My daughter was accepted Into the NYS STEM incentive program which pays for SUNY tuition with a 5 year commitment to work in NYS in a STEM field. She also had a qualifying disability to receive rehabilitation services from Vesid AR which covers tuition, books, fees and partial Room and Board. Since both programs cover tuition it doesn’t feel like accepting them both makes sense. The Vesid resources are more beneficial because there is additional funding for fees, books, materials, partial RM and Board with no post graduation commitment. However, my concern is that the vesid resource is yearly and there is guarantee that these services will be available for all four years. We meet the qualifications this year but requirements can change. Can overpayment for tuition incentives be applied to RM and Board for either of these programs. I know both specify they cover tuition after other financial aid which sounds like one would cancel the other one out. I want to give her the advice to accept both as a contingency since we do not qualify for TAP or PELL and local scholarships equal 3K. Don’t want to make a bad dicision and decline STEM and Vesid funding changes during the next 4 years. I don’t know if we are able to select which funds get applied first and keeping STEM as a back up to ensure tuition is covered. I’m probably over thinking this, I tend to do that when it comes to my girls.
Even if she accepts the STEM Scholarship, she can still get the other services from ACCES-VR (formerly VESID). They will pay up to 3k/year for room and board.
Since the funding from ACCES comes from NYSED, you probably are not going to be able to double dip and have tuition payments applied to room and board.
http://www.acces.nysed.gov/common/acces/files/vr/policy405.pdf
Please be reminded that you must also apply for financial aid.
for example: While the tuition benefit through ACCES is up to the full cost of SUNY tuition, it does not mean that you are automatically eligible for full SUNY tuition amount.
Did she apply for services through ACCES? Did she apply by the deadline?
Did she meet with her ACCES-VR counselor and attend all of her follow up appointments?
There is also a person in the bursar’s/financial aid at her college who can give you information as to how the credits are applied at their school. ACCES-VR pays as a trailer, which means their benefits are not paid to the school until the semester is over and you /your child submits a transcript showing that they successfully completed along with the bill.
Sybbie, you are awesome! Good info.
We applied for Financial Aid and do not qualify for TAP/PELL based on 2015 income
Yes she applied by the deadline and met with a counselor. We received a calculation of consumer participation in the cost of services (2016-2017). It advised she is not expected to participate in the cost of services this year. Shes needs to sign it and send it back as part of the next steps.
We also have to sign, notarize and accept the STEM contract in 14 days. So ideally if she accepts STEM it will most likely be applied first because ACCES-VR pays as a trailer. We would be accepting STEM payment this year although we had other options to pay tutition and she will be required to pay the amount back if she doesn’t meet the service obligations.
However, next year we will have one less dependent (my son) which may change the outcome of our expected participation in the cost ACCESS-VR services.
Sybbie in your opinion does it make sense to still accept STEM being you can only participate in the program before starting college? It locks her in to the service obligation but secures tuition regardless of changes in financial need. If she doesn’t meet the service obligation she would need to repay STEM award which would be unfortunate if we were eligible for ACCESS benefits all four year but there is no way of knowing that now.
There are a lot of majors and a lot of occupations covered by the scholarship
Academic program listing
Approved occupations listing
If your daughter has doubts as to whether she wants to be a STEM major or commits to working 5 years in NYS, then she should turn down the scholarship (monies convert to an unsubsidized loan if she does not fulfill the contract).
While it is advised that she is not expected to participate in the cost of services, ask them what are her options, especially if she decides not to take the STEM scholarship.
When she met with them, what did she tell them she was interested in studying or career? She cannot tell them that she is undecided or simply wants to do liberal arts as the goal of ACCES, is to assist her in doing something that will result in her being able to get a job.
If she is not expected to participate in the cost of services, this means, that ACCES should cover her tuition and fees should she decide not to do STEM. Should she do Stem and get the STEM scholarship, she should still get her fees covered, 3k for room and board along with the book stipend.
If she turns down the scholarship, she should be able to get everything from them if they are not looking for her to contribute. She should meet with them to get clarification and get her detailed letter as to what they will cover for 2016-2017 (they seem to really want to work with students). They should give her a letter with the estimated costs (what they will cover for tuition, fees, room board, textbooks and course materials).
Find out who at her school is responsible for coordinating the ACCES payments (then you would just be billed for what is not covered, minus any loans, that she may take out).
In addition, make sure that she registers her IEP with the office of accessibility services.
You should also ask if your daughter can get TRIO services (check the policy at her school). While she may not be first gen or economically disadvantaged, she is a student with a disability. Nothing to lose by asking.
TRiO participants must have a demonstrated need for academic support; they must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and accepted for college enrollment.
Participants must also meet one or more of the following criteria:
be a first generation college-student, i.e., neither parent has a four year college degree, and/or
must have a family income within the limits set by the U.S. Department of Education and verified by the TRiO Office, and/or
have documentation of a physical, emotional and/or learning disability.
Yes, she discussed her career path with the ACCESS counselor. Her major is Human Biology and Neuroscience. Her current interest is in medical research. (Included in STEM Occupation/Major). She also has intrest in medicine from a patient care perspective (MD) which will not meet the service obligation if she chooses to peruse a medical career that does not primarily involve research. She needs to weigh that in her decision to accept the scholarship. I will share the information with her. We have origination scheduled to meet with the school advisors. Thanks to you We have some solid questions to ask regarding the coordination of ACCESS payment etc.
I will have her look into TRiO and registration for IEP. Thank you.
I appreciate your thorough research and the quality of the info and links you shared! Stay awesome!