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Restores TAP, Supports Emergency Service Volunteers
Thursday, May 16, 2002
The New York State Senate today approved budget bills that include more than $7.7 billion in total funding for services and programs at colleges and universities throughout the state, maintaining the New York's commitment to excellence in higher education.
The 2002-03 State Budget will restore proposed changes to the State's Tuition Assistance Program, provides additional support for New York's SUNY/CUNY schools and addresses the critical shortage of emergency service volunteers by providing scholarship programs.
"Investing in our state colleges and universities will ensure that New York has a strong, educated workforce for the future," Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said. "By restoring TAP and focusing on our continued support for higher education, this budget demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that every student in New York State can get a quality college education,"
Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The budget includes nearly $694 million in support for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), an amount that will maintain New York's ranking as the national leader in need-based student assistance. This level of funding continues enhancements made to the TAP program in 2000-01. Moreover, the budget provides an additional $13.7 million for the State's higher education opportunity and educational access programs, bringing the total funding for these programs to nearly $64 million.
Supporting our Firefighters and Ambulance Workers
The budget also provides $2 million for two new scholarship programs to address the critical shortage of emergency service volunteers. The Volunteer Recruitment Service Scholarships program will offer tuition assistance to newly recruited volunteer ambulance workers and firefighters.
Supporting SUNY/CUNY
The budget reflects continued implementation of the $3 billion SUNY/CUNY Capital Investment Plan. Initiated in 1998-99, this multi-year plan provides critical infrastructure and facility improvements at State-operated colleges and universities as well as community colleges.
The budget also continues the new capital investment program for SUNY residence halls that will enable SUNY campuses to construct new dormitories to meet student-housing needs and undertake preventive maintenance.
In addition, Childcare centers at SUNY and CUNY will receive an additional federal day care funding of $1.9 million and $1.4 million respectively, while state operating aid for SUNY and CUNY community colleges will be increased by $50 per full-time equivalent student, from $2,250 to $2,300, for the 2002-03 academic year.
The budget reflects no increase in the undergraduate resident tuition rates of $3,400 at SUNY and $3,200 at CUNY. These tuition rates have remained at the current level for seven years in a row, resulting in rates comparable to, or below, those of other public universities in the Northeast.
Community College Base Aid
The budget supports community colleges by providing an increase of $50 per full-time equivalent student at SUNY/CUNY community colleges. This increases State base aid support to $2,300 per full-time equivalent student.
Scholarships for Academic Excellence
The budget includes $14 million to support the Scholarships for Academic Excellence program. The funding will support 8,000 new annual awards and continue assistance for existing scholarship recipients attending public or private colleges in New York. Also included is a new Maritime College Admissions program that will cover the cost of tuition at SUNY's Maritime College for students nominated for admission either by the Governor or members of the Legislature.
Campus Fire Safety Program
In addition, to ensure safety of our college students statewide, the budget includes $1.3 million for a statewide Campus Fire Safety program. This program will protect students by setting and maintaining a rigorous standard for fire safety at colleges and universities across the state. The Department of State's Office of Fire Prevention and Control will administer this new program and conduct annual fire inspections at all public and private colleges outside New York City.
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