Financial aid is available. Cayuga is committed to making attendance possible for students who would otherwise be denied higher education because of inadequate funds.
Wen Huang
Director, Financial Services Office
315-294-8470
financialservices@cayuga-cc.edu
Information in the Financial Aid section is subject to change whenever new guidance is received from federal and state financial aid agencies.
To apply for federal assistance, a student (and parents of dependent students) must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Students file their FAFSA online.
Cayuga’s federal code is 002861.
Students (and dependent parents) must create a studentaid.gov account that serves as their electronic signature when completing the FAFSA. You may obtain your FSA ID at any time. This studentaid.gov account will be used for many financial aid purposes, so keep your username and password safe and in a location you can find when needed.
Apply at least four weeks before classes start to provide the Financial Services Office with sufficient time to review your application and notify you of your eligibility for financial aid.
Cayuga’s state school code is 2005.
The New York Student Aid payment application can be completed online.
You must reapply for financial aid each academic year. You should log into your myCayuga self-service student information account to check financial aid requirements, view awards, and accept financial aid.
Each year, about thirty percent of students’ financial aid applications (FAFSAs) nationwide are chosen for “verification.” The verification process compares information reported on your FAFSA with supporting documentation supplied by the student and parent. In addition to verification, the Financial Services Office staff reserves the right to select any applicant for verification that the College believes may have errors on their application. Conflicting information submitted by the student may trigger verification. Students selected for verification cannot receive a financial aid award until the verification process is completed.
The U.S. Department of Education initially notifies applicants via the processed FAFSA of their selection for verification. The Financial Services Office will notify students of their selection for verification through a letter sent to the student’s primary address and college email. In this letter, students are instructed to check their myCayuga account under financial aid requirements to determine what documents they are required to submit. All verification documents are accessible to students on our website.
A student chosen for the federal verification is only considered to have completed the financial aid application process once the verification process has been successfully completed. Students should realize that Cayuga Community College will package, credit, or disburse any federal financial aid funds once the student has completed the verification process. Students should submit all documents as soon as possible. It normally takes two weeks to complete the verification process. It can take up to three weeks at the beginning of the semester due to the large volume of documents received.
To ensure students receive all eligible aid, they must complete the verification process while in attendance. The College cannot guarantee financial aid funds to students who complete their verification process after they withdraw or have been withdrawn by the college.
Applicants selected for verification may be asked to verify:
Once all verification information is submitted, the application data will be compared to the information reported on the FAFSA. If all reported data elements are accurate, the verification status on your myCayuga would be satisfied. You will proceed to the financial aid packaging process, and an award letter will be sent to your primary address. If discrepancies are found, the Financial Services Office will correct your FAFSA and transmit the information to the FAFSA Processing System. Upon receipt of your corrected FAFSA, your verification status will be satisfied, and the packaging and awarding process will begin. Applicants whose verification results in discrepancies will receive an updated Student Submission Summary from the Federal Student Aid, reflecting those data elements corrected and the recalculated Student Aid Index (SAI).
In cases where intent to commit fraud to obtain federal funds is suspected, Cayuga Community College is required to refer the case to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General for review and resolution, and no further processing of financial aid will occur until the case is resolved.
Financial aid awards are based on need, eligibility, and available funds. The first consideration goes to students showing the greatest need. The need is determined by comparing the cost of attending Cayuga with the expected family contribution, calculated using a federal formula. Budgets used for financial aid vary depending on your status, residency, and program. Standard budgets used for awarding financial aid are available in the Financial Services Office.
The following is an estimated budget for two semesters for students in Auburn or Fulton in the 2025-2026 academic year:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition (in state) | $5,448 |
| Fees | $1,461 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,148 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,700 |
| Transportation | $3,105 |
| At Home Living Allowance | $3,726 |
| Students not living at home will be allowed a $11,826 living allowance. | |
An estimated award may not be the final amount awarded. Estimated and actual awards may be adjusted based on registration, revised regulations, or changed student status.
