Student Financial Assistance

Types of Financial Aid

Federal PELL Grant
This is a federal grant for undergraduate students who have not received a Bachelor’s degree at the time of application. Awards range from $523 to $4,731 a year (2008-2009). Students can enroll for a minimum of 1 academic credit. Applications for this award must be made for each academic year by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. (FAFSA)

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
FSEOG grants are for undergraduate students who have not earned a Bachelor’s degree. These grants are awarded to students with the greatest need with priority given to students who are FPELL grant recipients. Efforts are made to help students obtain enough aid to meet their basic institutional costs (tuition, fees and books). Since aid is awarded on a rolling basis, every effort is made to award FSEOG to the neediest students within each packaging cycle. Awards range from $100 to $500. Students taking at least 3 academic credits may be eligible for FSEOG.

Federal Academic Competitive Grant (ACG)
ACG grants are available to full-time students who are United states citizens. Permanent residents and other PELL eligible categories are not eligible for an ACG grant. All ACG recipients must demonstrate that they had successfully completed a rigorous high school academic program and must be eligible for and receive a PELL Grant for the same academic year for which they receive an ACG grant. First year recipients must have earned fewer than 24 credits and must have been enrolled in a college program as a regular student on or after January 2, 2006. The annual yearly first time award for 2008-09 is $750. Second year award recipients must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and must have already earned at least 24 credits and no more than the total credits required to complete the program of study. Second year recipients must have been enrolled in college as a regular student on or after January 2, 2005. Second year awards are $1,300 for the 2008-09 academic year.

Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFELP)
Stafford Loan
The loan must be repaid with interest, starting six months after enrollment for less than 6 credits. The interest rate is set each June. To be eligible students must be enrolled or accepted for admission for at least six (6) credit hours, be in good academic standing, making satisfactory academic progress, and not be in default on a previous student loan, nor owe a refund on any Title IV programs (FPELL, FSEOG, FWS, subsidized and unsubsidized, PLUS or consolidated loan) and have satisfied all the Selective Service Act requirements. Loans cannot exceed the student’s own cost of undergraduate education.

Undergraduate dependent students are limited to a yearly loan maximum of $3,500 for the first class year, i.e., have completed 0-29 credits, and $4,500 after successful completion of first class year. Interest on subsidized loans is deferred while students are in school for at least 6 credits. Interest rate is 6% for 2008-09 academic year.

The unsubsidized Stafford Loan is primarily designed for undergraduate, independent students who may borrow up to an additional $4,000 for their fist and second class year as their circumstances dictate. Unlike subsidized loans, students who borrow unsubsidized loans are required to pay the interest or capitalize it while they are in school. Borrowers of unsubsidized Stafford loans may replace all or some of a student or family’s contribution. The interest rates for Federal Stafford loans for 2008-09 academic year is 6.8%.

The average loan indebtedness for students who graduated in May 2007 was $6,787.

ALL STUDENTS APPLYING FOR THE FEDERAL FAMILY EDUCATION LOAN MUST FIRST COMPLETE A FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID for the academic year for which the loan is needed.

The college does not automatically package students with loans. Students who feel that their need is not being met by grants may apply for a loan.

Westchester Community College does not have a Preferred Lender List. Students are free to choose any Lender or Guarantor.

Students may visit www.hesc.com to view a list of several lenders. If they choose one of the lenders at this site, then complete the Electronic Master Promissory note (EMPM) by following the steps below:

Visit www.hesc.com. You will be prompted to get a *HESC PIN (Personal Identification Number). The HESC PIN can be used to "sign" your TAP application, to apply for TAP, to apply for a FFELP student loan, to track your application, or to make change.
Attend a Pre Loan Entrance Workshops if you have not already done so in a previous year at Westchester Community College.
Visit www.HESC.Com to choose a lender and to complete a NEW Master Promissory Note each academic year. Print a copy of the completed Master Promissory Note.
Make an appointment to see a financial aid counselor to discuss loan amounts and to get additional information. You must bring the copy of the completed E-MPN with you to your LOAN Appointment with the Financial Aid Counselor.
Your counselor will then certify your loan and send you an award letter from the College indicating the amount for which your loan was certified.
Your guaranty agency will send your loan to the college through electronic funds transfer. You will receive a letter from the Office of Student Financial Assistance instructing you to accept or cancel your loan and indicating when your loan funds will be disbursed by the school.
Loan checks will be disbursed to you only after your class attendance has been verified. Students are, therefore, cautioned that they should not expect to receive any loan proceeds until well into the semester. Disbursement dates for loan checks are available in the Office of Student Financial Assistance each academic year. Any student for whom a loan has been certified by the college will have his /her tuition deferred against the loan and may even charge books from the bookstore against the loan, provided all his/her paperwork has been completed by the first two weeks of the semester, if the amount of the loan covers such expenses.

