What's happening
This bill allows SUNY Potsdam to set special tuition rates for certain non-resident undergraduates living within 200 miles, until 2023.
Why it matters
Targets regional student recruitment. By permitting special tuition rates for non-resident undergraduates within a 200-mile radius, SUNY Potsdam can more effectively attract students from nearby out-of-state areas, potentially boosting enrollment from regions with declining high school graduate numbers.
Balances affordability and institutional needs. The bill requires that the special rate be at least 1.5 times the in-state tuition, ensuring that while tuition is reduced for eligible non-residents, it remains higher than the rate paid by New York residents, preserving in-state subsidies and revenue.
Limits scope and ensures oversight. Only up to 10% of the student body can benefit from this program, and the institution must report annually on the program’s impact, promoting careful monitoring of enrollment shifts and financial effects.
Considers competitive and demographic pressures. SUNY Potsdam is directed to weigh out-of-state educational competition, local demographic trends, and campus capacity before implementing the program, potentially enabling more strategic and sustainable use of its resources.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Tuition for Nearby Students
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1556
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to higher education
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to higher education
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1882
Show 2 earlier actions
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4616
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 22, 2017
Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to allowing eligible non-resident undergraduate students to pay separate tuition rates for attendance at the state university college of arts and sciences at Potsdam; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph h of subdivision 2 of section 355 of the education law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 4-a to read as follows:
(4-a) Commencing with the two thousand eighteen--two thousand nineteen academic year and ending in the two thousand twenty-two--two thousand twenty-three academic year, the board of trustees of the state university may designate the state university college of arts and sciences at Potsdam for participation in a program allowing eligible non-resident undergraduate students that reside within two hundred miles of the institution to pay separate tuition rates for attendance at such institution. Such institution shall consider 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, if such institution participates in the program. The board of trustees of the state university is further authorized to set such separate tuition rates, which shall not be set below an amount equal to one and one-half times the in-state tuition rate at the designated institution. Such separate tuition rates may be offered only to eligible non-resident students, the total of which shall not exceed ten percent of enrollment at the designated institution. The institution shall report annually to the board of trustees of the state university on the impact of this program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; and shall expire and be deemed repealed June 1, 2023.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09632-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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 the state university college of arts and sciences at Potsdam; 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 the state university college of arts and sciences at Potsdam.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends education law section 355(2)(h) to add a new subparagraph (4-a) which provides that in the 2018-2019 academic year and ending in the 2022-2023 academic year, the SUNY Board of Trustees may designate the Potsdam State campus to participate in a program allowing non-resident undergraduate students to pay separate tuition rates. When choosing to participate, SUNY Potsdam 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 the 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.
Section 2. Sets forth the effective date.
Justification
This program intends to make SUNY Potsdam more competitive in the market for out-of-state students by providing SUNY Potsdam more flexibility in setting their tuition rates.
Competitive pricing will allow SUNY Potsdam to attract more students and retain the best possible student body, including out-of-state students.
Legislative history
This is a new bill, however similar legislation has been passed in the Senate.
Fiscal implications
To Be Determined
Effective date
Immediately, and this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on June 1, 2023.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.