Financing Your Education

Office of Financial Aid

308 West Quad Center

Brooklyn College

2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11210

Telephone: 718.951.5051

Fax: 718.951.4778

E-mail: finaid@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Website: www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/financialaid

Please review the financial aid website for updates on financial aid services while we are impacted by COVID-19

The Office of Financial Aid assists students with the expenses of tuition, fees, books and other costs that are related to pursuing a higher education in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. In order for students to receive these benefits, they need to maintain certain academic, state and federal eligibility requirements, and the Office of Financial Aid is here to help with that process. Much of the calculations and eligibility requirements for financial aid are determined by information that is provided by students on their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), so it is extremely important that students file their FAFSA accurately and as soon as they plan to attend Brooklyn College. Some financial aid funds are finite, so students are strongly encouraged to file early. Eligible New York State residents should also file for TAP (Tuition Assistance Program). Detailed information on programs and how to apply is available on the Financial Aid webpage. International students should contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, 718.951.4477. For information regarding the Brooklyn College scholarship application and opportunities, contact the Office of Scholarships, 718.951.4796.

Applications and additional comprehensive information regarding application procedures, eligibility requirements, and rights and responsibilities of recipients may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid. In order to apply for federal financial aid, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Students should complete a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application for state aid.

Additional Offices and Financial Aid Services

Enrollment Services Center (ESC), Lobby, West Quad Center

Point of financial aid general inquiries and intake of financial aid documents and forms.

Financial Aid Advisement Services 217-218 West Quad Center

Every single financial aid applicant who enrolls at Brooklyn College is assigned a dedicated financial aid adviser. They serve as a primary point of financial aid advanced inquiries and counseling. An appointment for a 15-minute one-on-one or telephone session with your assigned financial aid adviser should be made if your questions cannot be easily handled by the ESC. To make an appointment, log into your BC WebCentral account and, under e-services, find the link to F.A.S.T. (Financial Aid Scheduling Tool). Appointments may be made Monday through Thursday. Usually on Friday new appointment slots will open.

Cost of Attendance

The following estimates of the costs of the current academic year may help students determine if they need assistance. The estimates are based on full-time study (12 credits) for New York State residents while attending school for a nine-month budgeted year or the fall and spring semesters. Please note that a student’s budget can increase or decrease based on semester (summer, fall, winter, and spring) enrollment status and other individual circumstances.

Students living at home

Students living away from home

Adjustments to a student’s budget are possible by contacting the Office of Financial Aid.

Verification

Students may be selected for a process called Verification. If you are selected you will be notified and the Financial Aid Office will compare information from your FAFSA with information you provide on your verification worksheet and with any other required documents. If there are differences, the Office of Financial Aid could require additional documentation and/or your FAFSA information may need to be corrected. You may not receive federal financial aid until all verification requirements are met and the necessary corrections made.

Types of Aid

• Grants: money you do not need to pay back.

• Loans: money you borrow now and pay back later with interest.

• Work-Study: money you earn by working at an approved Brooklyn College or CUNY work-study job site.

Grants

Federal Pell Grant

Federal Pell Grants are available to eligible matriculated first-degree undergraduate baccalaureate students only. The amount of the award is determined by the student’s enrollment status, EFC (estimated family contribution) and approved award amount per year, as determined by Congress. It can be used to pay for tuition, or other education-related expenses if tuition is already paid for by other means. As of July 1, 2012, a student can receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 semesters (approximately six years if enrolled full-time or its part-time equivalent). This is called a student’s Pell Lifetime Eligibility Usage, or LEU. The 2018–19 maximum annual Pell grant will be $6,095, or $3,047.50 per semester. Pell awards are subject to change due to individual EFC and enrollment status.

Year-round Pell: Changes in the Federal Pell Grant Program will allow an eligible student to receive up to 150 percent of the student’s Federal Pell Grant Scheduled Award beginning with the 2017–18 award year.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants provide between $100 and $4,000 (approximately $400 on average) to undergraduate matriculated students who demonstrate exceptional need. Amounts can vary, as approved each year by Congress. Eligible students must be enrolled for at least six credits and be eligible to receive at least one qualified Pell disbursement for the 2018–19 academic year. Note that funds for this award are finite and therefore, even if eligibility requirements are met, receipt of an award is not guaranteed.

The Percy Ellis Sutton SEEK Program

SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge) is the legislatively mandated higher education opportunity program of the senior colleges of the City University of New York. It provides special academic, financial and counseling assistance to students entering college for the first time.

