BILL NUMBER: S937

SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act relating to creating the commission on affordable college educa-
tion to study the participation of community colleges in the educational
opportunity program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions
upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To establish a temporary State commission to study the ten SUNY communi-
ty colleges that have not participated in the Educational Opportunity
Program (EOP) and make recommendations for legislative action based upon
its findings.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill states the Legislative findings.

Section .2 of the bill establishes the "Commission on Affordable College
              

Education" (the "Commission"), which is a temporary State commission,
that is empowered to examine, evaluate and make recommendations concern-
ing the ten SONY community college that do not participate in EOP.

Section 3 of the bill prescribes the composition of the Commission,
which shall be 13 members, and the rules for appointment to the Commis-
sion.

Section 4 of the bill provides that the Commission members shall receive
no compensation for their services, but are allowed reimbursement for
expenses.

Section 5 of the bill provides that the Commission is allowed to employ
personnel for the performance of its functions and that the Commission
possess the powers of a Legislative committee pursuant to the Legisla-
tive Law.

Section 6 of the bill provides that the Commission is authorized to
undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses that it deems
relevant in cooperation with or by agreement with any other public or
private agency.

Section 7 of the bill requires the Commission to make a report of its
findings to the Governor and legislative leaders within one year after
the effective date of this act.

Section 8 of the bill provides that this act shall take effect on the
ninetieth day after it shall become a law and shall expire and be deemed
repealed two years after such effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

As college tuitions continue to increase throughout New York State,
youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are seeking more affordable options
for higher education. A popular alternative has become pursuing a two-
year degree at a local community college and then transferring to a
four-year college or university to complete the remaining credits in
route to a bachelor's degree. While this approach sounds promising,
students using such technique risk potentially disqualifying themselves
for essential financial and academic support programs such as EOP and
HEOP at their future college or university. Criteria like the following
place otherwise eligible underprivileged students at a disadvantage:
"Applicants are eligible for EOP as a transfer student provided they
have been enrolled in Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), College
Discovery (CD), Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), Search for
Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) or a similar academic and
financial support program at their previous college. If the applicants'
previous college did not have EOP or a similar program, Applicants may
be considered for transfer eligibility and should notify the college to
which they are transferring of their interest."

SUNY has stated they may consider transfer applicants' eligibility for
EOP if their previous college did not have EOP or a similar program;
however, there is no clear policy posted on their website on how eligi-
bility would be determined.

Out of SUNY's 30 community colleges, the following two-year colleges do
not operate EOP programs: Cayuga Community College, Clinton Community
College, Columbia-Greene Community College, Coming Community College,
Herkimer County Community College, Jamestown Community College, Mohawk
Valley Community College, Nassau Community College, North Country Commu-
nity College, Rockland Community College, Sullivan County Community
College and Tompkins Cortland Community College.

Eligibility criteria that unfairly burdens transfer student applicants
from certain community colleges and favors transfer student applicants
from EOP participating community colleges and four year colleges and
universities discourages the educational aspirations of many that oppor-
tunity programs were designed to benefit. Throughout New York, finan-
cially and academically disadvantaged students who attend or plan to
attend one of the ten stated community colleges could eventually risk
missing out on tens of thousands dollars in academic and financial
support. Due to the significant disparity that can result from community
colleges not operating EOP, it's vital the State evaluates the feasibil-
ity of mandating all SUNY community colleges to participate in EOP or
prohibiting eligibility criteria that require transfer students to be
previously enrolled in EOP or a similar program.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: S6788 - Referred to Higher Education

2021-22: S1520 - Referred to Higher Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become a
law and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such effec-
tive date.