I. What is HEOP?

The Higher Education Opportunity Program offers a select group of students the financial aid and academic services needed to earn a Nyack College degree.

  A. It is designed for a select group of students:
    1. They come from households with modest incomes.
    2. They have potential for success at Nyack College, but their high school performance and/or test scores understate their potential.
  B. It provides a significant amount of financial aid:
    1. Nyack’s HEOP distributed more than $300,000 in scholarships and grants to 46 students during the 2003-2004 academic year.
    2. Students enrolled in the program may take up to five (5) years, with financial aid, to complete their baccalaureate degrees.
    3. Nyack’s HEOP financial aid is awarded in addition to other grants and loans (such as Pell, TAP, STAP, SEOG, GSL and Perkins).
  C. It provides an array of academic services:
    1. No-cost participation in the College Warm-Up Program, an intensive five-week summer session designed to prepare students for the freshmen year.
    2. Free tutoring and supplemental instruction.
    3. Developmental and interdisciplinary courses to sharpen reading, writing, critical thinking, and other basic academic skills.
    4. Academic advising and counseling.
    5. Personal development and career counseling.

II. What does the program expect of its students?
All students selected to participate in Nyack’s HEOP are expected to:

  A. Recognize that Nyack College and New York State are making a significant investment in their future.
  B. Assume personal responsibility for their education, maintain a high degree of motivation and self-discipline, and make good academic progress; and
  C. Demonstrate a strong commitment to completing their degrees at Nyack.

III. How does an individual qualify for Nyack’s HEOP?
To qualify for the program, an individual must:

  A. Be a New York State resident for at least one year prior to beginning his/her studies at Nyack.
  B. Meet the income guidelines listed on the reverse side.₁
  C. Satisfy two out of four of the following academic criteria:
    1. have a SAT composite not greater than 920; ₂
    2. have a SAT verbal score not greater than 480; ₂
    3. rank below the top half of his/her high school graduating class;
    4. have a cumulative high school average not higher than 74 (2.0 or C);
        OR possess a general equivalency diploma (GED) with a score of 2750 or below, or nonacademic high school diploma.

₁ The New York State Education Department may grant exceptions to the income guidelines in a number of special cases. Please direct questions to Linda Alexander, Director of HEOP, at 845-358-1710, ext. 561.
₂ Scores for SAT exams taken on or after May 1, 1995.

 2004-2005 HEOP INCOME GUIDELINES

 Total household income for HEOP students entering Nyack College on or after July 1, 2004 may not exceed the limits below. Household members include all persons dependent upon the household income, even if they are not claimed as tax exemptions.

Total income includes the amount recorded on the “total income” line of the 2004 federal income tax plus any other sources of income (taxable or nontaxable) received during 2003. It does not include a dependent student’s government money received for educational purposes, and aid to dependent children, home relief, public assistance or family day care payments.

Exceptions

Income may exceed stated guidelines by up to $1,800 if the family is supported by one member who works for two or more employers.

Income may exceed stated guidelines by up to $4,800 if one of the following conditions exists:

• There is one head of household and that person works to support the family.
• There are two workers supporting a family.

You may exceed the above limits when:

• Your 2004 income represents a sudden increase in annual household income.
• Your household income was seriously mismanaged.
• Your household income was depleted by medical obligations.
• Your family was forced to maintain two households.

You automatically qualify for HEOP regardless of the above limits when:

• Your family was in receipt of state or county aid to dependent children, home relief, public assistance or family day care payments during 2004.
• You live with foster parents and receive no money for college from your natural or foster parents.
• You are a ward of the state or county.
• Both of your parents are deceased.

Submission of Forms and Documentation

Please submit to the Office of Academic Development a signed copy of your 2004 federal tax return(s), or IRS Form 4506 if no return was filed, and acceptable documentation of any pension, annuity or social security income, veteran’s benefits, social services or public assistance, child support and alimony payments, and verification of additional household members not claimed as dependents on tax returns.

Questions about the criteria for independent status should be directed to Andres Valenzuela, Director of Student Financial Services, at 845-358-1710, ext. 791 (FAX 845-358-7016), or to Linda Alexander, Director of HEOP, at 845-358-1710, ext. 560 (FAX 845-353-6334).

Revised 2-3-05