E-mail this pageSatisfactory Academic Progress for Graduate Students with Federal or State Financial
Graduate Federal Aid Programs include Work-Study, Direct Student Loans, and Perkins Loans. State Aid Programs include the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and other miscellaneous New York State awards. Graduate students must maintain satisfactory academic progress in order to remain eligible for these aid programs. At the end of each semester, the Financial Aid Office (FAO) evaluates whether graduate students satisfy federal and state academic standards (see below). If a student fails any of these standards, FAO forwards the student a courtesy letter and may be required to cancel all financial aid for which the student is ineligible.
Federal Standards
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at SUNY Plattsburgh
- Graduate within ten years
The first time a student fails the GPA standard, the students is automatically assigned one-semester of probation and continues to receive federal aid during this probationary semester. If a student using a probationary semester does not satisfy all standards by the end of this probationary semester, he/she becomes ineligible for federal aid the following semester. Note that failure (E) and pass (P) grades are considered completed credits, although the following are not: incomplete (I), withdrawal (W), withdrawal failing (WE), unknown (UK), non-credit (NC), non-available (N), proficiency (PR), and audit (U). Students may repeat coursework according to University academic policy, defined in the college catalog. Students may appeal to waive ineligibility.
State Standards
Most graduate students do not have state aid programs, such as TAP, because of the restricted eligibility criteria for these programs. However, Table 2 lists the two academic standards for state aid programs for graduate students. The standards for state aid programs depend upon the number of TAP points consumed by the student. Students consume 6 points for each full-time semester with a TAP award. For example, a student with 30 TAP points must have earned at least 45 credits during his/her graduate academic career and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at Plattsburgh. Unlike federal regulations, the state does not have a probationary semester. Students may appeal to waive ineligibility.
| TAP Points Earned | Cumulative Credits Earned | Plattsburgh Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 2.00 |
| 12 | 12 | 2.50 |
| 18 | 21 | 2.75 |
| 24 | 30 | 3.00 |
| 30 | 45 | 3.00 |
| 36 | 60 | 3.00 |
| 42 | 75 | 3.00 |
| 48 | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Options and Appeal for a Waiver
If a student loses federal and/or state aid because of failing to maintain satisfactory academic progress, they can regain their aid eligibility by pursuing one of the following options. Note that a student must be below the maximum timeframe for federal aid programs or below the maximum TAP points in order to pursue these options:
- Enroll in classes at Plattsburgh, address all of the failed standards for satisfactory academic progress, and then become eligible again in the following semester. If a student pursues this option, they will attend without any aid in which they did not maintain satisfactory academic progress. If the student needs financial assistance in meeting college costs, they should consider applying for an alternative student loan. View common alternative loans and application procedures.
- Have an appeal to waive their ineligibility approved by FAO. If a student chooses to pursue this option, they must submit a Financial Aid Appeal Form by the due date. Waivers are warranted under extraordinary and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the student that had an inevitable impact on academic performance. The student must thoroughly and comprehensively document the circumstances in writing from credible sources. There must also be a reasonable expectation that the student will meet all future requirements. A waiver is only valid for one semester. By the end of this semester, students must satisfy all academic standards in order to be eligible for federal and state aid again.
- Download the Appeal Form. (Note: This document requires the latest version of Acrobat Reader, which is available as a free download.
These options must be completed in addition to the requirements of any other university department. If you have any questions or need additional assistance, please telephone our office at (518) 564-2072 or toll-free at (877) 768-5976.
Contact Information
For more information about Financial Aid at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact:
Financial Aid Office
Phone: (518) 564-2072
Toll-Free Phone: (877) 768-5976
Fax: (518)564-4079
E-mail: finaid@plattsburgh.edu
Our mailing address:
Financial Aid OfficeSUNY Plattsburgh
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901-12681