All SEEK students must demonstrate and document financial need prior to entrance into the program. The SEEK Program awards financial assistance to economically eligible students to help with such expenses as transportation, books and college fees. Prospective students must have a high school diploma as well as a high school average less than is normally required for admission to Brooklyn College (usually around an 80 CAA) or a New York State high school equivalency diploma or its equivalent from another state; resided in New York State for at least one year prior to application; not previously attended an institution of postsecondary education, except in the case of veterans who are permitted up to 18 credits earned during or prior to their tour of duty in the armed forces; and a gross family income in the qualifying range.

New York City Council Merit Scholarship

The New York City Council Merit Scholarship rewards New York City high school graduates who have proven their ability to succeed academically while in high school. The scholarship was effective beginning with the 2014–15 academic year. Students will receive $800 per year ($400 per semester). Scholarship awards may vary for each academic year per availability of funds.

How to apply

There is no separate application for the scholarship. Students are automatically considered for the award when they apply for admission to CUNY.

Qualification requirements

To qualify, students must:

• pass at least 12 college preparatory courses in high school,

• graduate from a New York City high school with at least an 80 (B) College Academic Average (CAA),

• graduate from high school in or after June 2014,

• enroll at a CUNY college as a full-time student within one year of graduating from high school,

• attend CUNY before attending any other postsecondary institution, and

• register as a full-time student each semester (except summer) and maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA.

Pursuit and progress

To continue to be eligible for and receive the scholarship, students must maintain:

• continuous full-time (12 credits) enrollment within the City University of New York system, and

• a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.

Students pursuing an associate’s degree may receive the New York City Council Merit Scholarship for a maximum of six semesters. Those seeking a bachelor’s degree are limited to eight semesters of eligibility.

The award is not restored once it has been lost.

Federal TEACH Grant Program

The TEACH Grant is offered to matriculated students and does not require repayment as long as the student completes the program. To be considered for this federal financial aid, you must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen admitted as at least a half-time student to an approved degree program, and you must maintain satisfactory academic progress to preserve your continuing aid eligibility. (Students not yet admitted into an approved degree program do not qualify.)

As a condition for receiving a TEACH Grant, you must sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve, in which you agree to (among other requirements) teach: in a high-need field; at an elementary school, secondary school, or educational service agency that serves students from low-income families; and for at least four complete academic years within eight years after completing (or ceasing enrollment in) the course of study for which you received the grant.

If you do not complete your service obligation, all TEACH Grant funds you received will be converted to a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. You must then repay this loan to the U.S. Department of Education, with interest charged from the date the TEACH Grant was disbursed (paid to you or on your behalf).

For additional details, please reach out to the Brooklyn College School of Education

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

A New York State–based grant that is available to qualified undergraduate full-time matriculated students. There are also certain degree and progress/pursuit requirements that need to be satisfied in order to qualify.

Eligibility

To be eligible for TAP, a student must:

• meet one of the U.S. citizenship requirements;

• meet New York State residency requirements;

• enroll as a full-time student;

• enroll in an approved program of study in a New York State postsecondary institution;

• be matriculated;

• be in good academic standing;

• have at least a cumulative C average after receipt of two annual payments;

• not be in default on any State or federal student loan or on any repayment of state awards;

• have a minimum tuition liability of at least $200 per academic year ($100 per semester, $67 per trimester);

• not exceed the income limitations established for the program;

• be enrolled for at least 12 credits required to meet his or her degree; and

• have a U.S. high school diploma or the recognized equivalent, or a passing score on a federally approved ability-to-benefit test identified by the New York State Board of Regents and independently administered and evaluated by the Commissioner of Education.

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, as described in this Bulletin. 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 course work is above the minimum full-time requirement of 12 credits. Undergraduate students may receive TAP awards for eight semesters; SEEK or approved five-year program students may receive TAP awards for 10 semesters.

To receive each TAP payment, a student must:

• have completed a specific number of credits in the previous TAP semester;

• have accumulated a specific number of credits toward your degree;

• maintain a specific minimum grade point average (GPA);

• have declared a major by the time you complete 60 credits; and

• 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.

TAP progress chart (New York State TAP Satisfactory Academic Progress)

For financial aid purposes, good academic standing consists of two elements: satisfactory academic progress and pursuit of program. Satisfactory progress is a measure of the student’s achievement, of earning credits toward a degree or certificate with a specified GPA. Pursuit of program is a measure of the student’s effort to complete a program.

In accordance with section 145-2.2 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, each institution participating in state student financial aid programs must determine whether a student is in good academic standing based on a standard of satisfactory academic progress comprising a minimum number of credits to be accrued (earned) with a minimum cumulative GPA in each term an award payment is received. The progress standard is most clearly presented in chart format (see below).

