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U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders joined Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday to announce a plan for free college tuition for middle-class New Yorkers.
The proposal, called the Excelsior Scholarship, would apply to all State University of New York and City University of New York two- and four-year colleges. More than 940,000 families and individuals that make up to $125,000 per year would qualify for the program.
Cuomo and Sanders made the announcement at LaGuardia Community College in Queens. Cuomo said he wanted to make the announcement from Queens because he was an "old Queens boy." When he was growing up, there was a definite division between what was called the "Outer Borough" of Queens, the Bronx and other areas in New York City and the "Inner Borough." The Outer Borough was where the working or middle class lived.
But, in those days, Cuomo said it was OK to be working class because the people had the understanding that they could work their way up. The working class believed that system in the country and in the state would enable them to make it.
However, times changed, and the economy became more sophisticated, Cuomo said.
"Now, it wasn't enough just to go to a public school and a public high school and work hard," he said. "Because now you need real skills."
While in previous years, a person could work in manufacturing, running machines or driving a truck to make a living, that is not the case anymore, Cuomo said. Rather, in this economy, an individual needs a "college education if you're going to compete."
The program would require students to be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY two or four-year college full-time, and will cover middle class families and individuals making up to $125,000 through a supplemental aid program. According to Gov. Cuomo's Office, 80 percent of New York households make $125,000 or less a year. Based on projections, the plan would cost $163 million. The initiative would be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making $100,000 annually in fall 2017, the threshold would increase to $110,000 in 2018 and would reach $125,000 in 2019. The plan would require approval by the Legislature.
According to the Governor, the initiative will work by leveraging aid programs. The Tuition Assistance Program or TAP provides nearly $1 billion in grants to college students statewide, which New York is one of two states in the U.S. to offer such a program. Students eligible for the program would still receive TAP and any federal grants. State funds would then cover the remaining tuition costs for incoming or existing students.
"A college education is not a luxury - it is an absolute necessity for any chance at economic mobility and with these first-in-the-nation Excelsior Scholarships, we're providing the opportunity for New Yorkers to succeed, no matter what zip code they come from and without the anchor of student debt weighing them down," Cuomo said. "New York is making a major investment in our greatest asset - our people - and supporting the dreams and ambitions of those who want a better life and are willing to work hard for it. I am honored to have the support of Sen. Sanders, who led the way on making college affordability a right, and I know that together we can make this a reality with New York leading the way once again."
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said the U.S. is in need of the best educated workforce in the world if it is to "succeed in a highly competitive global economy."
"With exploding technology, and with most of the good paying jobs requiring more and more education, we need to make certain that every New Yorker, every Vermonter and every American gets all the education they need regardless of family income," Sanders said. "In other words, we must make public colleges and universities tuition free for the middle class and working families of our country. That is what Gov. Cuomo is fighting for here in New York and it's something I strongly support. I urge New York legislators to pass this enormously important proposal and become a model for the rest of the nation."
State Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, said access to education is important, but so is protecting taxpayers.
"The state Senate has been very supportive of higher education and tuition assistance programs because achieving a college education can open the door for countless opportunities and an enhanced quality of life," Young said. "Like every budget proposal, this idea will receive intense review, analysis and discussion. Not only do we need to have the infrastructure for access to high-quality education, but we also need to protect our taxpayers and our economy from being suffocated by a heavier tax burden. We look forward to receiving more information when the state budget is released by the governor."
State Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown, asked if college professors and other college personnel had decided to work for free.
"Unless the college professors are doing this as a voluntary service, there is no such thing as free college," Goodell said. "The only question is: Who is paying for it?"
Instead of the free college tuition, he said taxpayers will be footing the bill for educational expenses that will never benefit them.
"What the governor is saying is he wants people who are not going to college to pay higher taxes so some people can go to college," he said.
Goodell said many young people graduate college and leave the state because there are no jobs. An alternative to the free college tuition idea would be to continue to support the community colleges and four-year colleges with state aid, continue the Tuition Assistance Program and provide a student loan program for students who graduate and stay in New York State, such as the loan forgiveness program for teachers.
Goodell said there is a benefit to students having a financial stake in their education. He said he attended college and paid for it himself, which allowed him to understand the value of what he was doing.
"When I was in law school and I paid for it myself, you bet I paid attention because it cost me money," Goodell said. "I think students should have some kind of financial responsibility."
He said he believes there is also a role for parents who want to support and help their children, as well as a role for the government to make sure college is reasonably affordable.
"Which can be done through a loan system," Goodell said.
Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi released a statement commending Cuomo's proposal.
"In order for New York to remain a leader in today's global economy, we must support our middle-class families and ensure the young men and women of this state have the tools needed to succeed in the 21st century economy," Teresi said. "By providing a tuition-free college education to eligible New Yorkers, Governor Cuomo's proposal will transform our business landscape by giving hundreds of thousands of bright and promising students the opportunity to make their dreams a reality. I commend the Governor for this groundbreaking proposal and always fighting to rebuild our middle-class."
Officials from Jamestown Community College also offered comments on the announcement.
"The governor's proposal is great news for current and prospective JCC students," said Jamestown Community College President Cory Duckworth. "If the (State Legislature) approves the governor's proposal, we would expect to see many more students engage in our educational programs."
Duckworth also said he is interested in examining the plan's details which are said to encourage college enrollment and promote preparation for college and consistent progress toward degree completion once enrolled.
"These are three of the biggest challenges we face every day in our work at the college," he added, not to mention the help it will give students in the long run. "A reduction in student debt will lift a huge burden from the backs of our graduates who are struggling to get started in life. In addition, the extra earning power they gain from their degrees will propel them forward economically in very substantial ways."