NEWS RELEASE

For release January 17, 2006  

NYPIRG CRITICIZES GOVERNOR'S HIGHER EDUCATION PLAN TO RAISE TUITION AND RESTRUCTURE TAP

NYPIRG CALLS ON LEGISLATURE TO REJECT THESE PROPOSALS

The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) today criticized the Governor's budget plan on higher education. Governor Pataki, in his 2006-2007 Executive Budget, proposes to raise tuition and restructure the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

“Governor Pataki is leaving Albany in the same way that he came in, forcing students to pay more and cutting back on financial aid,” said Miriam Kramer, NYPIRG higher education coordinator. “He’s certainly been no friend to college students.”

“The governor’s proposals to raise tuition are harmful to students and should be opposed,” added Kramer. “Automatic annual tuition increases can only guarantee that students will end up paying more and more and more.”

“The governor’s higher education budget proposal will have the biggest impact on the state’s poorest students," said Kramer. "Proposals to increase tuition and restructure TAP are simply fiscal gimmicks that borrow from students to balance the state budget. The Senate and the Assembly must work together to reject the governor’s higher education proposal and make college affordable for all New Yorkers.”

In his 2006-07 Executive Budget, Governor Pataki recommends the following:

• Allowing tuition increases of $500 for SUNY and $300 for CUNY.
• An automatic annual tuition increase tied to a price index for SUNY and CUNY.
• Restructuring of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) in the following ways:
• Redefining full-time study as 15 credits per semester, up from 12 credits.
• Students enrolling in or earning fewer than 15 credits would receive a 20% reduction to their award.
• Increasing funding by $100 per full-time equivalent (FTE) for the state’s community colleges.
• Maintaining current funding for opportunity programs such as EOP, HEOP, SEEK, and College Discovery; doubling funding for STEP
and C-STEP.

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