New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 8 - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Chapter XXII - Additional Institutional Participation In The Tuition Assistance Program
Subchapter B - Tuition Assistance Program Awards For Additional Participants
Part 2408 - Tuition Assistance Program Awards
Section 2408.6 - Full-time study

(a) For programs at educational institutions, which measure study in terms of credit hours or a comparable measure, for purposes of the award program, full-time study, shall mean enrollment for at least 12 semester hours for a semester of not less than 13 weeks, inclusive of examination periods. A student shall be considered full-time for a program organized on a regular academic-year basis only if the student has filed a plan of study with the institution for the entire regular academic year. Independent or individualized study, practice teaching, thesis or dissertation research, and preparation for language or qualifying examinations, may all be considered as contributing toward full-time study on an hour-for-hour equivalent basis, if the student effort required is the same as would be required for a credit-bearing course, and if required or approved by the educational institution, in a plan of study pre-filed by the student with the school, as an integral part of the student's program. Credit for independent or individualized study shall be computed in accordance with full-time requirements. However, courses taken solely to meet teacher certification, licensing, or other external requirements, as well as courses not creditable towards the student's program of study, shall not contribute to full-time study.

(b) Full-time status must be established independently for each separate semester or term of attendance, except where the measure of full-time is 24 semester hours for a regular academic year of not more than 12 months as provided for in subdivision (a) of this section.

(c) Where full-time study is required, it shall be required during the final semester in the same manner as for any other semester of study, even if not necessary in order to complete graduation requirements.

(d) Upon presentation of satisfactory medical evidence to substantiate that serious illness or mental or physical disability precludes attendance on a full-time basis, work performed during two or more terms of study may be approved as equivalent to a regular term for an award.