Initially, the regulation provided that each institution establish and submit for the commissioner’s approval its proposed standard of progress. However, for the 1995–96 academic year and thereafter, new legislation mandated a minimum cumulative C average after a student has received four full-time semester award payments or the equivalent (24 payment points).

Effective for the 2010–11 academic year and thereafter, New York State Education Law requires that a non-remedial student whose first award year is in 2010–11 or thereafter must meet new standards of New York State satisfactory academic progress (SAP). Non-remedial students whose first year was 2007–08 through 2009–10 must meet the SAP requirements enacted in 2006. Those meeting the definition of “remedial student” are not subject to the new SAP standards but will use the requirements established in 2006. The law enacted in 2006 mandated minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress for students receiving their first state award in the academic year 2006–07

First-time TAP Recipients: 2005–06 and Prior, Nonremedial and Remedial Students.

One-time TAP waiver

Regulations permit students to receive a one-time waiver of the good academic standing requirement as an undergraduate student. Reasons for granting a waiver may include:

• personal illness involving either hospitalization or extended home confinement;

• illness in the immediate family requiring your absence from classes for an extended period of time;

• emotionally disabling condition that prevented you from attending classes;

• change in working conditions of your job on which you and your family are dependent; and

• military duty, incarceration or other involvement with agencies of government.

Waiver of C-average requirement

Unlike the good academic standing waiver, it is possible, should circumstances warrant it, for a student to receive more than one C-average waiver. The C-average requirement may be waived for undue hardship based on:

• death of a relative of the student;

• personal injury or illness of the student; or

• other extenuating circumstances Repeated courses

Repeated courses

in which you have already received a passing grade cannot be included in meeting the TAP full-time study requirement unless:

• You repeat a course for additional credit (e.g., certain seminar courses).

• You need to meet a minimum grade requirement for that course. (Please check the Brooklyn College Bulletin or specific department. GPA requirements do not count.)

New York State Excelsior Scholarship

New York is now home to the nation’s first accessible college program, the Excelsior Scholarship.

Under this groundbreaking initiative, the Excelsior Scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend a SUNY or CUNY college tuition-free.

Recipients of the Excelsior Scholarship may receive up to $5,500 or actual tuition, whichever is less. The maximum Excelsior Scholarship will be reduced by the amount of certain other student financial aid awards that an applicant has received or will receive for the academic year, including a New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award and/or Federal Pell Grant.

A recipient of an Excelsior Scholarship is eligible to receive award payments for not more than two years of full-time undergraduate study in a program leading to an associate’s degree or four years of full-time undergraduate study, or five years if the program of study normally requires five years, in a program leading to a bachelor’s degree.

Students must live in New York State for the length of time they receive the award. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the conversion of the award to a no-interest loan.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the New York State Excelsior Scholarship, a student must:

• be a resident of New York State and have resided in New York State for 12 continuous months prior to the beginning of the term;

• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen;

• have either graduated from high school in the United States, earned a high school equivalency diploma, or passed a federally approved “Ability to Benefit” test, as defined by the Commissioner of the State Education Department;

• have a combined household (student and parent) federal adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less;

• be pursuing an undergraduate degree at a SUNY or CUNY college, including community colleges and the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred University;

• be enrolled in at least 12 credits per term and complete at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program;

• if attended college prior to the 2017–18 academic year, have earned at least 30 credits each year (successively), applicable toward his or her degree program prior to applying for an Excelsior Scholarship;

• be in a nondefault status on a student loan made under any New York State or federal education loan program or on the repayment of any New York State award;

• be in compliance with the terms of the service condition(s) imposed by a New York State award that he or she have previously received;

• execute a contract agreeing to reside in New York State for the length of time the award was received, and, if employed during such time, be employed in New York State; and

• apply for the FAFSA, New York State TAP, and Excelsior Scholarship every year by the date stipulated on the Excelsior application.

The Brooklyn College website and the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation website contain further information.

Other New York State programs

For information on the following scholarships and awards administered by the Higher Education Services Corporation of New York State is available on the HESC website.

• Veterans Tuition Awards

• Eligible students are those who are New York State residents discharged under honorable conditions from the U.S. armed forces and who are:

• Vietnam veterans who served in Indochina between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975.

• Persian Gulf veterans who served in the Persian Gulf on or after August 2, 1990.

• Afghanistan veterans who served in Afghanistan during hostilities on or after September 11, 2001.

• Veterans of the armed forces of the United States who served in hostilities that occurred after February 28, 1961, as evidenced by receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal.

