Authorizes the board of trustees of the city university of New York to permit persons sixty years of age or over to take courses given without tuition

BILL NUMBER:S2557

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to authorizing the city university trustees to make courses available for certain persons sixty years of age or over

Purpose

This bill will permit the trustees of the City University to allow senior citizens to take courses for credit, on a space-available basis, without charge, at State-operated campuses.

Summary of provisions

Amends section 6206 of the Education Law to allow a senior to take credit or non-credit courses to a maximum of nine credit hours per semester, on a space available basis, at no charge. Currently, seniors are permitted to audit courses without paying tuition. A senior is defined as a person sixty years of age or older.

Existing law

Section 6202 of the Education Law allows seniors to audit, but not take, tuition-free courses.

Justification

In 1974, New York State took a giant step forward by adopting Chapter 1002 of the Laws of 1974 permitting senior citizens to audit courses at the State University without tuition, examination or credit, on a space available basis. On approving that legislation, the Governor noted that, "Education can be a major factor in helping older people maintain their mental alertness, (and} continue active participation in the affairs of their communities. In many instances, however, financial and formal educational barriers have rendered such education opportunities inaccessible."

Although the 1974 law began an important step forward, senior citizens have so far been denied the opportunity to further their education on a for-credit basis. This bill would extend to persons over age 60 the ability to attend courses at no charge at the State University, on a space-available basis, while receiving credit for their course work. This is a logical continuation of our efforts to integrate our elderly collegians fully into the mainstream of academic life. It is now time to make our students over age 60 first-class citizens of the University, entitled not only to the privileges of an auditor, but also the opportunities of full participation in their course work.

Legislative history

S.2692 of 2011 - Referred to Higher Education 01/14/12 A.4047 of 2011 - Referred to Higher Education 1/14/12

Fiscal implications

There is no direct fiscal impact, since all attendance would be on a space-available basis.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.