FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Cayuga Advantage Program?

Cayuga Advantage is a partnership between Cayuga Community College and area school districts to award college (transcript) credit for college courses taught in secondary school settings to qualified high school students.

It is one of many concurrent enrollment programs in NYS and throughout the country.

Is Cayuga Advantage recognized as an accredited program?

In anticipation of seeking NACEP accreditation, Cayuga Advantage bases our practices on the accreditation standards maintained by NACEP.

How do Cayuga Advantage courses differ from high school classes?

Cayuga Advantage courses are college courses taught in high schools.

These courses cover material at the college level, are more challenging and academically rigorous than high school courses, and require greater independence of thought and action.

What is the minimum class size for a Cayuga Advantage course to run?

A Cayuga Advantage course must have at least 10 enrolled students by the first day of classes for the course to continue.

Fewer students will be permitted only in unusual circumstances, and only with the approval of the Program Coordinator.

What is the minimum contact time required for 1, 3, and 4 credit courses?

Minimum contact time is 15 hrs for a 1 credit course, 45 hrs for a 3 credit course, and 60 hrs for a 4 credit course.

Are Cayuga Advantage instructors required to use approved course syllabi and textbooks?

Yes. Course syllabi have been developed for each Cayuga course and are available upon request. Instructors must use approved textbooks, unless division faculty approve an alternate or no textbooks are mandated.

Are Cayuga Advantage courses transferable?

In many instances, the answer is yes.

Cayuga Advantage courses are listed as Cayuga Community College courses on an academic transcript without any notation of delivery mode or setting, and are accepted by virtually all SUNY institutions.

Acceptance of transfer credit by private institutions is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Any student who experiences difficulty earning transfer credit from a SUNY institution should contact the Program Coordinator.

Who is eligible to enroll in a Cayuga Advantage course?

Any high school student whose 16th birthday occurs by December 1 of the academic year in which the student wishes to enroll in a Cayuga Advantage course is eligible. Students who are not 16 by December 1 of the current academic year are eligible to participate with parent/guardian signature. Only students who meet specific prerequisite requirements and have been recommended by a teacher or guidance counselor are eligible. If a student wishes to register for a college-level English or mathematics course, the appropriate placement test(s) must be taken and passed. Students who do not meet these requirements are not permitted to enroll in a Cayuga Advantage course.

What are placement tests and why are they required?

A student must take a placement test if he/she wishes to register for a college-level English or mathematics course.

Individuals who have completed high school calculus are exempt from taking the mathematics placement test.

Two opportunities are provided to meet cut scores for placement.

Students who do not meet minimum scores will not be permitted to enroll.

Are foreign exchange students eligible to enroll in a Cayuga Advantage course?

Students who are not US citizens but are otherwise eligible to enroll in a Cayuga Advantage course may enroll.

However, high school officials must inform the Program Coordinator of the student’s status and request a waiver of the out-of-county tuition rate to avoid overbilling.

Are students permitted to sit in a Cayuga Advantage course if they are not fully registered?

No. Every student in a Cayuga Advantage course must be registered for the course. Blended courses are not permitted.

How much does it cost to register for a Cayuga Advantage course?

The cost to students varies from school district to school district.
Ask your counselor.

If there is a fee for registering, who do I pay?

Schools will determine whether and how much to charge. All fees must be paid to the school district, NOT to Cayuga Community College.

Do non-Cayuga County residents need to complete a Certificate of Residency Application and have it notarized?

If a student does not currently live in Cayuga County, or has not lived in Cayuga County for the past 12 months, a Certificate of Residency must be received within 45 days of the first day of classes. If a notarized Certificate of Residency is not received and processed within the 45 day period, the school district will be charged tuition at the out-of-county tuition rate.

What is the course registration process?

Students will be asked to complete a Cayuga Advantage Registration Form.

The form will ask for personal information, including full name, address, date of birth, social security number, residency status, and information related to the course.

Why is a social security number required?

Social security numbers are required for tax reporting purposes, even if students do not pay any fees.

Students will not be registered unless/until this information is provided.

What privileges or benefits are associated with being a Cayuga Advantage student?

Enrolled students have access to Cayuga facilities and computers.

Student ID cards will be provided in the future that entitle students to discounts at some business establishments and discounted bus travel.

What is the student attendance policy?

A student who misses 20% of the course will be withdrawn from the course. For example, if a class meets twice a week for 15 weeks, an instructor will withdraw a student who misses 6 class sessions, regardless of reason. The following rules apply:

Class Meetings per Week Total Absences Allowed
1 3
2 6
3 9
4 12
5 15

What are the drop/add and withdrawal policies?

The drop/add period ends at the conclusion of the first week of classes. If a course is dropped in that first week, no transcript record is made. Any student who wishes to be removed from a course after the first week of classes must notify an instructor or guidance counselor. A “W” will be placed on the academic transcript.

Can students audit a Cayuga Advantage course?

Students are permitted to audit a Cayuga Advantage course. However, an audit does not earn college credit, cannot be converted to a credit or letter grade as a result of later payment of high school tuition fees or other factors, and is permanent. Furthermore, the school district is charged tuition for that student at the regular rate.

What happens if students don’t maintain good academic standing?

Students must maintain good academic standing in order to continue taking Cayuga Advantage courses. Any student who fails to meet academic standing criteria will not be permitted to enroll in any further Cayuga courses. The current college catalog states that students will be placed on academic probation if these criteria are met:

Academic Probation

Credits Attempted Grade Point Average
12-15 At least 1.00 and less than 1.50
16-30 At least 1.50 and less than 1.70
31-45 At least 1.70 and less than 1.90
46 or more At least 1.90 and less than 2.00

Students will be academically dismissed and thus ineligible to enroll in any additional Cayuga Community College courses (unless reversed on appeal) if these criteria are met:

Academic Dismissal

Credits Attempted Grade Point Average
6-11 Less than 0.75
12-15 Less than 1.00
16-30 Less than 1.50
31-45 Less than 1.70
46 or more Less than 1.90

How are students notified of their final grade?

A myCayuga username and password will be generated and mailed home to each Cayuga Advantage student to access final grades. Final grade reports will not be mailed.

How do students view their final grades?

  1. Go to the Cayuga website: www.cayuga-cc.edu
  2. Click myCayuga at the top of the screen
  3. Click Log into myCayuga
  4. Enter your C-Number (or SSN) and Password
    (Contact the Registrar at 315-255-1792, ext 2215 if you forgot your Cayuga ID or Password )
  5. In the My Student Tools click the My Student Information tab
  6. Click View Final Grades

What happens if a student receives a tuition bill in the mail?

Occasionally, the Business Office will inadvertently mail a tuition bill to a student’s home. In such cases, the bill is sent in error. Students are free to discard the bill. They will not be charged tuition.

What happens if a student receives an IRS 1098 Form?

Each Cayuga Advantage student will receive a 1098 Form in January itemizing the tuition amount charged to the school district for their enrollment. This figure does not reflect the total amount paid by the student. Rather, it reflects the tuition charged to the school district. The amount that the student paid varies from school district to school district.

Consult a tax accountant for more information on how to treat this form.

Who can I contact for more information?

Who can I contact for more information?

Cayuga Advantage Program
(315) 294-8529
advantage@cayuga-cc.edu