Frequently Asked Questions

ASAP, or Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, is a one-time opportunity, beginning in the Fall 2007 for New York City resident students attending one of CUNY’s six community colleges to get extra support to successfully obtain their associate degree within no more than six to eight semesters. ASAP has been designed to provide students with the right courses when needed, to offer class schedules convenient to their lives, and to offer personal advisement, academic support services, and guidance on career and job placements.

ASAP will offer students a combination of block programming, extra (and required) support services and enrichment activities, small classes (25 or less students), career development and job placement assistance, text books at no cost, and the possibility of attending college cost-free, if eligible.

Near completion of their degree, all ASAP students will receive personal guidance in gaining employment in their selected career field or admission to an appropriate program at a baccalaureate-degree granting college or university.

ASAP can be tuition-and fee-free for the entire academic year to those students who file the FAFSA form no later than June 1, 2007 and are certified as eligible for some amount of state and/or federal financial aid.

Students who do not receive financial aid may participate in ASAP, including students who are defined as “undocumented” and who meet the New York City residency guidelines.

All students in ASAP (regardless of whether they receive other financial aid) will be provided with their textbooks – which means that all students in the program will be saving as much as $600-$700 per semester in book expenses.

The remaining balance in the cost of tuition and fees after the total award for TAP and PELL has been deducted will be paid by ASAP. PELL funds, often used for travel and related college-attendance expenses, will be applied to tuition. In addition, textbooks for all courses each semester will be provided by ASAP. This means that students eligible for partial TAP and PELL could actually receive more assistance through ASAP.

As ASAP will be providing students textbooks, students eligible for the PELL book voucher (after tuition and fee expenses have been met), may qualify for a reduced book voucher which can be used specifically for supplies.

Block programming at B.C.C. consists of a related combination of three or more classes offered mornings, afternoons or evenings. Block programming produces more “student-friendly” schedules, and insures that students take the right courses at the right time. It also creates cohorts of students who will “travel together” toward their degree.

Each ASAP student will be assigned to an advisor who will act as their personal counselor throughout their ASAP experience. They will receive extra academic support services including meetings with advisors, faculty and mentors, attendance at activities related to careers and employment, and participation in tutoring or other academic assistance, as needed.

Students will be expected to remain in good academic standing, maintain their full-time student status, and attend supplemental ASAP activities.

Fail to meet the required GPA? They will remain in ASAP and be on academic probation and be subject to academic dismissal like any other non-ASAP student. They will receive the counseling and academic support to enable them to return to good academic standing.

Wish to change programs? A student may change from one ASAP program to another with the approval of the campus ASAP coordinator.

Plan to transfer after one semester? A student who transfers to another CUNY community college can remain an ASAP student at that college, pending space available, with the permission of the ASAP campus coordinator at the receiving school.

Move out of New York City? A student who moves out of New York City after completing one or more semesters in ASAP may stay in ASAP, but will stop receiving ASAP financial assistance.

ASAP is available to a selected group of students who are willing and able to commit to a full-time schedule of college courses (12 credits minimum each semester) starting with the Fall 2007 semester, and to participate in a comprehensive and free summer program.

Be residents of New York City. This includes eligible undocumented students who have graduated from a NYC high school or obtained their GED within five years prior to admission.

Be “remedial-free” by the start of the fall semester. This includes incoming students who are exempt from the CUNY/ACT Skills Assessment test based on NYS Regents, SAT or ACT scores;

Need only one area of remediation (Math OR Reading and Writing) based upon SAT, ACT, Regents scores or results of the CUNY/ACT Skills Assessment test. Students identified as needing only one area of remediation will attend the summer program to be able to pass the appropriate Exit from Remediation test. These students will be considered “conditionally” accepted into ASAP until the test results are received. Those who have not passed the Exit test may continue at the college as non-ASAP students.

File the FAFSA no later than June 1, for those who want to receive ASAP tuition assistance. (Note: Those students/families who do not file the FAFSA will be asked to acknowledge that by not filing, they understand that, while they can participate in ASAP, they will be responsible for all tuition and fees.)

Enroll in one of the ASAP courses of study offered by the six community colleges.

Yes. Freshmen already enrolled in a community college who meet the above requirements for residency and are enrolling in one of the ASAP courses of study may be considered for ASAP if they have completed no more than 12 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Current students must be “remedial-free” before the start of the fall semester. This could include current students who can be remediated through the summer programs.

Students allocated to College Discovery may be invited to consider participation in ASAP. As part of the ASAP recruitment and advisement process, it is important to be sure that these students who are “triple-exempt” understand that they may enroll in either College Discovery or ASAP. They cannot participate in both programs simultaneously. Please note that a College Discovery student who chooses ASAP will not be eligible for SEEK at a four-year college, so it may be to their benefit to joint the College Discovery Program. Their ASAP Enrollment Agreement will include this acknowledgement.

Those College Discovery students who are “conditionally” eligible for ASAP may complete the specified remediation in the ASAP summer program. Those who do not pass the Exit Test after summer remediation will be able to enroll in College Discovery in the fall. Participation in the ASAP summer program satisfies the remedial summer hour requirement of College Discovery.

Incoming transfer students may be eligible for admission to ASAP if they have earned no more than 12 credits with grades of ‘C’ which have been certified by CUNY.

No. All ASAP students must be residents of New York City. Therefore, students from Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties are also not ASAP-eligible.

Based on their “triple-exempt” or remedial status, students admitted via UAPC to the community colleges will be invited to participate in ASAP. Some students may be admitted to three community college choices based on the multiple admit process. This means that they could be “recruited” into ASAP by three colleges.

All other students who have not yet applied through UAPC can be encouraged to apply to the college of their choice through the Direct Admissions process. Those direct admit students defined as eligible based on their exemptions and/or test results will then be invited into ASAP.

Students will sign an ASAP Enrollment Agreement to indicate their intention to enroll and meet all requirements and responsibilities of ASAP.

As stated, some students will be identified as “conditionally accepted” into ASAP, pending their successful completion of remedial work and passing of the appropriate exit test during the summer program. All students must be “remedial-free” by the fall in order to enroll in ASAP. Should they not meet this requirement, they may continue at the college as non-ASAP students.