist students in earning their associate degree within three years by providing comprehensive advisement, career development, academic support, and financial resources, including waivers for tuition and fees (for students in receipt of financial aid), MTA MetroCards, and textbook vouchers. To learn more about ASAP eligibility, visit ares.mec.cuny.edu/academic-affairs/asap.

Students who are Delinquent or in Default

Students who are delinquent and/or in default of any of their financial accounts with the College, the University, or an appropriate State or Federal Agency for which the University acts as either disbursing or certifying agent, are not permitted to complete registration, and cannot be issued either a copy of their grades, a transcript of academic records, or their certificate or degree. They cannot receive any funds under the Federal Campus-based Student Assistance Programs nor the Federal Pell Grant Program unless the designated officer waives IN WRITING the application of this regulation. This can only be done in exceptional hardship cases and must be consistent with Federal and State Regulations.

Students’ Rights and Responsibilities For Financial Aid

Students, it is your responsibility to:

1. Review and consider all information about the College’s programs before you enroll.
2. Accurately submit your Financial Aid applications by the required deadline. Errors can delay or prevent you from receiving aid. Additionally, knowingly misreporting information is a violation of the law and subject to penalties.
3. Read, understand, and accept responsibility for all agreements you are asked to sign.
4. Notify the Financial Aid Office of changes in your name, address, or enrollment status immediately. If you have a loan, you must also notify your lender of any of these changes.
5. Be aware of the College’s refund policy.
6. Know the programs’ limits on:
   1. total amount of aid;
   2. number of years you can receive aid. Do not borrow more from student loans than you need.
7. Know the terms of repayment on your student loan(s).
8. Work out a financial plan for yourself.
9. Keep a good file. Be sure to keep records (copies of promissory notes, canceled checks, payment receipts) of all of your obligations. Use this file when talking to your lender or Financial Aid Office about any problems.

Appeal of Financial Aid Probation / Suspension

A student may appeal a determination of “unsatisfactory progress” for Title IV aid through the following procedure:

1. Submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal. The application contains the following information:
   1. reasons why he/she did not achieve the minimum academic requirements;
   2. reasons why his/her aid should not be terminated, and,
   3. supplement any written appeal with documentation to support why satisfactory academic progress was not maintained.
2. Appeals will be received by a committee to determine if the student’s claim is justified. The student is then advised of the decision.

Waiver of Good Academic Standing Requirements

Academically proficient students who experience a “bad semester” can apply for a waiver, which permits a student to receive a “state award” the semester immediately following the one in which the student failed to meet program pursuit and/or academic progress standards. The waiver can only be granted once and is only approved if a student can demonstrate and document unusual or extraordinary circumstances e.g., death of family member, personal tragedy or illness. TAP Waiver Forms are available in the Office of Financial Aid.

Tuition Credit, Check Disbursement and Refund Policy

At registration, Financial Aid awards are applied to a student’s account in the following priority order:

1. TAP
2. FPELL
3. Loans

Funds not used for institutional costs are disbursed to students. A distribution calendar (obtained at the Bursar or Financial Aid Offices) lists the disbursement dates for CUSTA, FPELL, FSEOG, FWS, SEEK Funds, and Direct Loans. Questions concerning the dates of disbursement or the amount of the check should be addressed to the Office of Financial Aid.

To receive payment of an award, students must be enrolled for the appropriate number of credits or equated hours. Students who add or drop courses prior to receiving payment will have their awards adjusted accordingly. The student’s enrollment status on the day he/she receives an award will be used to determine financial aid eligibility unless the student completely withdraws from classes. Federal Pell awards will be adjusted for students who incur tuition liability due to a change in their enrollment status.

Scholarships

The College awards a variety of scholarships and certificates annually to students who demonstrate academic excellence and achievement. Information concerning these awards may be obtained by emailing mecscholarship@mec.cuny.edu.

Students are encouraged to research and apply for outside grants and scholarships. The public libraries have information on many sources of public and private aid.

State Aid and Tap Academic Performance Chart

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Performance Chart applies to all students receiving payments from TAP program.

Good academic standing requirement for New York State financial aid programs consists of both an “Academic Progress” and a “Program Pursuit” component as explained below.

To be eligible for a TAP award, students must be enrolled for at least 12 credits or the equivalent. Courses may be counted toward full-time study only if they are applicable toward a degree. Electives are acceptable when taken in accordance with published degree requirements. A student may take courses not applicable to a degree in a given semester as long as the coursework is above the minimum full-time requirement of 12 credits. Undergraduate students may receive TAP awards for eight semesters; SEEK students may receive TAP awards for 10 semesters.

To receive each TAP payment:

• you must have completed a specific number of credits in the previous TAP semester;
• you must have accumulated a specific number of credits towards your degree;
• you must maintain a specific minimum GPA (grade point average); and
• you must have declared a major by the time you complete 60 credits.

In order to receive TAP and scholarships, a student must meet specific academic standards. Students will be evaluated depending on when they received their first TAP payment and whether they are in a remedial program.

First-Time Tap Recipients 2010-2011 and Later, Non-Remedial

First-Time Tap Recipients 2006-2007 and Remedial Students

Note: Students who believe that they may not meet the new TAP standards should consider registering for additional credits. In all cases, students should weigh the impact of failing or withdrawing from courses on their future eligibility for TAP.

“Remedial student” is defined as student:

1. Whose scores on a recognized placement exam or nationally recognized standardized exam indicated the need for remediation for at least two semesters, as certified by the college and approved by the State Education Department (SED);
2. Who was enrolled in at least six hours of non-remedial courses, as approved by SED, in the first term they received a TAP award;
3. Who is or was enrolled in an opportunity program.

*IMPORTANT NUMBERS: Federal Pell Grant (800) 433-3243; TAP (888) 697-4372; Loan Status (518) 473-1688; RETA (Renewed Eligibility for Financial Aid) (518) 486-7227; Federal Direct Loan (800) 848-0979; USDE (NDSL Perkins Loan Default) (800) 621-3115; Duplicate SAR Applications Status (319) 337-5665.

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Students

Beginning with the 2015-16 academic year, for ADA students who received their first state award during the 2010-11 academic year and thereafter and who are enrolled less than full-time, good academic standing will be determined using new SAP standards which do not modify the requirements for disabled students but aligns them to be equivalent with those required of full-time students.

Students with a part-time course load that includes noncredit remedial courses must carry at least three semester hours of credit-bearing work, pursuant to section 145-2.1(a)(1) of the Commissioner’s Regulations: “Effective for academic terms beginning on or after July 1, 1984, a student carrying a part-time program that includes noncredit remedial courses shall carry at least three semester hours a semester.” That means, for example, that a student taking the minimum three semester hours must enroll only in credit-bearing courses.