What's happening
This bill expands eligibility for the New York State Part-Time Scholarship Program to all public colleges and increases the maximum award.
Why it matters
Significantly broadens access to the scholarship. By expanding eligibility from just community college students at SUNY or CUNY to all students attending any New York State public college, the bill opens up financial support to a much larger group, including those at four-year public institutions.
Increases financial support for part-time students. The maximum award per semester is raised from $1,500 to $2,250, making it more feasible for part-time students to afford tuition and related expenses, which could encourage more people to pursue degrees while balancing work or family obligations.
Recognizes the needs of nontraditional students. By focusing on part-time students and allowing coverage for up to nine credit hours (previously six), the bill addresses the reality that many students cannot attend full-time due to work, caregiving, or other responsibilities—potentially increasing degree completion rates among these groups.
Continues to prioritize need and academic progress. The bill maintains a structure that gives ongoing priority to returning recipients in good standing and then allocates new awards based on financial need, ensuring that the funds are targeted to those students most likely to benefit and persist in their studies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Part-Time College Scholarships
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
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Expand Part-Time Student Scholarships
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Monica P. Wallace
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1708
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 New York state part-time scholarship program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 667-c-1 of the education law, as added by section 1 of part KKK of chapter 59 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
§ 667-c-1. New York state part-time scholarship (PTS) award program. 1. The New York state part-time scholarship (PTS) award program is hereby established for the purpose of providing scholarship awards to students who attend a [community college at the state university of New York (SUNY) or the city University of New York (CUNY)] New York state public institution of higher education on a part-time basis.
2. To be eligible, an applicant must meet the qualifications of subdivisions three and five of section six hundred sixty-one of this article, enroll in at least six but less then twelve credit hours at a [SUNY or CUNY community college] New York state public institution of higher education in the 2017-2018 academic year, or thereafter, and maintain a grade point average of 2.0.
3. a. Such awards shall be made to eligible applicants in the following priority:
(i) first, to applicants who have received payment of an award pursuant to this section in a prior year and remain in good academic standing; and
(ii) second, to applicants in descending order based on financial need as determined by the corporation and; provided that awards made shall be proportionate to the total applications received for students accepted for undergraduate study at SUNY and CUNY respectively. Provided, howev-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06866-01-9
S. 1708 2
er, in the program's first year, first priority shall be in accordance with this subparagraph.
b. In the event that there are more applicants who have the same priority than there are remaining scholarships, the president shall distribute the remaining number of such scholarships by means of a lottery or other form of random selection.
4. Within amounts appropriated therefor, the president shall grant awards to eligible applicants to cover the cost of [six] up to nine credit hours per semester at a SUNY or CUNY community college, provided however, that no such award shall exceed [fifteen hundred] two thousand two hundred fifty dollars per semester.
5. PTS awards shall be granted pursuant to this section for no more than four consecutive academic semesters pursuant to future appropriations for the continuation of this program.
6. The corporation is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations, and may promulgate emergency regulations, necessary for the implementation of the provisions of this section.
§ 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 New York state part-time scholarship program
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to expand the New York state part-time scho- larship program to encompass students studying at four-year institutions as well as the cost of up to nine credits.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends section 667-c-1 of the education law to expand the New York state part-time scholarship program to students attending a four- year institution of the state of New York and increases the award eligi- bility to nine credits with a maximum award of two thousand two hundred fifty dollars per semester.
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 program as enacted in 2017 falls short in terms of recognizing the diverse makeup of CUNY and SUNY student bodies, including those four-year college and university students who are completing their degrees on a part-time basis.
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.