Finger Lakes Community College

Eligibility Requirements

First-time College Students:

To be eligible for EOP as a first-time college student, you must:

• Be a New York State resident.
• Complete and file an application for admission to FLCC, and be admitted to a degree program.
• Apply for financial aid by filing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid ) and Express TAP (Tuition Assistance Program) Applications.
• Register as a full-time student (12 or more credits).
• Meet academic and income guidelines (see below).

Academic Guidelines

First-time students must have documents on file with the Admissions Office showing they meet at least one of the following as evidence of academic under-preparedness:

• Have graduated from an accredited high school:
  1. with an average of 80 or less, or
  2. in a vocational program, or
  3. lacking college preparatory coursework in academic areas required for the college major area (i.e., math and science courses)
• Possess a high school equivalency diploma (GED)
• Be a non-high school graduate enrolled in the Ability to Benefit Program, which allows eligible students to receive a GED by successfully completing 24 college credits.

Other evidence of under-preparedness may also be given consideration, such as a requirement for pre-requisite academic or developmental coursework as a result of basic skills testing.

Income Guidelines

The table below lists financial guidelines for EOP eligibility during the 2008-09 academic year.  In order to be determined economically disadvantaged, a student’s household income must not exceed the amount shown for its size in the applicable category or the student’s circumstances must conform to one of the exceptions indicated.

For students first entering college during the 2008-09 academic year--total annual income in calendar year 2007 must not exceed:

Household Size (including head of household)	Total Annual Income in Prev. Calendar Year*
	Category A	Category B	Category C
1	15,140	20,390	23,020
2	20,390	25,640	28,270
3	25,650	30,900	33,530
4	30,900	36,150	38,780
5	36,150	41,400	44,030
6	41,410	46,660	49,290
7	46,660	51,910	54,540
7+	in each category, add 5,250 for each family member in excess of seven

Household Categories

A	Supported by one or more individuals whose combined income is from Social Security or sources other than employment and which does not exceed the applicable amount under "Category A" above.
B	Supported by one or more worker(s) whose combined total annual income does not exceed the applicable amount under "Category B" above.
C	For households supported by one worker with two or more employers, which does not exceed the applicable amount under "Category C" above.

Income Guidelines Also Do Not Apply If...

• The student’s family is the recipient of Family Assistance or Safety Net payments through the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance or through a county Department of Social Services; or of Family Day Care payments through the New York State Office of Children and Family Assistance or a county Department of Social Services;
• The student lives with foster parents who do not provide support for college and the student’s natural parents provide no such support;
• The student is a ward of the state or county.

Transfer students

Applicants entering FLCC who have previously attended another college or other post-secondary educational program are eligible for EOP at FLCC only if they are New York State residents and have been enrolled in a similar post-secondary opportunity program such as EOP, HEOP, SEEK, or College Discovery at their previous college. Verification of previous status is required.

Currently attending students and students re-entering FLCC

Students are eligible for EOP only if they were previously admitted to FLCC as EOP students. Current students who were admitted to the College as EOP students will not need to reapply for the program. Re-entering students must be New York State residents, apply for financial aid, be in good academic standing, and must not be in default on a federal student loan.

Deadlines for applying are mid-August for fall and mid-January for spring.