*NOTE: If you do not want to use any of the lenders listed on the HESC web site, contact your Financial Aid Counselor for instructions on how to have a loan processed for your lender/guarantor of choice.

Federal PLUS Loans to Parents of Undergraduate Students
Parents of undergraduate students may borrow up to the cost of education per year for each financially dependent student, taking into account all other financial aid received. Repayment begins within 60 days of disbursement, unless a deferment applies. The interest rate is capped at 9%. The 2008-09 interest rate was 8.50% Parents must be pre-qualified before the college will certify a Parent Loan for a student.

Federal Work Study (FWS)
This program provides jobs both on and off-campus for students who have additional need which cannot be met by grants or loans alone. Need, class schedule, academic progress, and health status determine the award. Students must meet all other federal eligibility requirements.

The Career and Transfer Center arranges jobs, including community service jobs and jobs falling under America Reads/America Counts. Salaries generally begin at $7.25 per hour based on skill and job requirements. Students hired under the America Reads Program have a starting salary of $9.25 per hour. In any academic year, a student may work for the number of hours that earns a gross salary equal to the dollar amount of his or her award. Students are paid on a bi-weekly basis. The Career and Transfer Center provides a listing of Federal Work-Study jobs available on campus and in the community, as well as administrative procedures for student placement. Working hours should not conflict with class schedules. Students may not work for more than an average of 20 hours a week while classes are in session and 40 hours during vacation periods.

The college must make employment reasonably available to all eligible students. In the event that more students are eligible for FWS than funds are available, preference is given to students who have the greatest financial need.

If you find that you are not eligible for financial aid, you are encouraged to use the Career and Transfer Center (see Student Life and Services). The Center can help you locate part-time and summer jobs from which you may earn a large part of your college expenses.

Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
TAP awards were originally for full-time students who meet all the general eligibility criteria and who are enrolled in accredited programs are eligible to receive a TAP award if their New York State net taxable income for the base year preceding the award year does not exceed $80,000 for dependent undergraduates or independent students with dependents. Single, independent students’ New York State net taxable income cannot exceed $10,000. Awards ranged from $250 to $1,775 a semester for the 2008-09 academic year. Awards are on a yearly basis starting with the summer session. TAP awards are limited to six semesters of full-time payment or equivalent, 36 points, for a two-year program.

Part-Time TAP Award
Effective with the 2007-2008 award year, part-time undergraduate students enrolled in 6 to 11 credits who were first-time freshmen in the 2006-07 academic year or thereafter, who complete 12 credits or more in each of the two preceding consecutive semesters, with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 are eligible for a part-time TAP award. Awards and points assigned are prorated based on enrollment status.

Accelerated TAP Award
Effective for semesters starting after January 1, 2007, students may also be eligible for a TAP ward for accelerated study during the summer semester. To qualify, students must have earned at least 24 credits applicable to their degree in the prior two semesters

APTS (Aid for Part-Time Study)
The Aid for Part-time Study program is a grant program financed by New York State in conjunction with participating educational institutions throughout the state. The program provides grant assistance for eligible part-time students enrolled in approved undergraduate studies.

APTS is a campus-based program where recipients and award amounts are determined locally by the participating institution rather than as an entitlement program with fixed award schedules that are administered by a central processing agency.

To be considered for an APTS award, students must:

Meet all the state aid eligibility requirements.
Enroll part-time (3-11 credits, at least 3 of which must be academic) as matriculated students in approved undergraduate degree programs or registered certificate programs at degree-granting institutions in New York State.
Independent students with dependents other than a spouse or dependent students cannot have a total NYS net taxable income in excess of $50, 550. Independent students with no qualifying dependents cannot have a NYS net taxable income in excess of $34, 250.
Not have used up Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility.
Not be in default on a Federal Family Education Loan

Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
The State University of New York's Educational Opportunity Program provides academic support and financial assistance to students who show promise for mastering college-level work, but who may otherwise find the college transition difficult. Offered primarily to full-time students who are New York State residents, the EOP accepts students who qualify, academically and financially, for the program.

Veterans’ Benefits
The New York State Higher Education Department has approved Westchester Community College for the training of veterans and the dependents of veterans under the various Veterans Readjustment Acts. For further information, contact the Veteran’s Counselors in the Office of Student Financial Assistance (914-606-6994).

