Required Courses and Student Outcome Tracking

Students must enroll in required courses to qualify for New York State financial aid, such as TAP and the Excelsior Scholarship.   Buffalo State systemically reviews students’ enrollment for required courses using Student Outcome Tracking (SOT).  SOT compares students’ enrollment to their Degree Works audit to verify each course that is required and fulfills specific degree requirements.  If the SOT process identifies courses not required, students will be notified so they can take the appropriate actions (e.g., change their registration, work with the advisor to update Degree Works, etc.).  Students’ NYS financial aid will be adjusted after registration ends to reflect the number of required credits they are enrolled in, which could result in a reduction or cancellation of financial aid.

Eligibility for Tuition Assistance Program

The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a grant program for New York State residents who are enrolled full time (12 or more credit hours per semester). The on-line TAP application can be accessed after completing the FAFSA by linking to it directly from the FAFSA Confirmation Page. If you miss the TAP link after finishing the FAFSA, you must wait five business days until your FAFSA data is received by HESC. After the information is received, you can complete a NYS Student Aid Payment Application.

To be eligible for TAP, students must:

Be accepted into a major prior to their completion of 60 credit hours

• Pre-major and undeclared status are unacceptable for TAP purposes once a student has earned 60 credit hours

Enroll full-time each semester only in courses that apply to the program of study or major

• Minimum of 12 new credit hours required
• Enrollment in course(s) previously failed or withdrawn from is allowed as part of the minimum 12 credit hours

Maintain satisfactory academic progress according to the published TAP chart.

Students enrolled for less than 12 credit hours can apply for Aid for Part-Time Study (APTS).

SUNY Tuition Credit (SUNYTC)

SUNYTC is a SUNY grant for TAP-eligible students that helps to offset the rising tuition cost.