The federal government realizes that a family’s financial circumstances may change from the time they file their federal income tax return or FAFSA. In these circumstances, the College is allowed to make adjustments to a family’s income or assets on their federal aid application. Common examples of granted special conditions are loss of employment, retirement, separation or divorce, loss of one-time benefits, medical/dental expenses that exceed 11% of total income, elementary/secondary tuition costs for dependent children, nursing home costs not covered by insurance, and unusual high child care costs. All students applying for a financial aid change of income or benefits must complete the verification requirements before our office can consider an adjustment to your federal aid application.
To receive financial aid funds, a student must be registered, in good academic standing, and attend classes. Any changes to the number of credit hours you are registered for can impact financial aid eligibility for the semester and possible future semesters. Changes in registration may be student-initiated by a withdrawal or drop or can be instructor-initiated due to lack of class attendance or by the Registrar’s Office, which reserves the right to cancel courses. Students are responsible for maintaining themselves as registered students for financial aid purposes.
Only courses eligible for the student’s degree program are eligible for financial aid funds. Eligible students receive financial aid funds throughout the semester depending on the student’s enrolled/attending classes. The Financial Services Office sends out refunds starting the 6th week of classes and weekly after. Students are expected to pay for their indirect educational-related expenses with their own funds until refunds are distributed. Students eligible for a refund will be given bookstore credit two weeks before the start of the semester. The following are some specific disbursement conditions you should be aware of.
Cayuga Community College will pay a student’s financial aid funds based on their enrollment status per each semester’s census date listed below. The Census date refers to the point at which your enrolled credit hours are “frozen” for financial aid purposes. The census date does not apply to student loans. Below are the Census Dates by term for the 2025-2026 year.
| Fall 2025 | Spring 2026 | Summer 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2025 | February 10, 2026 | June 10, 2026 |
The amount of Pell Grant you receive will be based on your enrollment status as of the Census date. Credit hours added after the Census date cannot increase Pell Grant eligibility, so register early. If you add classes after the Census date, your Pell Grant will not increase. Students who registered after this date for the first time have their enrollment status frozen when they first register for classes. Late-start students cannot add courses after their initial registration to increase their Pell Grant eligibility. Pell Grant funds will be paid out throughout the semester based on the students attending classes. Students will receive one-half of their Pell Grant eligibility in the fall and the other half in the spring. If all of your Pell Grant eligibility is used during the Fall and Spring, the Financial Aid office will review your eligibility for Summer Pell and notify you on myCayuga.
Student loans only pay out once the student has begun attendance in at least six credits. Student loans are paid out in two disbursements. Fall/Spring loans are paid out with one-half in the Fall and one-half in Spring. Spring-only loans will be paid out in two disbursements over the spring term, and Summer loans are always paid out in two disbursements over the course of the term.
NYS TAP awards will be based on your enrollment status as the Census Date. A student must be registered 6-11 credits for part-time TAP, 12 credits for full-time TAP, and be enrolled in one 15-week long course. Full-time TAP will only pay out once the student has begun attendance in at least 12 credits. Part-time TAP will only pay out once the student has begun attendance in all courses. Students taking remedial courses must register for one regular three-credit course in their first semester and two three-credit courses in the second semester.
Student workers are paid every two weeks based on hours worked. Student Employment cannot be used as a deferral on your bill.
Students will receive their funds based on their enrollment status, but in general, institutional funds are based on Fall/Spring awards, which are paid out half in the fall and half in the spring.
Cayuga’s federal code is 002861.
Aid programs are subject to change based on funding and regulations from governing agencies. Applications for most programs and current procedures, recipient selection, award schedules, and responsibilities of recipients are available in the Financial Services Office.
You may be eligible for federal aid from the Department of Education if you meet the following criteria:
The Federal Pell Grant program enables eligible undergraduate students to receive grants based on college costs and information reported on the FAFSA (determined by factors such as family income, assets, and size of family). Apply by completing the FAFSA. You will receive a Student Summary, which you should review and keep for your records. The Federal Government does not require repayment of Federal Pell Grants. Students are eligible to receive Pell Grants for a maximum of six years as a full-time students.
