FOR THE STUDENTS
Lieutenant governor speaks about tuition-free college at SUNY Adirondack
QUEENSBURY, N.Y.>> Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul spoke at SUNY Adirondack Tuesday afternoon days before the budget deadline for New York State where the tuition-free degree program called The Excelsior Scholarship will be a major discussion. Governor Andrew Cuomo hopes to set aside $163 million to help close the gap for financially qualified New York residents.
“We will be the first state in the nation to offer what we consider a tuition-free education at one of our public institution,” said Hochul. “It’s not a check for your tuition. It’s simply saying once you use up all these other resources, if you just can’t get over that hump with your tuition we as a state will make up the difference because we are invested in our young people because those are the people that are going to be able to take the education, get a good job, buy a house, buy a car, stimulate the local economy, raise a family and stay in their home state.”
If it passes, in the first year of the program any family making $100,000 or less will be eligible, in the second year any family making $110,000 or less and in the third year any family making $125,000 or less.
Hochul remains optimistic the proposed budget will pass.
“We are,” said Hochul. “There have been Republicans in the senate that have spoken favorably about it. One never knows how the budget process works its ways through, we will know in a matter of days now, but we really hope for the people in this state that it happens. I think that it would give a real sense of optimism for people in rural, poor areas that often feel that they are not seen by people.”
Hochul said a couple thousand dollars makes or breaks a family.
“They don’t have the luxury of sending their kids to school,” said Hochul. “We want to make sure every child has a chance to get an education in our state.”
About 74 percent of families in the Capital Region would be eligible for The Excelsior Scholarship.
“There’s a very strong, compelling reason as a society, as a state, as an economy just as human beings why we need to invest in these young people and help them overcome the hurdles that through no fault of their own the cost of education at our public institution is much higher than it was just a generation ago,” said Hochul. “We want your support. We need your support. We need your voices collectively to make sure our legislature hear you.”
Hochul said jobs across New York State have been created.
“We now have jobs but we don’t always have enough people with the skills to fill
those jobs,” said Hochul.
The tuition-free degree program only covers tuition, not room and board.
“We have to do something the tax payers can afford, so this is the right balance,” said Hochul.
“What we are trying to do is address the tuition problem and make up the difference.”
It’s also initially only for students invested in college full-time.
“It’s students who are enrolled full time but there’s also a step out opportunity if something happens where you need to leave temporarily whether it’s a family situation or a job situation then they can get back on track so there is accommodation and some flexibility there,” said Hochul.