What's happening
This bill requires New York State to gradually increase funding for CUNY's ASAP and ACE programs until fully state-funded by 2024.
Why it matters
Guarantees a phased increase in state investment. By mandating a stepwise rise in state funding (25% increments) until full state coverage by 2024, the bill reduces reliance on city or external funds and aims to stabilize financial support for CUNY’s ASAP and ACE programs.
Targets key CUNY campuses for immediate impact. In the first year, the legislation ensures full state funding for the ACE program at four senior colleges and the ASAP program at four community colleges, potentially boosting student support services and graduation rates at those locations right away.
Sets funding caps and oversight mechanisms. The bill caps total program funding at $150 million by 2024 and gives the CUNY Board of Trustees authority to allocate leftover funds among participating campuses, which could influence program reach and campus priorities.
Lays groundwork for broader access. By requiring expansion of ASAP and ACE to all CUNY campuses as funding allows, the bill seeks to make high-impact student support programs accessible to more students across the entire university system, potentially improving equity and outcomes system-wide.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
State Funds CUNY Support Programs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 32
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
1743
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- 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 funding of certain CUNY programs by the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 6217 to read as follows:
§ 6217. ASAP and ACE program funding. 1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, beginning in the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one fiscal year, the state shall appropriate and pay an amount equal to twenty-five per centum of the annual one hundred fortyone million dollars in funding for the city university of New York's accelerated study in associate programs (ASAP) and accelerate, complete, engage (ACE) program for the two thousand twenty--two thousand twentyone academic year. Each fiscal year thereafter, the state shall increase such funding amount by twenty-five per centum until one hundred per centum of both programs is funded by the state. The maximum amount of total funding by two thousand twenty-four shall not exceed one hundred fifty million dollars.
2. For the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one academic year such funding for the city university of New York's accelerate, complete, engage (ACE) program required by subdivision one of this section shall fully fund such program at Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, Queens College, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
3. For the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one academic year such funding for the city of New York's accelerated study in associate programs (ASAP) required by subdivision one of this section shall fully fund such program at Queensborough Community College, Bronx Community College, Kingsborough Community College, and Borough of Manhattan Community College.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04263-01-9
S. 1743 2
4. The remainder of such funding for the two thousand twenty--two thousand twenty-one academic year for the university of New York's accelerate, complete, engage (ACE) program and accelerated study in associate programs (ASAP) shall be designated as deemed appropriate to participating city university of New York campuses as directed by the board of trustees of the city university of New York.
5. For the two thousand twenty-one--two thousand twenty-two academic year such funding shall be utilized for the implementation of the university of New York's accelerate, complete, engage (ACE) program and accelerated study in associate programs (ASAP) in all remaining city university of New York campuses as such funding permits.
§ 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 funding of certain CUNY programs by the state
Purpose
This legislation begins the process of fully funding proven college student success programs in the City University of New York.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 appropriates funding for accelerated CUNY Programs in FY 2020-21 and at increased rates thereafter through 2024.
Read the full memo (626 words)
Section 2 provides full funding for such programs at Lehman College, Medgar Evans College, Queens College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the 2020-21 academic year.
Section 3 provides full funding for such programs at Queensborough Community College, Bronx Community College, Kingsborough Community College and Borough of Manhattan College in the 2020-21 academic year.
Section 4 provides that the remainder of such 2020-21 funding for CUNY accelerated studies program shall be deemed appropriate by participating campuses.
Section 5 provides that in the 2021-22 academic year such funding shall be utilized for implementation in all CUNY remaining campuses, as fund- ing permits.
Justification
The City University of New York has deployed a set of student success programs at its two year and four year colleges with tremendous success. In fact, its community college Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) has become a national model for student success based on its ability to increase college graduation rates dramatically.
CUNY's Accelerate, Complete, Engage (ACE) program is another successful program increasing college complete rates and available at a few of CUNY's four-year colleges.
Both programs are offered on a limited scale based on cost even though their proven success rates are a tremendous asset to both CUNY and the economy of New York City and its metropolitan area. Increasing college graduation rates to almost 55% over 3 years at two-year colleges and helping student graduate within four years at its senior colleges, these CUNY programs are being replicated in other states and cities and adequately funded by their governments.
CUNY is the largest municipal college system in the nation with a student body that is 78% minority and immigrants. Increasing college success rates and reducing the time to acquire a college degree has two tremendously positive effects: First, it reduces the financial costs of a college education on the student and secondly, it accelerates entrance into the labor market for a very large groups of students who are work- ing to escape poverty and low-income status.
As the national unemployment rate has now dipped to 3.8% and sooner than the 2019 forecast by the U.S. Federal Reserve, the labor market in New York city and state is in high need of workers and workers with a college degree. It is obvious based on the success of these two programs and the realities of our current labor market that fully funding college success programs is a wise investment with huge returns on investment for the individual, society and the economy. CUNY's college success programs are proven to work in achieving all of the above and should be expanded to help all its students.
At a time when the national college debt has reached $1.5 trillion dollars and 2.3 million New Yorkers owe over $80 billion in student debt, accelerating college completion is a factor in reducing student debt as well.
This legislation begins the process of strengthening CUNY, our labor force and our economy. It is a wise investment and needed at a time when China, Western Europe and other Asian countries are pouring billions into their higher education systems to become more globally competitive and dominant.
Legislative history
2018: referred to Rules.
Fiscal implications
$35 million beginning fiscal year 2020-2021 and increasing to $150 million per year beginning 2024 fiscal year.
Effective date
This act shall take place immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.