What's happening
This bill establishes a new four-year SUNY College of Engineering and Applied Sciences in Yonkers, offering multiple engineering majors.
Why it matters
Expands access to engineering education. By situating a new SUNY engineering college in Yonkers, the bill offers more affordable, local options for students in the downstate region, potentially increasing participation from underserved communities and helping to fill workforce gaps in engineering fields.
Focuses on diverse, high-demand majors. The college is mandated to offer a broad range of engineering and applied science programs—including industrial, transportation, computer, telecommunications, environmental, biomedical, and civil engineering—plus the history of economics of science and technology, aligning academic offerings with industry needs and emerging job sectors.
Aims to stimulate economic development. Establishing a four-year state college in Yonkers could drive local economic growth through job creation (faculty, staff, construction), partnerships with local industry, and by attracting students and innovation to the area.
Commits to accessibility and affordability. The legislation requires the new college to be accessible, affordable, and competitive, reflecting SUNY’s mission to provide high-quality public higher education and reducing barriers for prospective engineering students.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Yonkers Engineering College
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
771
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. STEWART-COUSINS -- 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 providing for a college of engineering and applied sciences within the state university of New York system; and to authorize the trustees of the state university of New York to establish a four-year SUNY college of engineering and applied sciences in the city of Yonkers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 352 of the education law, as amended by chapter 552 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows:
3. The state university shall consist of the four university centers at Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo and Stony Brook, the designated colleges of arts and sciences at Brockport, Buffalo, Cortland, Fredonia, Geneseo, New Paltz, Old Westbury, Oneonta, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Potsdam and Purchase, the college of engineering and applied sciences at Yonkers, empire state college, the agricultural and technical colleges at Alfred, Canton, Cobleskill, Delhi, Farmingdale and Morrisville, downstate medical center, upstate medical center, the college of optometry, the college of environmental science and forestry, maritime college, the college of technology at Utica/Rome, the statutory or contract colleges at Cornell university and Alfred university, and such additional universities, colleges and other institutions, facilities and research centers as have been or hereafter may be acquired, established, operated or contracted to be operated for the state by the state university trustees.
§ 2. (a) The trustees of the state university of New York are hereby authorized and directed to immediately take all actions to create and establish within the state university system, and subject to the jurisdiction of such board of trustees, a college of engineering and applied
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02492-01-7
S. 771 2
sciences as a four-year state university of New York in the city of Yonkers, county of Westchester.
(b) The board of trustees of the state university shall select the location of such college within the city of Yonkers and provide for such college to be an accessible, affordable, competitive, four-year, bachelor's level, degree-granting college of the state university.
(c) The purpose of this college of engineering and applied sciences shall be to offer majors in industrial/manufacturing, engineering and technology, transportation engineering and technology, computer engineering and technology, telecommunications engineering and technology, environmental engineering and technology, biomedical engineering and technology, civil engineering and technology and the history of economics of science and technology.
(d) The board of trustees of the state university of New York shall conduct all the duties required under article 8 of the education law upon the establishment of the state university of New York college of engineering and applied sciences at Yonkers, establish a master plan, establish standards and promulgate any necessary rules and regulations for the establishment of such college.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 providing for a college of engineering and applied sciences within the state university of New York system; and to authorize the trustees of the state university of New York to establish a four-year SUNY college of engineering and applied sciences in the city of Yonkers
Purpose
This bill will authorize and direct the trustees of the State University of New York to create and establish, within the State University system and subject to the jurisdiction of such Board of Trustees, a college of engineering and applied sciences as a four-year State University of New York in the City of Yonkers, County of Westchester.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 Subdivision 3 of Section 352 of the education law, as amended by Chapter 552 of the laws of 1985, is amended to read as follows: The state university shall consist of...the college of engineering and applied sciences at Yonkers...and such additional universities, colleges, and other institutions, facilities and research centers as have been or hereafter may be acquired, established, operated or contracted to be operated for the state by the state university trustees.
Justification
City of Yonkers is the fourth largest city in the State of New York. Three of the five largest cities, Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester have various established institutions of higher learning. Yonkers, however, does not house any major public universities or State University of New York (SUNY) sites. It is the intent of this legislation to afford the residents of the fourth largest city an opportunity to attend an outstanding institution of higher learning.
Legislative history
2008 - S.7801 - Died Higher Education Committee 2010 - S.3501 - Died Higher Education Committee 2012 - S.1631 - Died Higher Education Committee 2013 - 14 - S.3019 - Died Higher Education Committee 2015-16 - S.1644 - Died in Higher Education Committee
Fiscal implications
Undetermined at this time.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.