Has anyone been on the NYS Excelsior scholarship and failed to meet the 30-credit requirement? We just received a letter and bill from son’s community college because my son only has 22 credits and I recently found out that he failed 1 class in spring and 2 this summer. All 3 classes were remote because of the coronavirus. Knowing my son’s inability to focus if he is not in an actual classroom, I should have checked on him during those periods. He was on a 504 plan all through out his elementary and secondary school due to his hearing impairment but refused to use accommodation in college. He struggled and with him bordering on depression/anxiety, he was overwhelmed with the changes this March after the switch to remote learning plus his plans to transfer to a university this fall.
He was given 365 days to complete the remaining 8 credits to meet the 30 credit requirement or he will be liable for the tuition for this past spring which is the bill we received. Any thoughts on how to handle this? I am mad at my son for letting this happen. Now we have to pay for $1,600+.
Have him take a class or two online over winter break and maybe a gym class and/or yoga class to get easy credits That should make 8 credits. If he takes them at another college, they will transfer for credit as long as he gets at least a C and the grade won’t count in his GPA. My son was on Excelsior and took difficult classes at the local CC so that he would be certain to get the credits.
Not only will you have to pay for the past term, your son will not be eligible for any future benefits from Excelsior. Unfortunately, as we all know, the state is hurting for money (to the extent that not all incoming freshmen, who were eligible for Excelsior received the scholarship).
HESC is very straight forward about the 30 credit requirement and what happens if you do not meet the requirement.
I haven’t had the chance to call the school because of my work schedule. My son took General studies for two years. Im trying to understand if he needs to take courses that are under that or if he can take courses that he can get credit also at his current university. Because if that is possible maybe he can take the courses this winter and then next summer. Thank you for the response.
Not only will you have to pay for the past term, your son will not be eligible for any future benefits from Excelsior. Unfortunately, as we all know, the state is hurting for money (to the extent that not all incoming freshmen, who were eligible for Excelsior received the scholarship).
HESC is very straight forward about the 30 credit requirement and what happens if you do not meet the requirement.
I will call the school next week and find out what our options are, if any. I am upset with my son for not being honest and straightforward with us. I had a long talk with him over the phone. I said that he will have to figure out how to pay off that $1600+ tuition fee if there are no other options. Our family is on a pretty tight budget having the two kids in college. Every penny counts. Ugh!
Your son has to make up the credits and the courses have to count toward his degree. They can’t be gym or yoga classes unless those are required for his major. If he doesn’t complete the credits you’ll be responsible for paying not only for last spring, but for the rest of his degree too.
Try contacting the financial aid office at his current school to ask what major he has to satisfy. Once the winter schedule is released I’d email them to get approval for the course(s) he chooses.
Is your son still within the 365 day period Or has the 365 days passed?
If the semester started August 2019 your son has until August 2020 to complete the 30 credits. It is now October , which is probably why you are being billed for the spring term.
The the school year 2019-2020 fall, winter spring and sumner terms have come snd gone and your son did not complete 30 credits as it is now fall 2020.
My son attended a SUNY and got credit for yoga and self-defense as phys ed credits. I am not certain that the 8 make up credits have to count for the major. There should be someone on campus who can answer that question.
However, I thought that the OP was saying that he was given until NEXT year to finish the 8 credits.
As for whether classes will transfer, check each school’s equivalency list. Select a class at your school, find the other school and then see if there’s an equivalent class. Generally, if there is, you can take it and it will transfer no problem, especially SUNY to SUNY. If there isn’t, you need to apply for a waiver so the credits will transfer.