In order to be eligible for TAP, there are some major requirements that students must meet. They are listed below.
 

•   Students must be registered as full-time. Students should check each semester at registration to be sure they are registering for a full-time program. The major must be declared the first semester when the student registers.
• Students must be making satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. In each semester that they wish to receive an award, they must meet the following standards:
  • Successfully pass a specified number of credits (see chart below), and
     
  • Achieve a grade point average at a specified minimum level (see chart below).
   
• Students must pursue their courses at a specified level of completion. Completion means receiving any LaGuardia grade except WA, W or WU (grades of R and F are acceptable). Prior term (see chart below).
   

In addition to the academic requirements described, they must also meet certain residency requirements, citizenship requirements, and financial program criteria. For a full explanation of these regulations, students should contact the Financial Aid Office.

 

TAP ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE CHART

 

		First Payment in 2007-08 through & including 2009-10 and for students who meet the definition of "Remedial Student" in 2010-11 and thereafter		First Payment in 2010-11 and thereafter for Non-Remedial Students
Payment #	Equated Credits completed in prior term (sessions I & II)	Cumulative Credits Earned	Cumulative GPA	Cumulative Credits Earned	Cumulative GPA
1	0	0	0	0	0
2	6	3	0.50	6	1.3
3	6	9	0.75	15	1.5
4	9	18	1.3	27	1.8
5	9	30	2.0	39	2.0
6	12	45	2.0	51	2.0
7	12	60	2.0	60	2.0
8	12	75	2.0	75	2.0

 
The Academic Performance chart above illustrates the requirements. If you fail to meet these requirements, you become ineligible for your next scheduled TAP payment.

If you received TAP awards at another school prior to attending LaGuardia, you must meet the academic performance for your TAP payments, based on the number of transfer credits you received.

In addition to the eligibility and academic requirements described above, you must also meet certain state residency, citizenship, and financial program criteria.

 Requirements for eligibility:

1. Student must have started college in fall 2006 or thereafter.
2. Student must have earned 12 credits or more in each of two consecutive semesters.
3. Student must have a 2.0 GPA.
4. Courses must count toward your major.
5. Student must be enrolled for less than 12 credits (6cr or less than 12cr).

College Discovery (CD) - You must maintain a full-time status either in Session I or in a combination of Session and Session II to remain eligible for C.D. funds in that semester.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) - If you withdraw from part or all of your classes after the first day of Classes but before the last day of the tuition refund period (listed in the Schedule of Classes) TAP will pay only the amount of any tuition liability. You will use a semester's worth of TAP eligibility and you may lose TAP eligibility for the semester or future semesters depending on TAP standards for Progress and Pursuit. (See Chart).

If you withdraw from part or all of your classes after the last day of the tuition refund period (listed in the Schedule of Classes) you will receive the amount of TAP award charged or credited towards tuition for the session, BUT you may lose TAP eligibility for the next semester or future semesters depending on TAP standards for Progress and Pursuit.

Application Procedures: Applicants must complete TAP application.
The Higher Education Services Corporation (H.E.S.C.) determines the applicant's eligibility and mails an award certificate directly to the applicant indicating the amount of the grant.
Selection of Recipients and Allocation of Awards: The Tuition Assistance Program is an entitlement program based on financial need.

The applicant must:

1.  be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (permanent resident alien)
2.  be a New York State resident for at least one year;
3.  must be registered as a full-time student and the courses must be in your major
4.  have graduated from a U.S. High School or have a G.E.D. or have passed a federal approved exam (ATB); all subjects showing the meet cut point.
5.  be matriculated in an approved program of study and be in a good academic standing; have at least a "C" average after receipt of two (2) annual payments.
6.  be charged at $200 tuition per year.
7.  not be in default on a student loan granted by H.E.S.C. and not be in default of any repayment of state award.
8.  meet income eligibility limitation
   1. if dependent, have a N.Y.S. family net income below $80,000.
   2.  if independent, have a N.Y.S. net income below $10,000.
    

The current definition of independent status is as follows (independent status under the State definition does not necessarily insure independent status for federal aid programs).

Thirty-five years or older on June 30, 2009 or

• twenty-two years or older on June 30, 2009 and not
• a resident in any house, apartment, or building owned or leased by parents for more than 2 consecutive weeks in calendar years 2008, 2009 or 2010, or
• claimed as a dependent by parents on their Federal or State income tax returns for 2007, 2008
• under 22 years of age on June 30, 2009 and meeting all other requirements of (2) above, and able to meet at least one of the following requirements
  
  1. both parents deceased, disabled or incompetent
  2.  receiving public assistance other than Aid as a Dependent Child (ADC) or food stamps
  3.  ward of a court
  4.  unable to ascertain parents' whereabouts
  5.  unable, due to an adverse family situation, to submit parents' income
  6.  married on or before December 31, 2008.
   

 Undergraduate students may generally receive TAP awards for four years of study. Students enrolled in approved five-year programs may receive awards for more than a total of eight years of undergraduate and graduate study.

Award Schedule: The amount of the TAP award is scaled according to level of study, tuition charge, and net taxable income. The income measure is the family's (or independent student's) New York State net taxable income, and (for dependent students) support from divorced or separated parents. This income is further adjusted to reflect other family members enrolled full time in post secondary study.

Application Procedures: Application is made through the CUNY Financial Aid Supplement form. This program is opened to eligible students who meet income requirements and who are taking at least 6.0 to 11.5 credits. Students must make academic progress toward a degree in accordance to the NYS TAP/APTS program pursuit and academic progress requirements and must not have exhausted TAP eligibility. Since funds are restricted, applicants are advised to apply early.
 

