Requires that community colleges provide educational opportunity programs to eligible students in order to qualify for state aid for capital and operating expenditures.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6399
SPONSOR: Joyner TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to state aid for certain
community colleges
PURPOSE:
This legislation aims to mandate all SUNY community colleges to provide
an educational opportunity program (EOP).
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of this bill amends Education Law section 358(1)(b) to allow
state aid to be provided only to community colleges that provide an
educational opportunity program, as prescribed by section 6452 of this
chapter.
Section two of this bill provides this act shall take effect on the
ninetieth day after it shall become a law.
EXISTING LAW:
Currently, there is no requirement for community colleges to provide an
educational opportunity program (EOP).
JUSTIFICATION:
As the New York State job market transitions from manufacturing to tech-
nology and other sorts of specialties, a college degree is no longer an
advantage but rather a necessity. While not every single student is
financially nor academically ready to pursue a baccalaureate degree,
community colleges must play a significant role in serving those
students. Although community college tuitions in New York State are
reasonably priced, when considering housing, meal plans, and other fees,
attending a community college becomes a significant financial invest-
ment. According to a 2016 College Board research paper, "although commu-
nity college students are less likely to borrow and on average borrow
less than other students, a higher percentage of borrowers in the sector
default on their federal student loans than students in other sectors".
Out of SUNY's 30 community colleges, 18 of them participate and operate
the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which provides vital finan-
cial and academic support to the State's economically and educationally
disadvantaged youth. The following statistic' further illustrates how
impactful EOP has been; SUNY's EOP six-year baccalaureate graduation
rate of 65% far exceeds the national rate of 56% for all public insti-
tutions.
The following community colleges do not provide EOP: Cayuga Community
College, Clinton Community College, Columbia-Greene Community College,
Coming Community College, Herkimer County Community College, Jamestown
Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Nassau Community
College, North Country Community College, Rockland Community College,
Sullivan County Community College and Tompkins Cortland Community
College.
Besides the significant financial hurdle that a student is faced with
while attending a community college, the student will have to navigate
even more monetary challenges if they decide to transfer to a college or
university. Students that attend a community college that does not
provide EOP, risk potentially disqualifying themselves for essential
financial and academic support programs such as EOP and HEOP when trans-
ferring to a college or university. Although SUNY colleges and universi-
ties are open to accepting those transfer students into EOP, the priori-
ty will always be given to transfer students from EOP participating
community colleges. Considering each year, there are roughly 15,000
applicants for only 1,200 EOP openings, the probability of a SUNY
college or university accepting transfers from one of the 12 stated
community colleges that do not operate EOP are low.
Throughout the State and country, there is a consensus that an educated
population is beneficial for society but less might know of the economic
impact. According to the College Board report, " for every dollar that
U.S. taxpayers spent on America's community colleges during the analysis
year: $4.80 is gained in lifetime income for students, $6.80 is gained
in added taxes and public sector savings for taxpayers, and $25.90 is
gained in added incomes and social savings for society". It is in New
York States best interest to require community colleges to provide EOP
and invest in our most vulnerable population's education.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATION:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become a
law.
