Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Private College Aid topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Private colleges say cuts to Bundy Aid and opportunity programs will reduce scholarships and access
Summary
Representatives of private nonprofit colleges and CICU told lawmakers that cuts to Bundy Aid and targeted opportunity programs would reduce scholarships and hamper college access; they urged extending Opportunity Promise to qualifying associate programs at nonprofit colleges and restoring cuts to student‑disability supports.
Representatives of private nonprofit colleges, including the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities and the Association of Private Colleges, told the committees that cuts to Bundy Aid and other state supports reduce scholarship funding that helps middle‑income students afford independent nonprofit colleges.
Bundy Aid and parity asks: Witnesses asked the legislature to restore or expand Bundy Aid (which channels state funds to select independent colleges for scholarships) and urged that the proposed Opportunity Promise free tuition pilot be structured so eligible associate degree programs at private nonprofits are also covered. They said that many nonprofit campuses award a significant share of associate degrees in high‑demand fields and should not be excluded from the pilot.
Disability supports and TAP parity: Private sector witnesses asked the legislature to restore proposed cuts to disability supports and to continue expansions to part‑time TAP and TAP eligibility for micro‑credentials and non‑degree students. The Commission said the governor—s proposed endowment threshold for Band Aid exclusions ($750M) prevents a nuanced assessment of campus financial health.
Why it matters: Private nonprofit colleges educate a substantial share of New York students and provide workforce training in many regions; advocates warned that funding cuts would shift more costs to students and could force program reductions.