• New York State Memorial Scholarship for Families of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers and Emergency Medical Service Workers

• New York State World Trade Center Memorial Scholarships

• New York State Aid to Native Americans

• Flight 587 Memorial Scholarships

• Flight 3407 Memorial Scholarships

• Military Service Recognition Scholarships

• New York State Math & Science Teaching Incentive Scholarships

• New York State Scholarships for Academic Excellence

• New York State Volunteer Recruitment Service Scholarships

• New York State Regents Awards for Children of Deceased and Disabled Veterans

• New York State Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Incentive Program

Part-time TAP (PTAP)

New York State Education Law was amended in 2006 to create a Part-time Tuition Assistance Program (PTAP) for New York State students. To be eligible for PTAP, students must have been freshmen in the 2006–07 academic year or thereafter, have earned 12 or more credits in each of two consecutive semesters, and maintain at least a C average. PTAP allows for partial TAP payment for students taking six to 11 credits.

To be eligible for PTAP, a student must:

• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen;

• be a legal resident of New York State;

• have a U.S. high school diploma or the recognized equivalent, or a passing score on a federally approved ability-to-benefit test identified by the New York State Board of Regents and independently administered and evaluated by the Commissioner of Education;

• be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in good academic standing;

• be taking at least six but fewer than 12 credits per semester;

• not be in default on any state or federal student loan; and

• meet income eligibility limitations.

Aid for Part-time Study (APTS)

This New York State–based grant is available to qualified undergraduate part-time matriculated students who have resided in the state for at least a year and meet stipulated economic criteria. There are also certain degree and progress/pursuit (academic) requirements that need to be satisfied in order to qualify.

Application requirements

APTS recipients are subject to the same requirements for good academic standing that govern the TAP program (see the TAP charts, above). You must demonstrate program pursuit every semester you receive an APTS award and meet the academic progress standard every two semesters. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the loss of your APTS eligibility.

To be considered for APTS, you must be:

• pursuing an undergraduate degree as a part-time student;

• registered for at least six credits, or equated credits, with at least three of these being degree credits (all creditbearing courses must count toward your degree to be payable under the APTS program);

• in good academic standing for New York State award programs;

• be a legal resident of New York State; and

• be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or hold an I-94 visa as a refugee, paroled refugee or conditional entrant.

How do I apply?

1. Apply for APTS by filing a FAFSA. (Be sure to indicate Brooklyn College as one of your college choices.)

2. Apply for TAP. You must also submit the New York State TAP application in order to be considered for an APTS award.

3. Complete the CUNY supplement form located in CUNYfirst, under Student Center – Finances section – Financial Aid – Supplement Form.

You must complete the APTS application process by an established deadline in order to receive an APTS award. For deadline information, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Veterans Administration educational assistance

Information about Veterans Administration education benefits under the GI Bill and for post–Vietnam-era veterans may be obtained from any Veterans Administration office and from the Brooklyn College Veteran Affairs and Counseling Center, 1407 James Hall, 718.951.5105. Educational benefits are described in VA pamphlet 20-67-1, which may be obtained from the Veterans Administration, 810 Vermont Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20420.

Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)

The Federal Work-Study Program is an employment program that pays eligible students in good academic standing an hourly wage for work done at approved sites at the college or at public or other nonprofit agencies. Students may work up to 20 hours per week while enrolled with a minimum of six credits in their division of matriculation. Information on this program is available through the Office of Financial Aid.

Loans

Unlike grants or work-study, loans are forms of financial aid that you must pay back at interest rates that are typically lower than consumer rates, usually not until after your studies have been completed, or you fail to be enrolled at least half-time. The amount of the loan you seek and commit to should be determined only after all available grant-aid has been applied for. Federal loans are available to matriculated students only. Some loans may be forgiven if the student works in a particular program or government job after graduation. For more information, visit www.studentloans. gov or www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Federal Perkins Loans

Federal Perkins Loans are sunsetting with the federal government. For more information, contact the Office of Financial Aid or refer to the Federal Student Aid website.

William D. Ford Direct Loan Program

Federal direct loan programs consist of low-interest loans and are available to both undergraduate and graduate students. Each loan also carries a small origination fee. Details about current-year interest rates and fees are available on the Federal Student Aid website

Federal Direct Subsidized Loans

Subsidized loan eligibility is based upon demonstrated financial need (filing the FAFSA) and the interest is subsidized (paid) by the federal government until you are enrolled less than half-time. The loan interest rate can vary (capped at 8.25 percent) and can be adjusted annually by Congress. If you are a first-time borrower on or after July 1, 2013, there is a maximum period of time (measured in academic years) over which you can receive Direct Subsidized Loans. This time limit does not apply to Direct Unsubsidized Loans or Direct PLUS Loans. Students will not be able to receive Direct Subsidized Loans for more than 150 percent of the published length of their program. This is called the “maximum eligibility period” and is determined by the published length of a student’s program. For example, if a student is enrolled in a four-year bachelor’s degree program, the maximum period for which he or she can receive Direct Subsidized Loans is six years (150 percent of four years). If a student receives Direct Subsidized Loans for one program and then changes to another program, the Direct Subsidized Loans received for the earlier program will generally count toward the student’s new maximum eligibility period. For more information, visit www.studentloans.gov or www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Interest accrues while the student is enrolled in school at least half-time or interest payments can be made on a monthly basis. The loan interest rate can vary (capped at 8.25 percent) and can be adjusted annually by Congress. For more information, visit www.studentloans.gov or www. studentaid.ed.gov.

Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program

Parents of dependent undergraduate students may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid resources under the PLUS Program. Applicants for these loans are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Loans may not exceed the cost of attendance less financial aid. Parents who have no adverse credit history as determined by the Federal Direct Loan Servicer may be eligible. There is no aggregate loan limit. Borrowers are charged an origination fee and an insurance fee, which are deducted from the loan proceeds before disbursement. For more information, visit www.studentloans.gov or www.studentaid.ed.gov.

How much can I borrow?

The loan amounts below may be subject to reduction, if the combination with all other aid received within the 2017–18 year plus the amount of your loan exceeds the cost of attendance. For more information, visit www.studentloans. gov or www.studentaid.ed.gov.

Aggregate Undergraduate Loan limit

Dependent students: $31,000. No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

Independent students: $57,500. No more than $23,000 of this amount may be in subsidized loans.

Federal Direct Loan Proration

Federal regulations require that when a student is enrolled in a program that is one academic year or more in length, but is in a remaining period of study that is shorter than a full academic year, the loan must be prorated. Students who graduate in the summer session or fall semester will have their loans prorated.

Alternative student loans

These loans are typically sought by nonmatriculated students, international students, students attending less than half-time and students who have reached their federal aggregate or annual loan limits. Alternative loans are credit based, private education loans facilitated by a nonfederal third-party lender. Students interested in alternative loans may borrow up to the full cost of their education, minus all other aid. However, alternative loans generally carry a significantly higher interest rate because it is based upon individual credit score.

Withdrawing

Circumstances may necessitate your withdrawing completely from Brooklyn College for a semester in which you are already registered. Withdrawing from all courses impacts your financial aid differently depending on when the withdrawal is initiated and the type of financial aid you have received. However, in all cases, your financial aid must be recalculated.

Return of Title IV funds formula

Title IV financial aid is recalculated based on the number of days attended, using total federal aid and total institutional charges. The percentage of unearned aid to be returned is equal to the number of days remaining in the semester divided by the number of calendar days in the semester. If you initiate an official complete withdrawal after the 60 percent point in the semester, you will have earned 100 percent of the aid you received for that semester. The date of withdrawal is counted as a completed day. Scheduled breaks of more than five consecutive days within a semester are excluded.

If a return of Title IV aid is required, Brooklyn College will return the unearned portion of Title IV financial aid funds to the federal programs on behalf of the student. Any return of financial aid funds made by the college on behalf of the student will be charged to the student’s account. Payment for these charges is due on demand. Please pay the Brooklyn College Bursar’s Office directly for these charges, not the U.S. Department of Education.

If you are one of the few students who are eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, you will be sent a letter of notification of your eligibility, which must be returned within 14 days from the date of the notice, or the offer will be rescinded. Students are strongly encouraged to ensure that the mailing address on file with Brooklyn College is always correct.

Title IV funds included under Title IV of the Higher Education Act are Federal Pell Grants, Federal Loans, Federal PLUS Loans, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study and any other type of federal financial aid.

Please note that any Pell funds disbursed as a result of a return of Title IV Funds calculation will be added toward your overall Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU).

For purposes of complete withdrawal and the Return of Title IV Funds Formula, Federal Work-Study is not considered. However, in all cases of total withdrawal, you cannot continue to work under the Federal Work-Study Program after your date of withdrawal. Also, any students whose enrollment falls below six credits because they drop/ withdraw (officially or unofficially) or stop attending classes must stop working immediately. Students are responsible for notifying their site supervisor regarding changes in class schedule/enrollment and the Federal Work-Study staff at the Office of Financial Aid. If you have further questions specifically regarding FWS and the impact of withdrawing, contact the FWS staff at 718.951.5178 or .5816, or via e-mail.

Official withdrawal

Depending upon the date of withdrawal, certain situations and recalculations of federal aid may apply:

• If the semester has not yet begun and you drop or cancel your registration, any financial aid transmitted to your account will be removed. However, failure to cancel your registration and failure to attend classes will result in the cancellation of your financial aid and you will be responsible for tuition and fee charges.

