Governor George E. Pataki signed legislation establishing the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship. The New York State Higher Education Services Corporation has prepared this information to help you counsel students.
The World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship guarantees access to a college education for the families and financial dependents of innocent victims, who died or were severely and permanently disabled and survivors who were severely and permanently disabled as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States of America and associated rescue and recovery efforts. Eligibility for the Memorial Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers is expanded to include emergency medical service workers, and provides enhanced awards.
Effective immediately and retroactive for the 2001-02 academic year, this program:
1. Q) How does a student apply for aid?
A) WTC applications to establish eligibility are available at the hesc.org Web site; students or families should contact HESC at 1-888-NYS-HESC (1-888-697-4372) or 1-800-445-5234 (TDD) with questions. We also urge colleges to contact HESC at the above number with information on current students. Calls concerning the scholarship will automatically be transferred to the Scholarship Unit. Students should file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to request payment.
2. Q) SUNY and CUNY colleges were required by Executive Order to provide WTC Scholarship awards in 2001-02. What should colleges do now to receive reimbursement?
A) Colleges should immediately forward required documentation (death certificate, birth certificate, etc.) accompanying the student's application and payment information to HESC's Scholarship Unit, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12255.
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3.-Q)-Must students be New York State residents to receive World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship awards?
-A)-No. The current New York State residency requirements have also been eliminated for the Memorial Scholarships.
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4.-Q)-Must students be U.S. citizens or Title IV eligible non-citizens to receive the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship?
-A)-No, but students must be legally admitted into the United States. Therefore, students holding valid student visas are eligible for the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship.
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5.-Q)-How will award amounts for the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship be determined?
-A)-The budget elements which will be used in the formula are as follows:
Educational Expenses for the 2011-12 academic year
The certification worksheet will be posted on the Web site (www.hesc.org) shortly. At SUNY and at CUNY the scholarship will cover actual in-state tuition and fees, actual dormitory charges for resident students or allowances for off-campus and commuter students and allowances for books and supplies and transportation.
At private colleges, the scholarship will consist of an amount equal to the in-state tuition charged at a four-year SUNY college, the average mandatory fees charged at four-year SUNY colleges, or the actual tuition and mandatory fees charged the student, whichever is less, and the average non-tuition cost of attendance for a student at SUNY; or the actual non-tuition cost of attendance of the student, whichever is less. Non-tuition cost of attendance includes allowances for room and board, books and supplies and transportation.
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6.-Q)-How will other aid interact with the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship?
-A)-Students cannot receive financial aid more than the cost of attendance used for Title IV purposes. Most other aid including Pell and other scholarships will be applied to the cost of attendance before the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship. For example: If a resident student at a SUNY college receives a $2,000 Pell award and the student has a cost of attendance for Title IV aid of $13,500, the Pell award amount would be applied first, and a World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship of $11,500 would be awarded.
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7.-Q)-What if the student's actual costs are higher than the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship allowances?
-A)-The stated purpose of the program is to provide for an amount equal to the average cost of attendance at a SUNY college. Other costs, such as tuition at a private institution or personal costs may be covered by other aid.
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8.-Q)-Will students need documentation?
-A)-In most cases, students will need to provide a death certificate until official documented lists become available to verify eligibility. Proof of relationship to the victim will also be required. Colleges will not be required to collect or verify documentation, which will be the responsibility of HESC.
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9.-Q)-If the student is from out-of-state and attends a SUNY or CUNY institution, what is the tuition charge?
-A)-The program provides in-state tuition will be charged.
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10.-Q)-What should be done with current students who have a financial aid package? Loans in particular?
-A)-Financial aid packages should be recalculated and reassessed to reflect the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship. If the addition of the new aid results in over-awarding, any loan should be returned before any reduction of the scholarship amount.
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11.-Q)-Some students who lost parents or spouses dropped out in the Fall term after classes began. Can the scholarship be used to cover their costs?
-A)-Although this use of the scholarship is not specifically prohibited, it will not be in the best interest of the student. We believe all colleges in New York State have and will continue to waive charges for students who were forced to leave college.
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12.-Q)-For how many years can a student receive World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship award?
-A)-A student may receive awards for up to four years unless the student is matriculated in an approved five-year program normally requiring five years to complete. Students in educational opportunity programs such as HEOP, EOP, SEEK, or CD programs are also eligible for a fifth year award.
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13.-Q)-If the financial aid administrator determines a student to be independent for
Title IV purposes using professional judgement, is the student considered to be independent for purposes of World Trade Center Memorial Scholarships?
-A)-No. Financial independence of a student for the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship is determined using the independence criteria that apply to TAP.
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14.-Q)-Under what conditions can a student receive a WTC Scholarship award at a
non-New York State institution?
-A)-The WTC Scholarship awards are available for New York State resident students to complete their education in the out-of-state institution they were attending on September 11, 2001. All other recipients must attend institutions within New York State to receive WTC Scholarship payments.
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15.-Q)-How will colleges certify eligibility?
-A)-TAP Certifying Officers will be required to certify general eligibility criteria as for TAP or other scholarship awards. Financial aid officers and bursars will be required to report other grants, scholarships and outside sources of financial aid. HESC will provide certification documents and training materials for this purpose.
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16.-Q)-Many firefighters, police, peace officers, and emergency medical service workers died in the attack of September 11, 2001. What changes have been made to the existing Memorial Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers and Emergency Medical Service Workers, and how will the scholarships interact?
-A)-The same approach is used to determine awards for the recipients of Memorial Scholarships for Children and Spouses of Deceased Firefighters, Volunteer Firefighters, Police Officers, Peace Officers and Emergency Medical Service Workers and the World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship. Changes made to the existing Memorial Scholarships are:
The above changes will be retroactive to the 2001-02 academic year and will result in additional payments for some students.
