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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Tell Students: Repeated Courses and New York State Financial Aid


For state financial aid purposes, courses cannot be repeated to raise the GPA or to get a better grasp of the subject matter.

Four exceptions to this ruling are:

1.    When a grade received is passing but is not acceptable in the degree or certificate program in which the student is matriculated.

For example, the student's program requires that the student get a C or better in ABC100 to be graduated, but the student earns a D in ABC100. The student could repeat ABC100 to earn a better grade. The program description in the MCC Catalog & Student Handbook (Programs of Study) must stipulate this for the repeated course to be eligible for financial aid.

2.    When a grade received is passing but is not acceptable for the student to move on to the next course in the sequence.

For example, ABC101 requires that a student get a C or better in ABC100 in order to take ABC101. The student gets a C- in ABC100 and, therefore, would not be able to take ABC101. Therefore, the student can repeat ABC100 to earn a better grade. The course description in the MCC Catalog & Student Handbook (Course Descriptions) must stipulate this for the repeated course to be eligible for financial aid.

3. When a student must take and pass a course and an associated course concurrently and a passing grade is received in only one of the courses.

For example, ABC200 requires that the student concurrently take ABC201. The student earns an A in ABC200 but an F in ABC201. The student must repeat both courses and pass both courses concurrently to receive credit toward the degree or certificate. The student can repeat both courses in order to receive credit toward the degree or certificate. The course descriptions in the MCC Catalog & Student Handbook must stipulate this for the repeated courses to be eligible for financial aid.

4. When a course may be repeated and credit earned toward the degree or certificate each time it is taken.

For example as with physical education courses. When a student has earned a passing grade (D- or better) in a course, it generally cannot be included in the calculation of full or part-time status if the student takes the course again.

Ramon L. Rodriguez
Financial Aid
10/19/2012