• If you drop all classes prior to the first day to officially withdraw (always check the academic calendar for each individual semester for these important dates). You may also be billed for tuition charges for that semester (see the bursar’s tuition liability schedule).

• If you officially process a withdrawal form before the 60 percent point of the semester has lapsed, the Office of Financial Aid will recalculate your Title IV aid based on the Federal Return of Title IV Funds Formula. You will be responsible for any balance due to the college for that term. In addition, depending on your college entry date, there is a possibility that you may not qualify for federal aid or state aid in future semesters. See Satisfactory Academic Progress, below.

• If you officially process a withdrawal form after the 60 percent point of the semester, you will not be required to return any Title IV aid you received for the semester up to the point of withdrawal. Please note that any disbursed Pell funds will be added toward your overall Lifetime Eligibility Usage (LEU).

• Federal Direct Loans will be subject to a Return of Title IV Funds calculation for the current semester. However, if funds have not yet been disbursed for the current and future semesters within the same academic year, the college will cancel your loan. Also, if your enrollment status drops to less than half-time (six credits), your loan will be cancelled.

• If you have an outstanding balance on a Perkins and/or Federal Direct Loan, the date on which you drop to less than half-time is the date used for the start of your grace period; you will go into repayment as soon as six months afterward. Please let your lender(s) know when you drop to less than half-time.

• If you withdraw or drop to less than half-time, you must complete an Exit Counseling for your Federal Direct Loan, which will go into repayment six months after you are less than half-time.

Unofficial withdrawal

If you stop attending classes and do not initiate an official withdrawal, it is unlikely that you will receive passing grades for the semester and you will incur significant financial aid penalties, including full or partial cancellation of the financial aid you received for the semester. Therefore, it is critical that you initiate an official withdrawal prior to the end of the semester and that you keep your personal information current with Brooklyn College.

• Federal Direct Loans will be subject to a Return of Title IV Funds calculation for the current semester. However, if funds have not yet been disbursed for the current and future semesters within the same academic year, your loan will be cancelled by the college. Also, if your enrollment status drops to less than half-time (six credits), your loan will be cancelled.

• Courses attempted prior to withdrawal from Brooklyn College will count in the calculation of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). SAP is calculated annually and is checked when you reapply for financial aid. You could be denied future aid if you do not meet the standards of SAP.

• If you have an outstanding balance on a Perkins and/or Federal Direct Loan, the date on which you drop to less than half-time is the date used for the start of your grace period; you will go into repayment as soon as six months afterward. Please let your lender(s) know when you drop to less than half-time.

• If you withdraw or drop to less than half-time, you must complete an Exit Counseling for your Federal Direct Loan, which will go into repayment six months after you are less than half-time.

Withdrawal Never Attended

A WN grade is given to students who never began attendance in a course. Students will be considered not to have earned any Title IV aid. Students will be liable for the tuition.

Withdrawal Drop

A WD is a new grade assignment for official drops. If a student drops or withdraws from all classes, a Return of Title IV Funds (R2T4) calculation will be performed.

If a Return of Title IV Funds calculation is required, Brooklyn College will return the unearned portion of Title IV financial aid funds to the federal program(s) on behalf of the student. Any return of financial aid funds made by the college on behalf of the student will be charged to the student’s account.

Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards for Title IV Financial Aid

Brooklyn College students must satisfy the following qualitative and quantitative federal financial aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education and Brooklyn College, in order to remain eligible for federal financial aid.

Federal aid programs governed by these regulations are:

• Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

• Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan

• Federal Pell Grant

• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

• Federal TEACH Grant

• Federal Work-Study (FWS)

• All other Title IV aid programs

SAP is defined in three components: Qualitative Standard, Quantitative Standard/ Pace of Progression and Maximum Time Frame.

Qualitative standard

Undergraduate students must achieve the following grade point averages:

• 1–12 credits: 1.50

• 13–24 credits: 1.75

• 25 or more credits: 2.00

The regulations also stipulate that, if enrolled in an educational program of more than two academic years, a student must have a GPA of at least 2.00 or the equivalent at the end of the second academic year. This means that a student must maintain a minimum 2.00 GPA after being at the school for four semesters or six quarters without regard to enrollment status and superseding the above requirements.

Quantitative standard / Pace of progression

For baccalaureate programs, accumulated (or earned) credits must be equal to or greater than a certain percentage of the total credits attempted according to the information on the Brooklyn College financial aid website.

Maximum Time Frame

Students may not attempt more than 150 percent of the credits normally required for completion of the degree.

