NY A00946

Lowers full-time credit requirements from 30 to 24 credits per year and adds new part-time eligibility requiring 12 credits per year for prior enrollment and 6 credits per year for ongoing enrollment.

Establishes separate award amounts of up to $5,500 for full-time students and $2,500 for part-time students, or actual tuition whichever is less.

Extends scholarship duration to five academic years for full-time or ten academic years for part-time four-year degree programs, and six full-time or twelve part-time years for five-year programs.

Expands eligibility to include students enrolled part-time in BOCES or approved vocational programs at SUNY or CUNY community colleges, with awards available for up to four full-time or eight part-time academic years.

Removes penalties for students who do not complete their degree or vocational program and adjusts income thresholds to $135,000 for 2021-2022 academic year, $150,000 for 2022-2023, and $150,000 for 2023-2024 and thereafter.