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Berkeley College Graduation Incentive Program - Effective Winter 2020

The Graduation Incentive Program is designed to help students in Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs balance their course loads with other responsibilities. For every four courses completed, eligible students may take an additional course at no charge in their final semester. This may allow full-time students to (i) complete an Associate’s degree program in five semesters while only paying tuition and fees for four semesters; or (ii) complete a Bachelor’s degree program in ten semesters while only paying tuition and fees for eight semesters. Part-time students may receive this award, however, it will take additional time for such students to earn the complimentary courses.

Example for a full-time student in an Associate’s degree program:

First Semester:            4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Second Semester:       4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Third Semester:          4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Fourth Semester:        4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Fifth Semester:           4 complimentary courses completed            

 

Example for a full-time student in a Bachelor’s degree program:

First Semester:            4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Second Semester:       4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Third Semester:          4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Fourth Semester:        4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Fifth Semester:           4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Sixth Semester:           4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Seventh Semester:     4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned       

Eight Semester:          4 courses completed                          1 complimentary course earned

Ninth Semester:         4 complimentary courses completed            

Tenth Semester:         4 complimentary courses completed                        

 

Open to: High school, adult, and international students entering Winter 2020 and forward.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Students must submit a Graduation Incentive Program Application or the Graduation Incentive Program Application for Veteran and Military Students to their campus Financial Aid Office.
  • Full-time or part-time enrollment in an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree program.
  • Successful completion of four (4) courses for every one (1) complimentary course. Completion means that a student has earned a passing grade in the course.
  • Student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress.
  • Students must maintain continuous enrollment. Students who have attended for at least two consecutive semesters may take one semester off without losing eligibility.

Ineligibility

The following students are not eligible to participate in this Program:

  • Returning students who previously enrolled prior to Winter 2020 and re-enrolled for the Winter 2020 semester or any time thereafter
  • Transfer students
  • MBA students
  • Certificate program students
  • Students who change degree programs
  • Students eligible to receive the following Berkeley College Grants or Scholarships: Bachelor Grant, DECA/FBLA/HOSA Scholarship, Distinction Scholarship, Honors Scholarship, International Honors Scholarship, Law Enforcement Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, Transfer Opportunity Program Grant, and Yellow Ribbon Grant.
  • Students who do not otherwise meet the eligibility criteria

Additional Terms:

The Award

  • During the final semester (or final two semesters), the College will charge tuition and first apply any federal grants and/or state grants that the student is eligible to receive. The College will then apply this award to cover the last semester balance for all complimentary courses earned.
  • Associate’s degree recipients of this award cannot use or combine any other institutional aid in their final semester (full-time) or last two semesters (part-time). Bachelor’s degree recipients of this award cannot use or combine any other institutional aid in their final two semesters (full-time) or last four semesters (part-time).
  • This award does not cover and will not extend to any prior balances that the student may have with the College.
  • The award will only apply to the associate’s degree student’s final semester (full-time) or final two semesters (part-time) in the degree program. For bachelor’s degree students, the award will only apply to the student’s final two semesters (full-time) or final four semesters (part-time).
  • This award does not extend to any additional courses, such as an elective course that is not required to graduate. Students who elect to take courses (such as an elective) in addition to their complimentary courses will be responsible for the cost of such additional course(s).
  • In some cases, a student may need five (5) courses to graduate. In such cases, the student will still be charged the same full-time tuition rate. The College will not pro-rate the tuition charges or include an additional charge for the fifth required course. All five (5) courses will be treated as complimentary.

Courses  

  • Courses that are deemed completed on a student’s transcript as a result of AP credits; credit for prior learning; and/or earn credits resulting from challenge examinations will not be counted. Depending on the number of courses completed (and credits earned), students may earn fewer complimentary courses than a student who did not earn such credits.
  • Courses that are deemed completed in connection dual enrollment will be counted, so long as such courses are required for or could be counted as an elective for the associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree program. Courses taken through Jump Start or study abroad will not count towards this Program.
  • Remedial courses that are charged and completed (so long as the student is enrolled in an associate’s degree program while taking such remedial courses) will be counted. Even if the student accrues four (4) complimentary courses prior to the final semester, such complimentary courses will not be applied until the final semester.
  • In the event the College does not offer one or more required course(s) that the student needs to graduate during his or her final semester, then the complimentary course(s) will be carried over and applied to the following semester. If the student exhausts some or all federal or state aid as a result of needing to return for an additional semester, the College will award institutional aid in lieu of the exhausted aid.
  • If a student fails or withdraws from one or more courses, then the course(s) will not be counted and the student will be responsible for the additional cost of the repeat course(s).
  • If a student fails or withdraws from one or more of the complimentary courses, then such course(s) will be considered redeemed. The student will be responsible for the additional cost of the repeat course(s).

Enrollment & SAP

  • Students who have remain enrolled for at least two consecutive semesters and may take one semester off.
    • Students who have withdrawn mid-semester will lose their eligibility to participate.
    • Students who (i) withdraw (other than as permitted above); (ii) are dismissed; or (iii) otherwise leave for more than one semester are automatically rendered ineligible to receive this award.
    • If a student is re-admitted and/or re-enrolls, he or she will be considered ineligible to receive this award and will be responsible for the cost of any complimentary courses previously earned.
  • Students who switch from a New Jersey associate’s degree program to a corresponding New York associate’s degree program (or vice versa) will remain eligible to receive this award.
  • Students who fail to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress will be considered ineligible to receive this award and will be responsible for the cost of any complimentary courses previously earned. (This includes students who are placed on a warning status; probation status; academic plan status; or who are dismissed for failure to maintain SAP.)

Appeals

If a student becomes, or knows he or she is about to become, ineligible to receive this incentive due to extraordinary circumstances, he or she may appeal in writing (including email) to the Graduation Incentive Appeal Committee (which consists of the Vice President of Financial Aid, Vice President of Academic Advisement, and Campus Operating Officer of the applicable campus). All decisions by the Graduation Incentive Appeal Committee will be final.