50.2.0 Financial Aid: Academic Eligibility
50.2.1 Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Financial Aid
50.2.1.1 Federal Aid
(Federal Direct Loans, Federal Direct Parent Loans, Federal Work-Study, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG Grants)
Students receiving financial aid are required to maintain minimum qualitative (cumulative GPA) and quantitative (PACE) standards in order to continue to receive Federal assistance. This review will occur at the end of each payment period, at SUNY Canton this is the end of each semester. Use the chart below for your degree program to determine your minimum requirements. (Transfer credits will be considered to determine placement on the chart)
50.2.1.1a Failure to Meet Federal Minimum Standards
(Please be aware that these are not the same as Academic Recovery & Suspensions given out by the Dean’s Offices.)
Financial Aid Warning
A student who does not meet the required minimum standards, is not meeting SAP for Financial Aid. Students will automatically be given a warning semester for the subsequent term of attendance. This gives the student an opportunity to meet minimum standards without losing federal aid eligibility during the warning term. If a student withdraws from the college after the start of the warning term, they have not met academic progress requirements for the subsequent term.
A student who meets both the cumulative GPA and PACE standards at the end of the Financial Aid Warning term is again considered to be meeting SAP for financial aid as long as they have not met the maximum time frame. This will allow for federal aid to continue in the subsequent semester of attendance.
A student who does not meet standards or exceeds the maximum time frame requirement at the conclusion of the Financial Aid Warning term is not meeting SAP for financial aid and they are ineligible for federal aid. Eligibility can only be regained once they are meeting the minimum SAP standards or have an approved financial aid appeal and plan on file. The student is notified through their SUNY Canton email if they are not meeting satisfactory academic progress and the appeal process.
A student may have more than one Financial Aid Warning term; however, they may not be consecutive.
50.2.1.1b Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
If failure to meet SAP standards is due to extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control, students may submit an appeal. All appeal requests must include three (3) things: completed appeal form, detailed personal statement by the student explaining the extenuating circumstances that caused them to not meet academic progress standards and how the situation has been resolved to the point that it should not reoccur, and appropriate supporting third-party documentation. The application, personal statement, and supporting documentation will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Approval is not guaranteed. If approved, the student will be required to work with appropriate staff to develop an academic plan to maintain eligibility. The student is then considered to be on financial aid probation.
Subsequent Appeals - A student that does not meet the requirements of their academic plan or becomes ineligible at any point after an initial appeal, is permitted to submit one addtional appeal. The additional appeal must be based on new extenuating circumstances that have occurred since the first appeal was approved and are outside the student's control. There is a limit of two federal SAP appeals.
The decision made by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is final.
Questions should be directed to the One Hop Shop.
50.2.1.2 New York State Aid
(TAP Grant, SUSTA Grant, Part-Time TAP)
Students receiving New York State financial aid are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA, credits accrued (earned credits) and meet pursuit of program (percentage of credits completed) requirements to continue to receive assistance. Use the chart below to determine your minimum requirements. Note: Eligibility for all EOP funds is determined separately by the EOP Office.
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- If you received TAP at another college, be sure to include that in the calculation of the number of TAP payments you have received.
The charts below are based on full-time enrollment. If you are a part-time student, please reach out to Financial Aid directly. A full-time TAP award is equivalent to 6 TAP payment points per semester when a student is enrolled in 12 or more credits applicable to their program of study. Students receiving TAP for part-time enrollment may be in enrolled in 3-11 credits and TAP payment points earned are prorated based on the number of applicable credits a student is enrolled. Part-time students earn TAP payment points at a reduced rate; therefore, they may receive TAP for one or more terms before being evaluated for the next SAP level.
Examples:
Student A is a non-remedial, full-time student in an associate degree program, who has never attended college prior to the fall term and is certified for payment 1. After the fall term, Student A, to be certified for payment 2, must have accrued (earned) 6 credits, have a cumulative GPA of 1.30, and have a pursuit of program (percentage of credits completed) of 6 credits or 50% of what NYS HESC has determined as the full-time enrollment for this purpose.
Student B is a non-remedial, full-time student in a bachelor degree program. Student B has received a total of 4 prior payments of NYS TAP. To be certified for payment 5 (next payment), the student must have accrued (earned) 39 credits, have a cumulative GPA of 2.00, and have a pursuit of program (percentage of credits completed) of 9 credits or 75% of what NYS HESC has determined as the full-time enrollment for this purpose.
