“On behalf the Association of Proprietary Colleges (APC), we are deeply disappointed in the lack of support for our students, and private education overall in the recently enacted New York State Budget. In a year of record revenue and Federal support, the Governor and members of the Legislature missed an excellent opportunity to help ALL low-income students in New York State achieve a college degree more affordably.
New York State has a long standing history of treating public and private institutions of higher education equally and this parity has created a robust educational system that benefits all students. However, this year’s budget represents a significant deviation from that long-standing tradition of equitable support. By excluding the proprietary sector from part-time TAP some 2800 low-income students will be at a tremendous disadvantage. While we appreciate the support of the Legislature in years past, including raising the maximum award in the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) in 2022, we struggle to understand why they would not build on that commitment in this year’s budget.
As we move forward, APC will continue to fight for access to financial aid for the 26,000 students our member colleges serve. The first generation, low-income and minority students attending APC member colleges deserve our support and should not be left behind simply because of the type of institution they choose to attend. We look forward to working with the legislature on making New York State’s commitment to ALL low-income students a top priority.”
“New York’s Association of Proprietary Colleges (APC) calls on the New York State Legislature to prioritize financial assistance for low income students rather than providing debt assistance to graduates. There are several proposals in the budget that would make significant strides toward helping low-income and underrepresented students attend college and obtain a degree more affordably. Among these initiatives are:
- Increase the minimum TAP award from $500 to $1,000 and/or the maximum TAP award from $5,665 to $6,000 annually.
- Increase the maximum net taxable income (NTI) threshold to receive a TAP award from $80,000 to $110,000 annually.
- Expanding TAP to all part-time students and eliminating the burdens to accessing that funding.
No one questions the burden of student loans; however, the Federal Government is the provider of those loans and already working on plans to help. New York State should be focused on using its resources to make college more affordable, which is another way to reduce the burden of college debt. Additionally, providing funds to New York Students, attending New York colleges will help alleviate the workforce skills gap issues affecting New York State employers.
On behalf of the 26,000 students across New York State who attend APC member colleges, please focus on student aid before focusing on student debt relief.
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