Allows eligible non-resident undergraduate students to pay separate tuition rates for attendance at certain institutions

2 Co-sponsors

• Joseph A. Griffo
• Patty Ritchie

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to allowing eligible non-resident undergraduate students to pay separate tuition rates for attendance at certain institutions; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

Purpose

Allows eligible non-resident undergraduate students to pay separate tuition rates for attendance at certain institutions.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Amends education law section 355(2)(h) to add a new subparagraph (4-a) which provides that in the 2017-2018 academic year and ending in the 2021-2022 academic year, the SUNY Board of Trustees may designate the Fredonia and Alfred State campuses to participate in a program allowing nonresident undergraduate students to participate in a program allowing nonresident undergraduate students to pay separate tuition rates at those institutions if the campuses agree they want to participate in the program. The institutions that participate in this program must consider factors such as out-of-state competition, current or projected levels of high school graduates within the institution's recruitment region and enrollment capacity and physical location of the institution. The SUNY Board of Trustees would be authorized to set the separate tuition rate for eligible non-resident students, which shall not exceed 10 percent of enrollment at each institution and the rate itself cannot be set below an amount equal to one and one-half times the in-state tuition rate at such institution that has decided to participate in the program. Residents within 200 miles of each institution would be eligible to participate in the reduced tuition rate.

Section 2. Sets forth the effective date.

Justification

This program is intended to make the SUNY Fredonia and Alfred State campuses more competitive in the market for students from out-of-state by providing these campuses the ability to be more flexible in setting their out of state tuition rates.

Because higher education systems in other states are matching the New York rate, these schools need to have the ability to do the same to attract and retain the best crop of students possible, including out-of-state students. This legislation would be helpful toward keeping SUNY enrollment at high levels.

Legislative history

2015: Referred to Higher Education

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

Immediately, and this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on June 1, 2022.