Vietnam/Persian Gulf/Afghanistan/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans Tuition Award
These New York State Awards provide up to $1,000 per semester or tuition, whichever is less, for Vietnam veterans attending full-time and $500 per semester or tuition, whichever is less, for veterans attending part-time. The veteran must be enrolled in an undergraduate program at a degree-granting institution in New York State. The total awards received cannot exceed $10,000.

National Guard Tuition Program
A new educational incentive program of the division of Military and Naval Affairs began January 1997 for members of the Army National Guard (ARNG), Air National Guard (ANG), and Naval Militia (MNNM) in the State of New York.

Guard members may be eligible if they meet specific criteria:

Matriculated
Enrolled full-time or part-time (at least 6 credits)
Working on first baccalaureate degree
Attending an eligible New York institution
Applied for a Federal PELL and NYS TAP; and
Maintained good drill attendance

Students may receive up to $3,400/year ($1,700/semester) or tuition, whichever is less. Federal Pell and TAP awards will be deducted from tuition first, and the balance of tuition would be aid through this program. The Division of Military and Naval Affairs Educational Incentive Program Application is available from the National Guard. Students are responsible to pay the money back if they drop out of classes.

World Trade Center Memorial Program
World Trade Center Memorial Scholarships provide financial aid to children, spouses or financial dependents of deceased/disabled persons who have died, or who have become severely and permanently disabled during the September 11, 2001 attacks or rescue and recovery operation.

Awards are made for full-time undergraduate study at approved colleges and other postsecondary institutions in New York State for studies in collegiate programs of at least one year’s duration leading to a degree, diploma or certificate; hospital programs leading to licensure or certification in nursing or other fields of medical or health technology; and for two-year programs in registered private business school.

Note: New York State resident family members who were enrolled in undergraduate programs at U.S. colleges or universities located outside New York State on September 11, 2001 are also eligible for scholarship payments at that school.

Awards cover up to four years of full-time undergraduate studies (or five years in an approved five-year bachelor’s program). Students at a public college or university (SUNY or CUNY) have the following included in their scholarship award: actual tuition and mandatory educational fees; an allowance for room and board; and allowance for books, supplies and transportation. The total aid a student receives is affected by other grants and cannot exceed the cost of education.

Students must submit a World Trade Center application for any year in which they wish to receive payment. Students must also file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a TAP Application.

Child of Veteran (CV) or Corrections Officer (CO)
A child of a military service veteran who is deceased, 40% or more disabled, a former prisoner of war or missing in action as a result of service in World War I, World War II, Korean War or Vietnam War, or who died as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty as a corrections officer may receive up to $450 each year for four years of full-time undergraduate study (or five years in an approved five-year bachelor’s degree program). The combined Child of Veteran and/or Child of Correction Officer and TAP award can never exceed the amount of tuition. For further information, contact the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (NYSHESC) in Albany and request a CV or CO Award Supplement. You must file a FAFSA application and a TAP application.

Memorial Scholarship for Children and Spouses of Deceased Police Officers and Firefighters
This grant is awarded to children or spouses of police officers, firefighters or volunteer firefighters who died as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. Award amounts are based on tuition and non-tuition costs of attendance. An award will be equal to actual tuition costs or SUNY undergraduate tuition, whichever is less. The grant also provides for non-tuition costs in combination with other state and federal grants. File a FAFSA and a TAP application as well the appropriate Memorial Scholarship supplement which may be obtained from NYSHESC.

Flight 587 Memorial Scholarship for children, spouses and financial dependents of individuals killed in American airlines flight 587 crash in Queens, NY on 11/12/01

Applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the TAP application and the appropriate award supplement .

Military Service Recognition Scholarship for members of the armed services of the U.S or state organized militia who, while New York State residents, at any time on or after August 2, 1990, became severely and permanently disabled as a result of injury or illness incurred in a combat theatre or combat zone or during military training operations in preparation for duty in a combat theatre or combat zone of operation.

Also, children spouses and financial dependents of member of the above forces who were New York State residents at any time on or after August 2, 199, who died, became severely and permanently disabled as a result in injuries suffered or incurred, or are classified missing in action as a result of military activities as described above are also eligible.

Applicants must be a full time undergraduate student in an approved New York State post-secondary institution and must submit documentation supporting eligibility. In addition to applying for a TAP, award applicants must file the appropriate award supplement by May 1, 2009. Supplement may be requested from NYSHESC by calling 1-888-697-4372.