Certificate/Associate Degree Programs
(Remedial Students*)
| Before being Certified for this Payment | Credits Accrued | Cumulative GPA | Pursuit of Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 3 | 0.50 | 50%/6 credits |
| 3 | 9 | 0.75 | 50%/6 credits |
| 4 | 18 | 1.30 | 75%/9 credits |
| 5 | 30 | 2.00 | 75%/9 credits |
| 6 | 45 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
* Remedial Students are EOP Students or any student required to take at least 2 remedial courses with the first two semesters.
Certificate/Associate Degree Programs
(Non-Remedial Students)
| Before being Certified for this Payment | Credits Accrued | Cumulative GPA | Pursuit of Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 6 | 1.30 | 50%/6 credits |
| 3 | 15 | 1.50 | 50%/6 credits |
| 4 | 27 | 1.80 | 75%/9 credits |
| 5 | 39 | 2.00 | 75%/9 credits |
| 6 | 51 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
Bachelor Degree Programs (Remedial Students*)
| Before being Certified for this Payment | Credits Accrued | Cumulative GPA | Pursuit of Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 3 | 1.10 | 50%/6 credits |
| 3 | 9 | 1.20 | 50%/6 credits |
| 4 | 21 | 1.30 | 75%/9 credits |
| 5 | 33 | 2.00 | 75%/9 credits |
| 6 | 45 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 7 | 60 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 8 | 75 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 9** | 90 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 10** | 105 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
* Remedial Students are EOP Students or any student required to take at least 2 remedial courses with the first two semesters.
Bachelor Degree Programs
(Non-Remedial Students)
| Before being Certified for this Payment | Credits Accrued | Cumulative GPA | Pursuit of Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 6 | 1.50 | 50%/6 credits |
| 3 | 15 | 1.80 | 50%/6 credits |
| 4 | 27 | 1.80 | 75%/9 credits |
| 5 | 39 | 2.00 | 75%/9 credits |
| 6 | 51 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 7 | 66 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 8 | 81 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 9 | 96 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
| 10 | 111 | 2.00 | 100%/12 credits |
Students receiving TAP under ADA provisions may be enrolled in 3-11 credits and TAP payment points earned are prorated based on the number of applicable credits a student is enrolled.
ADA students earn TAP payment points at a reduced rate, they may receive TAP for one or more terms before being evaluated for the next SAP level. TAP payment points are used to evaluate SAP. A full-time TAP award is equivalent to 6 TAP payment points per semester when a student is enrolled in 12 or more credits applicable to their program of study.
50.2.1.2a Failure to Meet NYS Minimum Standards
If a student fails to meet New York State academic progress requirements for financial aid as outlined above at the end of the semester, they will lose eligibility for the next term they attend. Eligibility will be regained once they meet the above standards. Additionally, students who stop attending for more than one year may regain eligibility upon return for one semester (if over 4 prior semesters of TAP you must have a 2.0 overall GPA). Then you must meet academic progress criteria each subsequent semester.
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- If a student withdraws from college after the start of the term, they have not met academic progress requirements (automatic).
50.2.1.2b Waiver Requests
If failure to meet standards is due to extenuating circumstances beyond a student’s control and there is a reasonable expectation the student will meet these requirements in the future term, they may apply for a one-time waiver. All waiver applications must include completed appeal waiver form, detailed personal statement by the student explaining the extenuating circumstance that caused you to not meet satisfactory academic progress standards and how the situation has been resolved to the point that it should not reoccur, and appropriate supporting third-party documentation. The application and documentation will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. Approval is not guaranteed.
The decision made by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee is final.
Important things to keep in mind
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- Remedial courses that are not credit-bearing will not count in the total earned hours.
- Repeated courses that were previously passed do not count as additional passed or earned hours for the semester
- Repeating any course in which a passing grade has already been received (D or above) will not count toward full-time status, unless the College Catalog states a higher grade is required for the current curriculum.
Questions should be directed to the One Hop Shop.
50.2.2 Financial Aid Processing
Application Process: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available in October, for the next academic year and will use income information from the tax year two years prior. For the 2026-2027 award year you will use 2024 income to complete the FAFSA. Everyone who will be providing information on the FAFSA will need an FSA ID to access the form.