Determination of cumulative attempted credits and cumulative earned credits

Attempted credits, as defined in this section, pertain to the courses and credits that must be included in the quantitative measure of progress to calculate pace of progression and maximum time frame. The accumulation of attempted credits usually reflects the semester course enrollment maintained in a student’s permanent record at the college and will usually reflect a student’s enrollment as of the Form A date, which is the last day to add a class. Accumulated credits should reflect credits that the student has earned toward the completion of the degree program in which the student is enrolled.

In applying the Title IV SAP standard, the college must address how the following types of courses, situations and procedures may affect a student’s GPA and pace of progression:

Withdrawals

Since the Form A date usually reflects a student’s course load for the term, net of program adjustments, withdrawals as part of the program adjustment period (i.e., “drops”) will not be included as cumulative attempted credits. Withdrawals that are recorded on a student’s permanent record will be included as cumulative attempted credits and will have an adverse effect on the student’s ability to meet the pace of progression standard.

Note: Retroactive “nonpunitive” administrative withdrawal activity may result in the requirement for the student to repay any assistance received as a result of the student’s enrollment at the time of receipt of the student assistance funds.

Incomplete grades

Courses with incomplete grades are included as cumulative attempted credits. However, these courses cannot be used as credits accumulated toward the degree because successful completion is the criterion for positive credit accumulation. If the student fails to meet the pace of progression standard due to a lack of successful completion grades for incomplete courses, the recording of successful completion grades within a term that brings the accumulated credit level to the appropriate standard will restore eligibility for the term and subsequent terms within the academic year.

Repeated courses

Successfully completed courses can generally be accepted toward degree requirements once. However, each time a student attempts a course, even if that course is part of a forgiveness or amnesty policy whereby credits attempted and grades earned in prior semesters are excluded from the GPA, it must be included as part of the cumulative attempted credit record for the measuring of pace of progression. Therefore, repeated courses, regardless of the prior grade, reduce a student’s capacity to meet the pace of progression standard.

Note: The revised regulations allow students to receive Title IV aid for one-time repeat of a previously passed course as long as the student is again receiving credit for the course. Should the student subsequently fail the course, any additional attempt of that course cannot be included in the student’s enrollment status for Title IV assistance. There is no regulatory limit on the number of times a student may be paid to retake a failed course, unless the student has also previously passed that course.

Transfer of credit

Transfer students from colleges inside and outside of CUNY shall have their pace of progression status initialized for purposes of Satisfactory Academic Progress measurement by using the number of credits determined to be acceptable toward the degree as both cumulative attempted credits and cumulative earned credits.

Treatment of nonstandard situations

Readmitted students

A student not making SAP cannot re-establish eligibility for Title IV program assistance by re-enrolling after a one-year or longer period of non-enrollment. Upon readmission after any period of non-enrollment, the student’s Title IV progress standing must be re-evaluated for SAP under the standard as the record stood at the end of his or her last term of attendance. If the student has taken any action during the period of non-enrollment that would bring him or her into compliance with the progress standard (e.g., successfully completing transferable courses at another institution during the period of absence), this should also be factored into the reassessment. If the readmitted student has not taken any such action, or if the action taken is not sufficient to bring the student back into compliance with the progress standard, the student remains on financial aid suspension and must file a successful appeal to re-establish eligibility.

Second-degree students

A student enrolling for a second baccalaureate shall have his or her pace of progression status initialized for purposes of Satisfactory Academic Progress measurement by using the number of credits determined to be acceptable toward the degree as both the student’s cumulative attempted credits and cumulative earned credits.

Change of major

Students who change majors within the same degree or certificate program must complete the degree within the maximum time frame, unless the college has allowed for such changes by establishing various time frames for different programs leading to the degree or by individually re-evaluating the time frame for these students.

Change of degree

If a student changes his or her objective and begins pursuing a different degree or certificate, the college may make the student subject to the maximum time frame it establishes for the new objective without regard to time spent pursuing the previous degree or certificate. The college also has the flexibility to develop a policy that is more restrictive and limits the student to an overall time frame for the completion of his or her studies.

SAP changes effective as of July 1, 2011

The following are required by the U.S. Department of Education and have been implemented as of the 2011–12 academic year:

• Students found to be unsatisfactory due to failing one or more components of SAP at the annual review are ineligible for financial aid. No tolerance is permitted.

• First-year students must earn a minimum of a 1.50 GPA within their first 12 credits and a 1.75 by their 24th. Continuing students at 25+ credits must earn a minimum of a 2.00 GPA.

• Students’ records are reviewed annually at the end of each academic year. A student who is found to be deficient in one or more components as defined above is ineligible for any future financial aid immediately. A student who is ineligible has the right to appeal if there are extreme extenuating circumstances that contributed to the deficiency.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal

The Office of Financial Aid has established an appeal process for suspension of financial aid related to satisfactory academic progress. All students will be notified of their SAP status. Students who have failed to meet the requirements and wish to submit an appeal must complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form, which can be found on the Office of Financial Aid website. Any student who wishes to appeal the suspension of financial aid should read the following instructions.