As an undergraduate student, you may be eligible to receive federal supplemental educational opportunity grants. These grants are awarded based on exceptional needs and circumstances. Apply by using completing the FAFSA. The Federal Government does not require repayment of Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity grants.
This program, supported through federal and college funds, is available if you are enrolled and can demonstrate financial need. Awards vary according to need and available funds. You may be employed either on- or off-campus with public or nonprofit agencies. Earnings must be used solely for educational purposes. Apply through campus aid procedures and complete the FAFSA. Biweekly payment is made directly to you based on wage and hours worked. Work-study awards cannot be used as a deferral on your bill.
This loan is available if you need financial assistance and attend Cayuga at least half-time (six credits or more). First-year students may be eligible to borrow up to a maximum of $3,500 in the subsidized direct loan program. Students who have completed at least 28 credit hours may be eligible to borrow up to a maximum of $4,500 in the subsidized direct loan program. Dependent students may be eligible to borrow an additional $2,000 in the unsubsidized direct loan program. Independent and dependent students whose parents can not borrow a PLUS loan may be eligible to borrow an additional $6,000 in an unsubsidized direct loan.
To apply, you must complete the FAFSA. A federally required origination fee will be deducted from the loan amount. Loans are disbursed in two separate payments over the loan period. Repayment begins six months after graduation if you drop below six credits or cease enrollment.
Students must accept their student loans on their myCayuga as permission for the College to process the loan for payment. First-time borrowers at Cayuga Community College must complete a promissory note and enter online entrance counseling at studentaid.gov.
If you are a dependent student and your parents have no adverse credit history, they may be eligible for this program. Annual loan limits are based on the cost of college attendance, less other financial aid. A federally required origination fee is deducted from the requested loan amount. Repayment begins within 60 days at a variable interest rate not to exceed 10 percent. Contact the Financial Services Office to apply.
The College is approved for full Veterans Administration educational benefits.
Cayuga Community College is required to have Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress to comply with the federal and state regulations governing financial aid programs. The standards for federal and state financial aid programs differ, so students should be aware of both requirements. Federal and State Standards of Academic Progress include a qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (earned credit hours) measure in reviewing a student’s academic progress. To ensure that a student is making both qualitative and quantitative progress throughout their course of study, the College will assess their progress at the end of each semester. Part-time students shall be evaluated by the same standards as full-time students from the date they first matriculate.
Students must complete a first associate degree within the 90 attempted credit hours. A student who is in good academic standing or on an academic plan can apply for a waiver of the 90-credit rule by completing the Lost Eligibility and Waiver Request Form.
The College will attempt to notify you if you fall below the minimum requirements. However, students often do not update their addresses with the College, so they must be aware of the standards and their progress.
Check your current status on your myCayuga account. MyCayuga and your Cayuga email are official means of College communication. Check these often for any changes to your requirements and account.
The following applies to Pell, Federal Direct Student Loans, PLUS, FSEOG, and College Work-Study.
The total accumulated credits and grade point average will be checked after the final grading process for each semester. If deficiencies are found (see the following table), they must be made up before a student can qualify for further federal financial aid. Grades of W, I, and Audit are not considered to have a status of passing and do not count toward earned credits.
| Credits Attempted | Required % Successfully Completed | Min. GPA |
|---|---|---|
| 1–11 | 25% | .75 |
| 12–30 | 50% | 1.5 |
| 31–45 | 60% | 1.7 |
| 46–90 | 70% | 2.0 |
| Over 90 | No Federal Aid |
After the warning semester, if you have not regained eligibility, you may complete a Waiver Request in the Financial Services Office if you can show extenuating circumstances.
For financial aid purposes, a student may repeat any course in which they have received an F grade. Students can also receive federal financial aid for any course they received a passing grade once. However, if the student receives an “F” on their repeated course, it counts as their one-time repeat. They can not retake this “F” and receive financial aid.
Repeated courses will count as Credits Attempted regardless of the reason for repeating or the grade received.
