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II. Higher Education
A. Budget Highlights
The 2006-07 Legislative budget for higher education provided $374 million in additions
above the Executive proposal. The Legislature rejected a $500 tuition increase at SUNY
and a $300 tuition increase at CUNY, restored $119.5 million to the Tuition Assistance
Program (TAP), and increased the Executive's $100 proposed increase to community
college base aid by $75, bringing base aid to $2,525 per Full-Time Equivalent. Failing
to come to an agreement with the Executive, and in order to resolve differences between
the two houses, the Legislature held a series of public Conference Committee meetings
that resulted in an on time bipartisan budget that restored many of these cuts to Higher
Education. After overriding a series of vetoes by the Governor, the 2006-07 budget
approved by the Legislature included a total of over $194 million in restorations for SUNY,
CUNY and the community colleges.
1. Community Colleges
This year, the Executive proposal increased state support for community colleges by
$100 for each FTE student. Base aid constitutes the State's responsibility for its share
of community college financing and is divided among the schools through a formula that
accounts for each FTE student. Recognizing the importance of the State's support of
community colleges, the Assembly has provided additional academic year funding of
$17 million for community college base aid, adding an additional $75 on top of the
Governor's proposal. This additional funding raises the State's share of community
college financing to $2,525 per FTE student as compared to the $2,450 recommended
by the Governor in his budget proposal.
In addition to restoring base aid levels, the Assembly also worked to maintain funding
for other important opportunity programs. The Assembly provided a 10% increase above
state fiscal year 2005-06 levels for the College Discovery Program and the Search for
Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) Program at CUNY, and the Educational
Opportunity Program (EOP) at SUNY, and Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
as well. Funding for these programs has been an ongoing struggle that dates back to 1995
when the Governor initially proposed their elimination.
Unprecedented additional funding to augment the capital projects at the State and City
community colleges was added in the budget passed by the Legislature. These funds,
$40.94 million for SUNY community colleges and $66.58 million for CUNY, will greatly
assist in providing increased flexibility to address critical maintenance issues.
2. SUNY State-Operated Colleges and CUNY Senior Colleges
Expanding access to public universities continues to be a high priority for the Assembly Higher
Education Committee. In 1995, the Executive first proposed eliminating highly successful
access and opportunity programs at SUNY and CUNY. Each year for the past ten years the
Legislature has worked to restore these programs for the educationally and economically
disadvantaged. Five years ago, the Legislature was successful in restoring each of the programs
to their 1994 level. While that funding increase did not reflect the rate of inflation over the past
several years, the base budget for these programs no longer contained a twenty-five percent cut
across the board.
The Assembly was instrumental in securing additional operating aid of $45.7 million for CUNY
and $85.33 million for SUNY to eliminate the Executive's proposed $300 CUNY tuition increase
and the $500 SUNY tuition increase. Additional operating aid of $20.02 million for CUNY and
$63.67 for SUNY was provided for programs above the tuition restorations. The Assembly
secured operating assistance of $20.02 million to fund the CUNY compact and their University-wide
Master Plan initiatives, including the hiring of additional full time faculty. Within the $63.67 million
provided to SUNY, the Assembly provided $25 million to hire additional full-time faculty, $28.97
million in straight operating aid, $2.70 million for Educational Opportunity Centers, and $2 million
for expanding High Need Programs.
This year, the Assembly enacted a $10.73 million increase for higher education programs, amounting
to 10% increases in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Higher Education Opportunity
Program (HEOP), SEEK, College Discovery, and the Liberty Partnership Programs. This increase
is above the Executive Proposal which failed to recommend any additional support for these programs.
The Legislature did accept the Executive proposal to increasing funding for the Science and Technology
Entry Program (STEP) and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) from
$9.5 million to $19 million.
Once again the Legislature rejected the Executive proposal to establish Partnership to Accelerate
Degree Completion Time (PACT) programs at both SUNY and CUNY Senior and Community Colleges.
If passed, voluntary PACT programs would have been created at campuses of the State and City
university systems and independent colleges. Each participating public college would have received
an increased allocation of funding from SUNY or CUNY.
In addition, the Legislature rejected the Executive's proposal to allow the SUNY and CUNY trustees
to increase tuition annually using an inflationary index. The Legislature also denied the Governor's
proposal authorizing the SUNY and CUNY trustees to charge different tuition rates among campuses
and programs.
Additional funding to capital projects at the State and City universities was added in the budget passed
by the Legislature. These funds, a total of $483.86 million for SUNY and $302 million for CUNY, will
greatly assist in providing increased flexibility to address critical maintenance issues.
3. Independent Colleges and Universities
New York State is fortunate to have the most diversified and largest independent sector of higher
education in the nation. According to the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
(CICU), in 2001 twenty-six percent of the students enrolled in the independent sector in New York
State were minorities. The independent colleges and universities of the State enroll 440,000
students. New York not only boasts the nation's largest private university, New York University,
it also prides itself on numerous outstanding small colleges as well.