Procedure: The process for submitting a financial aid federal Satisfactory Academic Progress appeal is outlined on the Brooklyn College financial aid website.

Guidelines: Be specific when explaining your circumstances. Lack of information or documentation may result in a denial of your appeal. If health problems played a role in your circumstances, please attach supporting documentation from a physician or counselor. Print legibly and sign the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form.

Appeals are approved for documented extreme situations only. Students who appeal will be approved only for the following federally defined reasons: serious physical or mental illness of the student; serious physical or mental illness of a member of the student’s immediate family; death of a member of the student’s immediate family; or other extreme circumstances.

The circumstance must have occurred during the time the student struggled academically. All appeals must have documentation of the circumstances claimed in the appeal. Approved appeals can result in no more than one term of financial aid eligibility. Students whose appeals are approved are granted one term of financial aid probation. For continued eligibility, students must resolve all SAP deficiencies during the period of probation. Students who cannot mathematically resolve all deficiencies within one term will once again become ineligible for federal financial aid.

There is no limit to the number of times a student may follow the financial aid appeals procedure. Although a student may file only one appeal per payment period (semester), additional appeals to extend financial aid probation to subsequent semesters must vary in nature from the originally appealed and approved appeal reason, or show cause as to how it may still remain relevant.

As in the original appeal, the student would indicate the mitigating circumstances, the reasons why SAP was not achieved, and what has ensured or will ensure that the student will be able to meet SAP at the next evaluation via an academic plan.

Re-establishing eligibility

Other than having eligibility restored through filing a successful appeal, a student on financial aid suspension may regain eligibility only by taking action that brings him or her into compliance with the appropriate progress standard. The mere passage of time is insufficient to restore Title IV eligibility to a student who has lost eligibility due to not meeting the SAP standard. Therefore, students may not re-establish eligibility solely by leaving the college for at least one year because this action, by itself, would not bring the student into compliance for Title IV SAP.

Students who choose to remain enrolled without receiving Title IV aid may request a review of their academic record after any term in which they were on financial aid suspension to determine if they were able to re-attain appropriate standard.

Unusual enrollment history (UEH)

Beginning with the 2013–14 award year, the U.S. Department of Education added the Unusual Enrollment History Flag to the Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). According to Dear Colleague Letter GEN-13-09, the purpose of the UEH Flag is to identify instances of potential fraud and abuse of the Federal Pell Grant Program.

While some students have legitimate reasons for unusual enrollment histories, other students may enroll in postsecondary schools long enough to receive credit balance payments, leave the institutions and repeat the process at other schools. For this reason, the institution is responsible for collecting all official transcripts, validating that the student has earned credit during the last three years.

Determining Title IV Aid eligibility

Brooklyn College has established policies and procedures to determine whether the documentation obtained supports the student’s explanation and demonstrates that the student did not enroll only to receive a Title IV credit balance payment. Brooklyn College must document its decision in the student’s file, and the student cannot appeal the decision to the department.

Eligibility approved

If the documentation supports an assertion that the student did not enroll in multiple schools/programs solely to obtain the credit balance payment, then the student is eligible for additional Title IV funds. Brooklyn College must document its determination in the student’s file and process the student’s Title IV aid accordingly.

Eligibility denied

The student loses eligibility for all Title IV aid if both of the following are true: the student did not earn academic credit at one or more of the prior schools, and, after reviewing a student’s submitted UEH Appeal Form, Brooklyn College determines that the documentation fails to disprove that the student enrolled in multiple programs solely to obtain the credit balance payment.

Brooklyn College will document its determination in the student’s file and provide the student with an opportunity to question and appeal the decision. The Brooklyn College Office of Financial Aid will also provide students with information about regaining eligibility.

Reinstatement of eligibility

All students who have lost eligibility for all Title IV aid and would like to appeal for reinstatement must contact their assigned financial aid adviser.

Note: The department indicates that it expects the school’s policies to require that the student complete academic credit as at least a part of the basis for a UEH appeal and potential reinstatement of Title IV aid. When a student regains eligibility under these provisions, eligibility for Pell Grant and campus based aid begins in the payment period during which the student regained that eligibility. For Direct Loans, eligibility begins with the period of enrollment during which the student regained eligibility.

COVID-19

The country has been impacted by the novel coronavirus since a national emergency was declared on March 13, 2020. New York State’s HESC and the federal U.S. Department of Education continue to provide new policy and regulatory impact updates during these unprecedented times.