Deadline: The preferred deadline for filing the FAFSA for the next academic year is January 1st and the priority deadline is February 1st. Certain Federal funds (Federal Work Study, and Federal SEOG grants) are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible students who file by this deadline. Late filers must have their financial aid processed before their tuition bill is due for fall semester if they plan to use financial aid toward their bill.
The student’s FAFSA process is not complete until all requirements are completed. The student can track these requirements on their UCanWeb account. The FAFSA and NYS TAP applications are required to be completed prior to applying for the NYS Excelsior Scholarship. There are specific deadlines for the Excelsior application for each semester.
Special Circumstances: If a student feels that they have a special circumstance that needs to be taken into consideration for financial aid eligibility, the Student Service Center may be able to recalculate their eligibility within Federal guidelines. To request a special circumstance review you must contact the Student Service Center and speak with a Financial Aid counselor to discuss your special circumstance and determine what documentation will be required based on your individual situation.
Applications for special circumstances consideration must be submitted and completed prior to the end of the student’s enrollment.
Study Abroad: Enrollment in a study-abroad program approved for credit by the student’s School Dean may be considered in determining eligibility for Federal student aid.
50.2.3 Excelsior Scholarship
General Eligibility Requirements
- For 2019-20 and thereafter, family AGI must be less than $125,000
- Students must be NYS residents
- Students must have filed their FAFSA and NYS TAP applications
- Students must be full time and on track for a degree (more info below in academic eligibility)
- Must agree to NYS residency requirements for term of receiving scholarship
Initial Academic Eligibility
Freshmen
For this purpose a freshman is considered someone who has not ever been matriculated at a college prior to their enrollment at SUNY Canton. A freshman is eligible as long as they meet general eligibility requirements and other grants/scholarships do not exceed tuition.
Transfers
For this purpose a transfer is considered someone who has been matriculated at a prior college in the past. A transfer is eligible if they transfer in the appropriate number of credits to remain on track for graduation(for ex. After 1 year of enrollment must transfer at least 30 credits toward new degree).
Academic Requirements to Maintain Eligibility
Full Time Status
Students must enroll for a minimum of 12 credits that are applicable to their degree program each semester. Remedial credits are NOT counted in this 12 credit requirement. An exception to this rule is that students who meet ADA eligibility may enroll part time but must complete all coursework attempted or meet the 30-credits rule during the year.
Annual Credits completed
Students must successfully complete an average of 30 credits per year toward their degree program. Students can earn 32 credits their first year and 28 their second for example but it cannot be the other way around. As soon as a student is decertified for not meeting credit hours, they lose the Excelsior Scholarship forever. Summer and Winterterm courses can assist in completing the 30 credits. A student’s year begins when they first matriculate whether here or at their prior school if a transfer. See “Exceptions to Above Rules” for additional information.
Example – student is matriculated in the Fall 2019 term. They have the Fall 19, Winterterm 19, Spring 20 and Summer 20 term to complete the 30 credit requirement. However, it is important to note that if the student’s Excelsior year starts in the Fall semester, the following summer is part of their first year and not their second.
Note: Jumpstart students matriculate now in the Summer so their year begins with Summer and ends with the next Spring.
Maintain on track to graduate
Students must be on track to graduate in their current degree program from their first date of matriculation. If they are in a 2-year degree they must be on track to graduate in 2 years and the same for 4 year programs. Certificate programs are not eligible for Excelsior Scholarships. Changes of major can affect this greatly and students should discuss with their advisor. They must maintain being on track to graduate on time even if changing a major.
GPA Requirement
There is no GPA requirement for Excelsior. If the courses are acceptable to their program they are acceptable to Excelsior. Therefore we will be reporting completed credits when certifying awards and not GPA.
Breaks in Attendance
If there is a break in attendance the student automatically loses Excelsior and cannot regain eligibility due to not being on track to graduate any longer. If there are extenuating circumstances they can appeal this to Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) in Albany.
Residency Requirement
They must live in NY state for the same length of time that they received the scholarship.
Ex. If they only get for one semester they need to live in NY for 4 months which can be while still in school.
Exceptions to Above Rules
EOP Students – need to enroll for 12 credits within their degree program but only need to complete average of 24 per year instead of 30.
ADA Students - Can be part time or full time but must complete all courses enrolled for. If they do not complete all coursework they must meet the 30 credit annual requirement. These students must be registered as ADA with the Office of Accessibility Services to meet this.