Relates to the funding of certain CUNY programs by the state including the city university of New York's accelerated study in associate programs (ASAP) and the accelerate, complete, engage (ACE) program; provides state shall pay until both programs are fully funded.
Provides free SUNY and CUNY tuition, books, and fees to all current New York state and New York city employees who have been such employees for at least two years, and who continue such employment throughout their academic program.
S 3696 establishes the New York State Promise Program, providing tuition waivers for eligible students enrolled in New York community colleges. To qualify, students must be New York residents for at least one year, have completed high school or earned a GED in New York within six months of enrollment, maintain a 2.5 GPA, file the FAFSA, and not exceed 90 college credits. The waiver covers tuition costs (after deducting $50 and other aid) up to the actual tuition or $1,000, whichever is greater, but not exceeding average community college tuition. The state appropriates $450 million for the program, with annual grant spending capped at $10 million. The program requires annual reports on student completion rates, financial impacts, and program effectiveness.
Directs the education department and OCFS to prepare posters and pamphlets with information regarding higher education funding opportunities for foster youth.
Enacts The New Deal for CUNY; increases the ratio of faculty and mental health counselors to full-time students; requires that certain amounts of tuition be replaced by federal, state, and city funds.
The Hunger-Free Campus Act (S 2637) creates a grant program for public colleges and universities to address student food insecurity. To qualify, campuses must meet specific requirements, including establishing student-led hunger task forces, providing SNAP enrollment assistance, operating on-campus food pantries, and conducting annual student hunger surveys. Grants fund initiatives like meal donation programs, SNAP outreach, and awareness campaigns to support students' basic food needs. The program requires institutions to report on grant usage and outcomes to the state education commissioner, with priority given to schools with high Pell Grant enrollment.
Directs the boards of trustees of SUNY and CUNY to create a free or reduced meal plan to aid students whose household incomes are below the federal poverty line, students participating in educational opportunity programs under section three hundred fifty-five-d of this article and students receiving federal Pell grants.
Establishes a Black Leadership Institute within the state university of New York as an initiative for Black leaders in higher education with a mission to retain and grow from within SUNY a greater proportion of Black professionals at SUNY campuses; creates an eight member advisory council.
Prohibits certain student organizations which participate in discrimination or intolerance from receiving funding from SUNY, CUNY or community colleges.
Requires the state to provide state funds to community colleges for additional operating costs associated with an increase in the state minimum wage; requires the board of trustees of community colleges to report to the state comptroller on an annual basis the amount of such additional operating costs.
