What's happening
This bill expands and updates eligibility for New York’s part-time tuition assistance program, clarifying requirements for part-time students at public and nonprofit colleges.
Why it matters
Broadens eligibility. for part-time tuition assistance to include all part-time students at New York public and nonprofit colleges, removing previous restrictions tied to when a student first enrolled or how many credits they previously earned.
Clarifies academic requirements. by explicitly stating that students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA and be enrolled in at least six but fewer than twelve credits per semester to qualify, aligning standards with other state aid programs.
Requires individualized education plans. for part-time students, ensuring a structured pathway to degree completion within a reasonable timeline (up to 4.5 years for associate's degrees, 9 years for bachelor's degrees) and mandating consistent academic progress.
Establishes funding limits and protections. , capping total part-time awards at the amount available to equivalent full-time students, and allowing for approved leaves of absence in cases of medical, family, or financial hardship, making the program more flexible and accessible.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Part-Time Student Aid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
No co-sponsors yet.
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
1638
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- 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 the part-time tuition assistance program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 667-c of the education law, as added by section 1 of part N of chapter 58 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
§ 667-c. Part-time tuition assistance program awards. 1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the president of the higher education services corporation is authorized to make tuition assistance program awards to [part-time] students [enrolled at the state university, a community college, the city university of New York, and a non-profit college or university incorporated by the regents or by the legislature who meet all requirements for tuition assistance program awards except for the students' part-time attendance] who attend a New York state public institution of higher education or a non-profit college or university incorporated by the regents or by the legislature on a part-time basis.
2. [For purposes of this section, a part-time student is one who:
a. enrolled as a first-time freshman during the two thousand six--two thousand seven academic year or thereafter at a college or university within the state university, including a statutory or contract college, a community college established pursuant to article one hundred twentysix of this chapter, the city university of New York, or a non-profit college or university incorporated by the regents or by the legislature;
b. has earned at least twelve credits in each of two consecutive semesters at one of the institutions named in paragraph a of this subdivision by the time of the awards;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06865-01-9
S. 1638 2
c. is enrolled for at least six but less than twelve semester hours, or the equivalent, per semester in an approved undergraduate degree program; and
d. has a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00] To be eligible, an applicant must meet the qualifications of subdivisions three and five of section six hundred sixty-one of this article, enrolled in at least six but less than twelve credit hours at a New York state public institution of higher learning or a non-profit college or university incorporated by the regents or by the legislature in the two thousand nineteen--two thousand twenty academic year, or thereafter, and maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0.
3. a. For part-time students defined in this section, the award shall be calculated as provided in section six hundred sixty-seven of this article and shall be in an amount equal to the enrollment factor percent of the award the student would have been eligible for if the student were enrolled full-time. The enrollment factor percent is the percentage obtained by dividing the number of credits the student is enrolled in, as certified by the school, by the number of credits required for fulltime study in the semester, quarter or term as defined by the commissioner.
b. Any semester, quarter or term of attendance during which a student receives an award pursuant to this section shall be counted as the enrollment factor percent of a semester, quarter or term toward the maximum term of eligibility for tuition assistance awards pursuant to section six hundred sixty-seven of this article. [The total period of study for which payment may be made shall not exceed the equivalent of the maximum period authorized for that award.]
c. The total amount of funds awarded shall not exceed the total amount available to the traditional full-time student.
4. Part-time students defined in this section will create, in agreement with the college or university, an education plan allowing the student to complete his or her associate's degree program in as much as four and one-half years or his or her bachelor's degree program in as much as nine years. The education plan will establish a schedule requiring the student to carry a minimum of six credits each semester and a minimum of twelve credits each year. The student would be required to maintain continued attendance (excluding summer sessions) for the period of the agreement. The college or university is authorized to grant a leave period for the duration of a semester or its equivalent at its discretion in the event of medical conditions, family responsibilities or financial emergencies.
§ 2. 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 the part-time tuition assistance program
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to re-establish the part-time tuition assistance program.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends section 667-c of the education to provide for the re-establishment of a part-time tuition assistance program for students attending New York State public institutions of higher education or a non-profit college or university.
Section 2. is the enacting clause.
Justification
The 2017-18 Enacted New York State budget created a scholarship to meet some of the tuition costs of students enrolled in SUNY or CUNY community colleges on a part-time basis. Alongside the state's effort to provide a tuition-free education to full-time students, this part-time scholarship is a step in the right direction toward making college affordable for New York's students and therefore enhancing the knowledge and skills of our workforce. However, the part-time scholarship as enacted in 2017 falls short in key respects, including the limited number of scholar- ships available and the restriction of awards to four semesters. Since part-time students are unlikely to complete their degree in four semes- ters, this program potentially leaves them short of funding after years of investment in their degree.
Many students in New York earn their college degree while working full- time, or must limit the number of credits they take at a given time because of learning disabilities. A part-time TAP award is necessary to meet the needs of as many students as possible in our diverse state. This program will provide pro-rated tuition awards across four and a half years of study for an associate's degree program or nine years for a bachelor's degree prop-am, in recognition of the gradual and steady progress-working students or those with disabilities make toward completion of their academic programs.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
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.