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The Business Council of New York State supports S.5891/A.7697 which would clarify that the newly enacted Enhanced Tuition Assistance (ETA) awards are for students attending all private degree granting institutions of higher education in New York, including fully accredited, degree granting proprietary colleges, on the same basis as other New York grant and scholarship programs.
New York’s successful Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) has helped make college affordable for students and has provided them with choice and access for over 40 years. The ETA program is available to students attending private degree granting institutions; however, the enacted ETA language uses a restrictive definition of private degree granting institution which differs from the definition used by TAP. This bill would amend the ETA program so that the definition of private degree granting institution has the same meaning as TAP as well as other New York State grant and scholarship programs.
The Legislature can address this shortcoming now so all students attending private degree granting institutions have access to the program for academic year 2017-18.
The Business Council supports programs which not only help students attend college, but those that also help ensure New York has the qualified workforce needed to further grow our economy. As such, the Business Council supports S.5891/A.7697 which would ensure students attending private degree granting institutions will be able to participate in the ETA program so long as they meet the required academic requirements.