A course may be repeated, but credit will be granted only for the most recent attempt, and the most recent grade will be used to compute the grade point average (GPA) unless the student has already been awarded a degree or certificate. In such cases, if a repeated course was part of the degree or certificate program, the original attempt and grade will be included in the GPA.
The right to repeat courses in certain programs, such as (but not limited to) Nursing, is not automatic. You must complete a course successfully to be allowed the opportunity to continue in that curriculum. Contact the relevant department or division for more information concerning program requirements.
Students pursuing a second degree who have attempted ninety credits or more must complete the Second Degree Waiver Form. Before additional financial assistance can be granted, students must apply for and be approved for a waiver by the Financial Services Office. Students must complete an academic plan with the Student Engagement Office as part of the form.
Incomplete courses are considered attempted courses when calculating earned credit hours. Students are encouraged to complete all incompletes before the beginning of the following semester. If a student completes their courses after satisfactory academic progress has been determined for the next semester, the student may request a re-evaluation of their academic progress in writing.
Check your myCayuga account for your current status.
Students who do not achieve satisfactory academic progress, as outlined in the chart above for the first time, will be placed on a Financial Aid Warning semester. This can only be granted to students who, at the end of a semester, were making academic progress in the previous semester enrolled or who have completed their first semester. The College will reinstate financial aid eligibility for one semester only without the need to file an appeal.
Students who fail to make Satisfactory Academic Progress after the warning period lose their aid eligibility for each subsequent academic period until academic progress standards are met. All students have the right to appeal their loss of federal financial aid. The student must complete the Lost Eligibility and Waiver Request Form. These forms are available online or in the Financial Services Office. Submission of a completed Lost Eligibility and Waiver request form does not guarantee that the request will be approved. Students will be asked in their waiver to (1) explain the reasons the student failed to meet satisfactory academic progress and (2) describe what actions the student plans on taking to ensure their academic success in the following semester. The waiver will be granted only when there is a reasonable expectation that the student will meet future satisfactory academic progress requirements.
Students should submit their Lost Eligibility and Waiver Request Form by the deadline date listed on the form. Any forms received after this date are considered late requests and will be considered for the following semester. If a student is granted a financial aid waiver, that student is placed on Financial Aid Probation (Federal Waiver).
Students should use their waiver semester to achieve good academic standing. However, the College realizes that is not always possible. Therefore, students in their probation status who enroll for at least (6) credits, complete all of their coursework, and earn a semester GPA of 2.0 or higher will be placed under an Academic Plan. However, students need to be aware that at any time they cannot achieve their academic degree within the 90 credit limit, they will not be able to remain on an academic plan and will lose their financial aid eligibility unless the committee grants an over ninety credit waiver.
Students who have lost their federal financial aid and have not been granted a waiver may restore their aid eligibility in one of the following ways:
Federal policy assumes that federal financial aid is based on the period of time enrolled. If a student withdraws from the College within the first nine weeks of classes, the federal government does not view the student as having “earned” all of the funds awarded. In that instance, the College is required to return the “unearned” portion of the aid to the government. The College bears potential liability for any federal aid disbursed to students before the ninth week of classes. While Cayuga makes a concerted effort to disburse aid at the earliest possible time, the College must be fiscally prudent in those disbursements, ensuring that students receive their aid in a timely manner.
Federal regulations govern the return of Title IV funds (Ford Federal Direct Student Loans, Pell, FSEOG) for students who withdraw entirely from Cayuga prior to completing 60% of the semester. The percentage of the period that the student remains enrolled is determined by dividing the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the semester. Calendar days are used, but breaks of at least five days are excluded from both the numerator and denominator.
In the case of “aid not earned” in federally funded grants or scholarships, the student is expected to repay the “unearned” portion to the College. Failure to do so will make the student ineligible to receive further federal financial aid. (This policy is based on 34 CFR, Section 668.22 of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.)
For financial aid purposes, the date of withdrawal from the College is:
This state program is available if you are a New York State resident attending college full-time (12 credits or more) in New York State. Part-time students who meet additional requirements may also be eligible.
You must be in Good Academic Standing to continue eligibility. Awards are based on family income. Maximum awards may be reduced based on the New York State budget.