In many instances across the State, a college or university is the major employer in the community.
Therefore, a strong independent sector of higher education helps the New York economy in several
respects: through educating its work force, as an employer, and through the ancillary services in the
community that cater to the student and staff population. Independent campuses throughout New
York State have a collective annual economic impact of $41.4 billion, employ 139,000 New Yorkers
and have a $7.5 billion payroll.
Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP)
This year the Legislature rejected the Executive's failure to increase funding to HEOP, and increased
support to the program by 10% in order to keep its commitment to help disadvantaged students gain
access to private colleges.
Bundy Aid
Bundy Aid, formally known as Unrestricted Aid to Independent Colleges and Universities, provides
direct support to higher education institutions based on the number and type of degrees conferred
by the college or university. The Legislature increased funding for Bundy Aid by $4.2 million.
4. Financial Aid
Tuition Assistance Program
New York State is fortunate to have the most comprehensive system of financial aid in the United
States. At the forefront is the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), which assists thousands of
students attending college each year.
The Assembly Higher Education Committee is committed to keeping college affordable for students.
This year, an additional $119.5 million was provided by the Legislature in restorations to TAP. The
Assembly ensured this funding for students by also subsequently overriding the Governor's veto of
the funding. In addition, the Assembly rejected the Executive's proposal to increase full-time
eligibility status for enrollment from 12 to 15 credit hours each semester. The Legislature also
rejected requirements for Colleges and Universities to pre-finance TAP awards for students with a
G.E.D or who have passed an Ability to Benefit Test that is independently administered, and
rejected increased Academic Good Standing requirements that the Executive proposed. The
legislature rejected restoring TAP eligibility to students who are in default on their student loans,
and the Executive proposal that students be in full-time attendance at the time a college certifies
its enrollment. The Legislature accepted proposed requirement that students must successfully
complete coursework before becoming eligible to receive payments for accelerated study. The
enacted budget requires that students complete 24 credit hours in the two semesters preceding
the receipt of an award for accelerated study.
The Assembly also supported the creation of a Part-Time TAP Program for all students attending
SUNY, CUNY and independent colleges and universities. To be eligible, students would be required
to accumulate 24 credit hours in the two preceding semesters. This program will be phased in
beginning with students first enrolled in the 2006-07 academic year.
Additionally, the Assembly rejected the Executive's proposal to alter academic eligibility criteria
under the TAP program, to require schools to certify recipients' full-time status within 45 days of the
start of a new semester, and a proposal to deny TAP to students in default of federally-administered
student loan programs or other education loans. Instead, the Assembly supported requiring an annual
report by the President of the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) to the Governor and the
Legislature detailing data on various aspects of the TAP program and provided that a catastrophic
illness or being called to active military duty must be considered a change in circumstance for the
purpose of adjusting a student's TAP award.
Scholarships/Loan Forgiveness Programs
Making sure that we help those who spend their lives helping us, the Legislature provided an
additional $2 million for new scholarships for the Senator Patricia K. McGee Nursing Scholarship
and the Nursing Loan Forgiveness Program, designed to help increase the number of educators
and adjunct clinical faculty members teaching nursing education in New York. An additional
$2 million was also provided to fund scholarships for the Regents Health Care Opportunity
Scholarship and the Regents Professional Opportunity Scholarship programs.
Access Programs
Access to higher education opportunities has been a long-standing concern of this Committee.
Over the years, the Legislature has created programs which provide special assistance to
educationally and economically disadvantaged students, underrepresented groups, and
"at-risk" youth - students who require additional support in order to achieve
academic success. The Assembly has been committed to ensuring all students access to
higher education and enhancing their academic success through the support of access programs.
Through counseling, remedial coursework, financial assistance, drop-out prevention, and skills
training, these programs are dedicated not only to encouraging enrollment in college, but also
helping to ensure success in the postsecondary academic environment. New York's Access
Programs include:
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the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) provides critical access programs
for educationally and economically disadvantaged students who attend independent
institutions of higher education. HEOP programs serve approximately 5,606 students
through 63 programs with support programs including pre-freshman summer programs,
remedial and developmental courses, tutoring, and counseling;
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the Education Opportunity Program (EOP) provides academic support and financial aid
to students who attend public institutions of higher education and show promise for
mastering college-level work, but who may otherwise not be admitted. EOP support
programs include special tutoring, and academic, career, and personal counseling;
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the Liberty Partnerships Program, serving middle, junior, and senior high school students
who are at risk of dropping out, and assisting them in completing high school, preparing
for and entering college, and obtaining meaningful employment;
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the Teacher Opportunity Corps (TOC), the goal of which is to attract more African-Americans,
Hispanics, and Native Americans to the teaching profession and to prepare these individuals
to work effectively with students who are at risk of academic failure and dropping out of school.
