Low Grades Can Cost Big Bucks
The Flap over SAP is real for many students
Neffe Vaughn, Dawn Brown and Casey Titus, above, are among students who say a lot more information is needed about how much financial aid trouble — and sometimes debt — lurks for students who get low grades.
By Douglas M. Smith / for SullReal
SPRING 2011 — With the rush to complete end-of-term research papers upon us and finals looming near, the thought of losing your financial aid is probably your least concern. Yet it is a topic that should not be underestimated. Frank Sinigaglia, Coordinator of First Year Experience, informed SullReal that “about 10% of students annually lose their financial aid due to unsatisfactory performance.” That’s about 130 students who will be without financial aid and may find themselves with a bill to pay back what they received.
Approximately 80% of SCCC’s students receive some form of financial aid. Through a combination of Pell Grants, The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grants, Federal Stafford Loans, scholarships, and numerous other programs, a student at Sullivan County Community College can fund their entire college cost of attendance. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) makes applying for these programs relatively easy.
The students, for the most part, seem to understand where their aid comes from. Neffe Vaughn, a freshman liberal arts student who is receiving financial aid, indicated that she understood how her financial aid award was determined. Dawn Baron, a former student of SCCC who received financial aid, said, “They were very clear.” Casey Titus, a sophomore, responded to this by saying that he understood his financial aid, “somewhat, mostly yes.” However, Siwon Gonzalez, a freshman Liberal Arts student and a member of the Student Government Association, said, “I understand some of my financial aid, but I have questions on other things.”
On the downside, it is also easy to lose financial aid after it has been awarded. Receiving financial aid is contingent upon the student maintaining satisfactory academic performance, also known as SAP. At a student assembly in September of this year SCCC Director of Financial Aid James Winderl gave an instructive presentation on the importance of students maintaining satisfactory academic performance in order to retain their eligibility for financial aid. Mr. Winderl presented several specific examples to demonstrate how SAP is calculated for both Pell grant eligibility and New York State TAP eligibility. Generally speaking, a student whose grade point average is below 2.0 could be in financial aid trouble, but Satisfactory Academic Performance is a little more complex than that. A student who fails to maintain satisfactory academic performance could lose eligibility for financial aid. In some circumstances, financial aid that hasn’t been earned can be refunded to the Federal Government. Sinigaglia stated that in some cases, the students may owe a balance to the college that can effectively “put a freeze on their records.” The college won’t release student transcripts if a balance is owed. He also wished to remind students who are having academic difficulties that “support is in place for them” referring to a number of tutoring and academic help services.
The emphasis on SAP during the presentation is indicative a general lack of understanding in the student community about how SAP works. Both Casey Titus and Dawn Baron that they weren’t aware of how SAP worked. Gonzalez stated that, “The financial aid process is stressful.” Neffe Vaughn was also unaware of how SAP worked. She suggested that the college “hold an assembly at a time when all the students could attend” for the purpose of explaining SAP. (The assembly held on September 16 conflicted with several classes that were scheduled at the same time). Vaughn also suggested that the college provide more information on “work study programs,” and other ways that “students could pay off their debts.”
Helpful links …
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (TAP Grants)
Satisfactory Academic Performance – Federal
SullReal 
Well, you must show your effort to have financial aid pay off your debt. I say that those in need of help should seek help and also fellow students should help troubling students in their academics. Uniting everyone is Sullivan can and may show better progress if we all can just simply “be together”. Also, we should close down the union and stop watching Maury…It’s bad for college students that make them look like High School students