To apply, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will be directed to the electronic New York State Student Aid Payment Application at www.hesc.ny.gov at the end of the FAFSA process. You must list at least one school in New York State and complete the New York State Student Aid Payment Application form provided. This online application process allows you to apply for New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and for payment of a NYS scholarship for which you have already been approved.
If you still need to complete a New York State Student Aid Payment Application as part of your online FAFSA, apply for TAP. This online application process allows you to apply for New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and for payment of a scholarship for which you have already been approved.
Cayuga’s TAP code is 2005.
Your award notification will be e-mailed to you. You will be paid through the Financial Services Office once your attendance is certified. A TAP award may only be used to defer tuition costs. No repayment is required.
Part-Time TAP is for students enrolled in 3-11 credits who are New York State Residents. You must be in Good Academic Standing to continue eligibility. Part-time TAP requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0.
To apply, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will be directed to the electronic New York Student Aid payment application at the end of the FAFSA process. You must list at least one school in New York State and complete the New York Student Aid Payment Application at www.hesc.ny.gov.
Awards are based on family income, number of credits, and tuition costs and may not exceed tuition. Part-Time TAP awards may be used to defer tuition costs only.
This scholarship, in combination with other student financial aid programs, allows students to attend Cayuga Community College tuition-free. The scholarship is a “last award.” As such, the scholarship will cover the remaining tuition balance after payments of TAP, Pell, and other grant and scholarship programs received by the student are considered. Therefore, if you receive grant and scholarship funds that cover the cost of tuition, you will not be eligible for the monetary Excelsior Scholarship.
To receive payments, students must be enrolled full-time in both the Fall and Spring semesters and earn 30 credits, which count toward the student's degree. There is a separate application process and contract that students must complete online with the NYS Higher Education Services Corporation at https://www.hesc.ny.gov/find-aid/nys-grants-scholarships/excelsior-scholarship-program.
The NYS Part-Time Scholarship Award is for students who are attending college part-time. Students must be enrolled in at least 6 credits but less than 12 credits. Applicants must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. You are eligible to receive this award even if you receive a NYS Part-time TAP or Aid for Part-time Study award. Students are limited to four semesters. This award is based on the availability of funds. This award will not exceed the tuition cost of six credit hours per semester at Cayuga.
On July 14, 1998, Governor Pataki signed Senate Bill 7072 into law as Chapter 332 of the Laws of 1998. This law provides that students who are disabled, as defined by the 1990 Federal Americans with Disabilities Act, do not have to be in full-time attendance to be eligible for Tuition Assistance Program payments. These students are now eligible for TAP if they attend part-time, as defined by the Commissioner of Education.
Under prior law, regulation, and policy, students with disabilities who attended school part-time because of their disability were eligible for a TAP award payment only after the number of credits they took equaled the number necessary to be considered a full-time student. Chapter 332 provides that these students are eligible for a partial TAP award payment in the first term, during which they attend part-time. The law does not require students with disabilities to attend part-time; students with disabilities who attend full-time continue to be eligible, as any other student, for a full TAP award.
Other than full-time enrollment, ADA Part-Time TAP recipients must meet all TAP eligibility requirements. The State will calculate TAP awards as a percentage of the award the ADA student would be eligible to receive if the student were enrolled full-time. Students will need to provide documentation of this disability to the appropriate office. For application processing, students with disabilities should follow the same procedures as those applying for a full-time TAP by completing the New York State Student Aid Payment Application.
The Financial Services Office provides information on other aid programs. These include the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Aid to Native Americans, Foster Youth, Pathways, Regents Award for Children of Deceased or Disabled Veterans, Regents Award for Children of Deceased Police Officers and Firemen, and State Aid to Native Americans.
This information is accurate as of the date of publication. For further information on state financial aid programs, please refer to the New York State Higher Education Services website.
The following TAP standards are to be achieved by the end of each semester based on the number of awards the student has received. Credits completed may be actual credits or equivalent credits, passed or failed. Actual credits accumulated must be actual credits passed. GPA is the student’s cumulative GPA. GPA is the student’s cumulative GPA. Students may receive the equivalent of six full-time semesters of TAP at a community college (36 points).
