TAP Academic Progress Standards
TAP is a tuition based grant program for New York State residents attending postsecondary institutions fulltime in the state. The Program provides grant assistance to help eligible students meet tuition charges.
- Students in associate degree or certificate programs are eligible for up to three years of assistance (36 payment points).
- Students in bachelor degree programs are eligible for up to four years of assistance (48 payment points).
- SEEK students are eligible for up to five years of assistance (60 payment points).
Aid to Part-time Study (APTS)
This Program provides tuition assistance to eligible undergraduate students enrolled on a part-time basis.
To apply, students must complete the CUNY Supplement Form. The form can be obtained by logging into your CUNYfirst Student Center Account. APTS is considered one half of a TAP Award (3 payment points). Once TAP eligibility is exhausted, students are no longer eligible for APTS
State Standards for Academic Performance
State eligibility standards require students to complete a certain percentage of course work, accrue a certain amount of credits and have an appropriate cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) at the beginning of each semester of state supported study. Please refer to the chart below which outlines these requirements.
State Aid and TAP Academic Performance Charts
The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Performance Charts apply 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 12-15 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 12-15 credits. Undergraduate students enrolled in a bachelors degree program 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
| To receive payment number:
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
| You must have completed at least this many credits in the previous payment semester:
|
0
|
6
|
9
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
| You must have accumulated this many credits toward your degree:
|
0
|
6
|
15
|
27
|
39
|
51
|
66
|
81
|
96
|
111
|
| You must have a GPA of:
|
0
|
1.5
|
1.8
|
1.8
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
First-time TAP Recipients 2006-2007 Remedial and SEEK students
| To receive payment number:
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
| You must have completed at least this many credits in the previous payment semester:
|
0
|
6
|
9
|
12
|
12
|
12
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
15
|
| You must have accumulated this many credits toward your degree: |
0
|
3
|
9
|
21
|
33
|
45
|
60
|
75
|
90
|
105
|
| You must have a GPA of:
|
0
|
1.1
|
1.2
|
1.3
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
Note: Students who believe that they may not meet the new TAP standards should consider registering for additional credits. In all cases, student should consult with their academic advisor and the Office of Financial Aid to assist in weighing the impact of failing or withdrawing from courses on their current and future eligibility for TAP.
“Remedial student” is defined as a student:
- Whose scores on a recognized college 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);
- Who was enrolled in at least six semester hours of non-credit remedial courses, as approved by SED, in the first term they received a TAP award;
- Who is or was enrolled in an opportunity program.
Those meeting the definition of “remedial student” will not be subject to the new academic standards but rather will stay on the 2006-2007chart.
|
Program: Baccalaureate Program
Calendar: Semester 2015-16 and thereafter (ADA Part-time students) |
||||||||||
|
Before Being Certified for This Payment
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
5th
|
6th
|
7th
|
8th
|
9th
|
10th
|
|
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits
|
0
|
3
|
9
|
21
|
33
|
45
|
60
|
75
|
90
|
105
|
|
With At Least This Grade Point Average
|
0
|
1.5
|
1.8
|
1.8
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
|
Program: Associate Program
Calendar: Semester 2015-16 and thereafter (ADA Part-time students) |
||||||||
|
Before Being Certified for This Payment
|
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
5th
|
6th
|
7th
|
8th
|
|
A Student Must Have Accrued at Least This Many Credits
|
0
|
3
|
9
|
18
|
30
|
42
|
51
|
60
|
|
With at Least This Grade Point Average
|
0
|
1.3
|
1.5
|
1.8
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
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.