The TOC is also considered to be a model of excellence for teacher education programs;
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the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) and Collegiate-STEP (CSTEP), created
to encourage the attendance of more students of underrepresented and economically
disadvantaged populations by helping these students to enter collegiate study and careers
in scientific, technical, and health-related fields; and
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the State provides small awards for Native Americans pursuing post-secondary study in New
York. This access program offers financial aid to eligible Native Americans and has been
critical in addressing the under representation of this population in New York State's higher
education system.
B. Legislative Highlights
1. Community Colleges
New York State has 36 public community colleges: 30 within the State University system and
six within the City University system. With an enrollment of approximately 281,419 students,
community colleges provide a primary source of access to higher education opportunities. The
community colleges of SUNY and CUNY are referred to as "full opportunity" institutions,
accepting all recent high school graduates and returning residents from the colleges' sponsorship
areas.
Community colleges are unique in that they are financed cooperatively by three partners: the State,
a local sponsor, and the students. Community colleges are primarily governed by the local sponsor,
assuring that these institutions have greater flexibility to respond to the local educational needs of their
unique student population. Many community college students are non-traditional students who return
to college later in life, attend part-time and/or combine work and family responsibilities with study.
Honorary Associate Degrees
A.2708, Pretlow; Chapter 324 of the Laws of 2006. This law authorizes community colleges
to grant honorary associate degrees with approval from the Board of Regents.
2. City University of New York
Founded as the Free Academy in 1847, the City University of New York (CUNY) has grown into the
largest urban university in the nation. CUNY is also the third largest university in the country and is
comprised of 20 campuses throughout Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
It includes eleven senior colleges, a two-year preparatory medical program, a law school, a graduate
center, and six community colleges. Through this network, CUNY provides educational opportunities
and skills training to an ethnically and culturally diverse population of approximately 220,738 students
annually: 147,693 at the senior colleges and 73,045 at the community colleges.
Tuition Exemption for Members of the New York City Police Department
A.10894, Lentol; Chapter 150 of the Laws of 2006. This Law extends until July 1, 2008,
Chapter 584 of the Laws of 2004, which allows members of the New York City Police Department who
are enrolled at CUNY in a program leading to a baccalaureate or higher degree, to take one course free
of charge on a space available basis, provided that the course is related to their employment as a police
officer. Based on a successful pilot program at John Jay College, this provision seeks to provide an
incentive for police officers to pursue higher education.
3. State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest public university system in the nation, embracing 64
distinct individual campuses located in urban, suburban, and rural communities across New York
State. These 64 campuses offer a full range of academic, professional, and vocational programs
through their university centers, comprehensive colleges, colleges of technology, and community
colleges. The State University system enrolls approximately 425,000 students in over 7,000 programs
of study.
Membership of State University Board of Trustees
A.679-A, Canestrari; Chapter 127 of the Laws of 2006. This Chapter increases the membership
of the State University Board of Trustees from sixteen to seventeen. This seventeenth trustee is the
president of the University Faculty Senate and would be an ex-officio non-voting member. This law
also provides that the president of the Student Assembly become an ex-officio voting member and
decreases the term of office for each trustee, except the student member and faculty member, from
ten to seven years.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Opportunity Program and Opportunity for Higher
Education
A.5824, Hoyt; Chapter 303 of the Laws of 2006. This law renames the Elementary and
Secondary Education Opportunity Program and the Opportunity for Higher Education the
"Arthur O. Eve Elementary and Secondary Education Opportunity Program" and
the "Arthur O. Eve Opportunity for Higher Education" in recognition of the important
role former Assemblyman Eve played in increasing access to public higher education in New
York State.
Contracts of the State University Construction Fund
A.8666-A, Canestrari; Chapter 292 of the Laws of 2006. This Chapter requires two or more
State University Construction Fund Trustees to approve all contracts involving an estimated expense
of $75,000 or more and all lease agreements. Previously, the Trustees were required by statute to
approve all contracts greater than $20,000. This law will make the administrative process more
effective and efficient.
Volunteer Recruitment Service Scholarship Program
A.10279, Canestrari; Chapter 125 of the Laws of 2006. This Chapter extends the volunteer
recruitment service scholarship program for members of volunteer fire and ambulance companies
until June 30, 2010. The volunteer recruitment service scholarship program allows volunteer
organizations to submit to the Higher Education Services Corporation one candidate annually
to receive a scholarship award. This law also allows a recipient of a volunteer service scholarship
to enroll in a degree producing curriculum at an institution located outside of the fifty mile radius
of the volunteer organization, provided that the recipient becomes a volunteer at an organization
whose service area is within the area in which the student is enrolled. Easing the burden of the fifty
mile radius requirement will enable more students to take advantage of the scholarship program.
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