Students who received their first TAP award in Fall 2010 and after and are not defined as “remedial” need to meet these standards: *
| After Award 1 (6 TAP points) | First Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 6 credit hours |
| GPA | 1.3 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 6 credit hours |
| After Award 2 (12 TAP points) | Second Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 6 credit hours |
| GPA | 1.5 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 15 credit hours |
| After Award 3 (18 TAP points) | Third Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 9 credit hours |
| GPA | 1.8 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 27 credit hours |
| After Award 4 (24 TAP points) | Fourth Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 9 credit hours |
| GPA | 2.0 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 39 credit hours |
| After Award 5 (30 TAP points) | Fifth Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 12 credit hours |
| GPA | 2.0 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 51 credit hours |
* A remedial student is defined as a student taking at least six (6) developmental courses in the first semester of enrollment.
For students who received a first TAP award before Fall 2010 and students taking 6 or more developmental courses in the first semester or who are enrolled in a certificate program:
| After Award 1 (6 TAP points) | First Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 6 credit hours |
| GPA | 0.50 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 3 credit hours |
| After Award 2 (12 TAP points) | Second Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 6 credit hours |
| GPA | 0.75 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 9 credit hours |
| After Award 3 (18 TAP points) | Third Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 9 credit hours |
| GPA | 1.3 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 18 credit hours |
| After Award 4 (24 TAP points) | Fourth Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 9 credit hours |
| GPA | 2.0 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 30 credit hours |
| After Award 5 (30 TAP points) | Fifth Semester |
| Completed (Pass/Fail) | 12 credit hours |
| GPA | 2.0 or better |
| Actual credits earned | 45 credit hours |
New York State regulations mandate that if a student repeats a course in which a passing grade acceptable to the institution has been received previously, the course cannot be included as part of the student’s minimum full-time course load for New York State financial aid purposes. However, in the following instances, repeated courses may count toward full-time or part-time study: (1) when a failed course is repeated, and (2) when a grade received is passing at the College, but is not acceptable in a particular student’s major field of study.
TAP is available if students have remaining eligibility. However, the law limits a student to three years of TAP if enrolled in a certificate or Associate Degree program.
Incomplete courses are considered attempted courses but with unearned credits when calculating earned credit hours. Students are encouraged to complete all incompletes before the beginning of the following semester. If a student completes their courses after Satisfactory Academic Progress has been determined for the next semester, the student may request in writing a re-evaluation of their academic progress.
Students who have not fulfilled the chart requirements listed above in a term when they received a state grant or scholarship are not eligible for an award for the next semester. At the end of each semester, the Financial Services Office will notify students determined to be ineligible for state financial aid.
The satisfactory academic progress requirements for state aid may be waived for undue hardship based on the following:
The waiver only accommodates extraordinary or unusual cases directly related to academic performance and the student’s failure to achieve the requirements. Submission of a completed Loss Eligibility and Waiver request form does not guarantee that the request will be approved. Students must complete the Lost Eligibility and Waiver Request Form or in the Financial Services Office. Students will be asked in their waiver to:
A waiver will be granted only when there is a reasonable expectation that the student will meet future satisfactory academic progress requirements. According to New York State Law, a student can receive only one waiver for failure to achieve program pursuit.
Students who have lost their state financial aid and have not been granted a waiver can restore their aid eligibility in one of the following ways:
Transfer students will be considered using slightly different procedures than those of students in continuing status. For example, when a student transfers to Cayuga from another institution, the College will evaluate the student’s academic record and determine a certain number of credits it is willing to accept in transfer from the student’s previous study. That assessment and the number of awards received by the student will be used to place the student at an appropriate point in the institution’s schedule of academic progress. Placement for state aid purposes is flexible; it may be in accord with the number of payments received or the number of credits earned, whichever is more beneficial to the student. Placement for federal aid purposes corresponds with the number of credits earned and accepted by the College.
The student has the right to ask your institution:
It is the student‘s responsibility to: