SFY 2019-20 Budget to Include Further Investments for Higher Education in New York State

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Higher Education Committee Chair Deborah Glick today announced that the enacted State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2019-20 Budget will include funding critical to the preservation of higher education programs across the state. These investments will promote college affordability as well as provide necessary support to the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY).

“We are proud to continue our longstanding commitment to putting an affordable, high quality college education within reach of New York’s students and families,” said Speaker Heastie. “The Assembly Majority continues to invest in an education system that welcomes students from all walks of life, giving them access to the financial help needed to earn degrees, access highly-skilled employment, and support their local economies. This budget builds on this promise, ensuring that our students have the ability to complete their education knowing they possess the tools necessary to build successful careers.”

“As we continue to raise the bar on investments in higher education, the future of our students become brighter,” said Assemblymember Glick. “This budget reaffirms the Assembly Majority's longtime commitment to delivering a higher education system that is accessible and affordable for all families. We will protect higher education in our state, and provide our youth with the education they need to pursue fruitful futures.”

New York’s SUNY and CUNY systems are invaluable assets that have long served low and middle income families in our state, providing an affordable, quality education. The final budget provides a community college base aid rate of $2,947, reflecting a $100 per full-time student increase while also committing to critical maintenance for SUNY and a range of investments to support opportunity programs in both the SUNY and CUNY systems as follows:

• Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), $32.2 million, a $5.4 million restoration;
• Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK), $28.1 million, a $4.6 million restoration;
• College Discovery, $1.3 million, a $225,000 restoration;
• Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), $35.5 million, a $5.9 million restoration;
• Liberty Partnerships, $18.4 million, a $3 million restoration;
• Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP), $15.8 million, a $2.6 million restoration; and
• Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), $11.9 million, a $2 million restoration.

The final spending plan includes $27 million to fund the Jose Peralta New York State DREAM Act. This legislation will eliminate potential financial obstacles undocumented students in New York may face when applying for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to attend an institution of higher education.

The enacted budget continues support for longstanding Assembly priorities, including a $6 million restoration for the Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) and $1 million for Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) Labs within SUNY. Other budget actions include:

• CUNY Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), $2.5 million;
• The School of labor and urban studies formerly known as the Joseph Murphy Institute , $1.5million;
• Telecounseling and mental health services at SUNY, $500,000; and
• Small Business Development Centers, $700,000.

Other investments include a $4.5 million restoration for the successful Foster Youth College Success Initiative, which began in 2015, to support foster students on their path to higher education. Continuing the Assembly's efforts of assisting families working to advance their education, the budget will restore funding for child care centers at SUNY and CUNY with $1.1 million and $902,000, respectively.