The Child of Veteran Award is a financial aid program for children of veterans who are deceased, disabled, or missing in action as a result of service during such service.

A Child of Veteran awardees can receive up to $450.00 each year without consideration of income or tuition costs. The award may be granted for 4 years of full-time undergraduate study (or for 5 years in an approved 5-year bachelor's degree program).

The combined Child of Veteran Award and TAP award can never exceed the amount of tuition charges.

For further information contact NYSHESC (see TAP application procedures) and request a Child of Veteran Award Supplement.

The Child of Deceased Police Officer-Firefighter Award is a financial aid program for children of police officers, firefighters, and volunteer firefighters who died as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty.

A recipient of a Child of a Deceased Police Officer-Firefighter Award can receive up to $450.00 each year without consideration of income or tuition costs. The award may be granted for 4 years of full-time undergraduate study (or for five ears in an approved 5-year bachelor's degree program).

The combined Child of Deceased Police Office-Firefighter award and TAP award can never exceed the amount of tuition charges.

For further information contact NYSHESC (see TAP application procedures) and request a Child of Veteran Award Supplement.

These scholarships are awarded by the Senate Education Department (SED) based on national test (ACT, SAT) scores. Scholarships may be granted for 4 years of full-time undergraduate study (or for 5 years in an approved bachelor's degree program.) For further information, visit the office of Student Financial Services.

The Persian Gulf Veterans Tuition Award (PGVTA) provides up to $ 1,000 per semester for full-time study or $500 per semester for part-time study to Persian veterans matriculated in an undergraduate (or graduate) degree-granting program in New York State. A student must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces in the hostilities that occurred in the Persian Gulf from August 2, 1990 to the end of hostile as evidenced by receipt of the Southwest Asia Service Medal which was awarded from August 2, 1990 to November 30, 1995.

Application Procedures: Complete a FAFSA, a CUNY TAP application (if full-time) and a Persian Gulf Veterans Tuition Award Supplement.

For further information and applications, contact NYSHESC.

( http://www.gibill.va.gov )

The Vietnam Veterans Award (VVTA) Program provides financial aid to veterans who served in Indochina between January 1, 1963 and May 7, 1975. Awards are available for full- and part-time study in both undergraduate degree and certain vocational programs.

Full-time awards are $500.00 per semester or full tuition, whichever is less, and are available for four years of full-time study (or for five years in an approved five-year bachelor's degree program.) The applicant is required to apply for a TAP award and Pell Grant. If a TAP award is approved, the combination of TAP and VVTA cannot exceed tuition.

Part-time awards are $250.00 per semester or tuition, whichever is less, and are for students taking 3-11 credit -hours (or the equivalent) per semester. The awards are available for up to 16 semesters (8 years), or 20 semesters (10 years) in an approved program which would normally require 5 years if the study was full-time. The applicant is required to apply for a Federal Pell Grant. For further information, contact, NYSHESC and request a Vietnam Veterans Tuition Award Supplement.

Selection of recipients and allocation of awards:
New York City high school students who graduated with at least a "B" average and enroll in the City University of New York system within a Year of their high school graduation are eligible for consideration for a Peter F. Vallone Academic Scholarship Program. Students must file a FAFSA, enroll full-time and maintain a "B" average for continued eligibility in the program. Students enrolled at LaGuardia Community College must be registered in an Associate's Degree program and are limited to six semesters of eligibility. Students must also have accumulated 39 credits by the end of their fourth semester in order to receive the award for the remaining two semesters.

Award Schedule: Each year the amount of the award is dependent on the program appropriation in the annual City budget. Awards for the 2009-2010 academic year was $500.00 ($250.00 per semester).

 

College Discovery is the companion of SEEK (four-year colleges) program, funded by the City of New York, at community colleges to assist financially and educationally disadvantaged students. Students who are in the CD program may receive money for books and fees. These funds are grants and do not have to be repaid. CD students also receive additional counseling and tutorial services through the CD office in C-249. For more information please visit the College Discovery website at http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/cd  

 
Application Procedures: Application is made by completing the appropriate section of the admission form available on the web at www.cuny.edu. Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) and the CUNY Financial Aid Supplement form on the CUNY Portal www.cuny.edu. Applicants must be registered as full-time students.

Award Schedule: The amount of financial assistance and other support provided to CD participants is dependent on need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Services within State guidelines.

 
You need to meet citizenship requirements for CD eligibility. Also, you must prove that you have lived in New York City for one year. You must indicate on your freshman admissions application that you want to be considered for the CD program when you first apply to the college. You must also meet the academic requirements for program eligibility. When you receive your notification of acceptance to LaGuardia, you will also be notified whether or not you have been selected for the CD program.

In order to establish your eligibility for CD financial aid, you must file a FAFSA and TAP applications. Student Financial Services will instruct you what additional documentation you will have to submit. Once your applications are processed and your CD eligibility determined, you will receive an award letter from Student Financial Services. You must once every academic year file your financial aid applications if you want CD funding.

 
You must register and maintain full-time enrollment status in order to receive CD funds. If, for any reason, your course load falls below 12 credits or equated credits, but not fewer than 9, you must see your CD counselor to verify your continued eligibility for program funds. And if you are in your graduating semester, you may register for less than a full-time course load, but you must get permission from your CD counselor first. If you are transferring to another school, be sure to discuss your plans with your CD counselor.

 
Please call 718-482-5270 if you have a College Discovery Program question.