Volunteer Recruitment Service Scholarship for Volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel who are New York State residents for one year and are enrolled in an appropriate undergraduate program of at least 6 credits; have a high school diploma or GED. Applicants 23 years or older must have less than six months of volunteer service. No minimum or maximum time of service is required for applicants under 23 years old.

Recipients must have an academic average of "C" or better, must be an active volunteer, attend a college within 50 miles of the volunteer organization and be enrolled in school for the duration of the scholarship. The maximum award for attending Westchester Community College is $3,550, the annual full time tuition. Applicants must have applied for TAP. Contact your volunteer organization for further information. Deadline date is May1, 2009.

Veterans’ Benefits
Westchester Community College has been approved by the New York State Higher Education Department for training veterans and dependents of veterans under various Veterans Readjustment Acts.

The following programs are currently in effect:

VEAP (Chapter 32) Non-Contributory VEAP (section 903). Service beginning on or after January 1, 1977 through June 30, 1985.
Montgomery GI Bill. Active Duty Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 30) Service beginning after June 30, 1985
New GI Bill. Selected Reserved Educational Assistance Program (Chapter 1606).
REAP. A supplement to the Selective Reserve Benefit. REAP additionally compensates reservists and National Guard Members who served extended overseas tours. Awards are added to the standard Chapter 1606 benefit, also referred to as Chapter 1607.
New York State Educational Incentive Program. Covers tuition for current New York State National Guard and New York State Naval Militia participants only. Apply through the Education Office at your reserve unit.

For additional information, please contact the Veteran’s Counselor located in the Office of Student Financial Assistance or e-mail brian.smarsh@sunywcc.edu

Aid to Native Americans
You must be a member on the official tribal roll of a New York State tribe or child of a member. Documentation must be presented. Full-time awards are $875 per semester while pro-rated amounts are available for students taking less than 12 credits. Contact Native-American Education Unit, NYS Education Department, Education Building, Annex, Room 478, Albany, NY 12234. Call 518-474-0537

Educational Incentive Program
Tuition assistance is available to members of the New York Army or Air National Guard or Naval Militia who have successfully completed initial active duty training or who are fully commissioned. Candidates must not have a bachelor’s degree and must be pursuing an undergraduate degree on a part-time basis with a minimum of six credit hours a semester. Receipt of funds under the grant will not affect eligibility for the Montgomery GI bill. Awards will be limited to tuition minus any financial grant funds the student receives. Funds for this grant are dependent on appropriation by the New York State Legislature.

SUNY Empire State/Diversity Honors Scholarship
The Westchester Community College Foundation Diversity Honors Scholarship program provides grants to full-time students who are citizens or eligible non-citizens, meet NYS residency requirements and enrolled in a degree programs. Be a member of a racial/ethnic group that is underrepresented in the program or school. Although this may serve as a plus factor, this is not the sole basis for receiving an award. Every applicant will be evaluated on his or her own merits. Even though financial need is not a requirement, applicants may utilize economic disadvantage as a basis for eligibility. Awards range up to $1000 a year and are based on academic performance. Applications are available at the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID)
Westchester Community College is approved by the State Education Department of New York to offer college training to students certified by VESID as having demonstrated the ability to complete college level work and who are eligible to receive educational benefits under an individualized plan for employment. Students may be full or part-time.VESID may pay up to the full-time tuition and fees charged at Westchester Community College and up to $675 a semester for documented room and board charges.

VESID will cover up to $550 a semester for required textbooks. If additional funds are required for textbooks above the $550, students should document their need and submit to the VESID counselor. Funds for textbooks do not include expendable supplies such as paper, pencils and notebooks, unless they are uniquely related and required for participation in a specific course, or required because of limitations resulting from a disability

Application Process

File an application for support with VESID by April 15 for the Fall semester, and September 15 for the Spring semester.
File a FAFSA to apply for a Federal grants such as PELL, SEOG and ACG grant as well as State grants such as TAP and APTS. Students are not required to take out student loans or participate in student work-study to be eligible for VESID. However, student loans and work may be needed, in some instances, to help pay unmet need costs not covered by state and federal grants and VESID’s maximum educational contributions.
Submit documentation that the student has filed for all eligible state and federal financial aid grants and proof of grants received to VESID by June 1 for the Fall term and November 1 for the Spring term.

For more information on eligibility requirements, students should contact the VESID area office at 914-946-1313 or TTY 914-946-4634.

Additional Sources of Aid
In addition to the programs listed above, contact local community groups, high school, and places of parents’ employment for information about scholarships which maybe available.

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