cIcu | Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities

Twenty-three graduates of New York's independent colleges and universities were selected by members of cIcu's Board of Trustees for inclusion in the 2010 Independent Sector Alumni Hall of Distinction. From entrepreneurs to family business owners, to not-for-profit directors and industry leaders, these alumni highlight the many positive connections between higher education and economic development. A new exhibit on display this week in Albany chronicles the story of each honoree. For an online gallery, please click here.

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The state's Executive Budget for 2010-11 cuts the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) by more than $71 million while eliminating TAP for graduate students. Now is the time to call on the New York State Legislature to restore these funds. More than 315,000 students currently depend on student aid to meet their college costs, and four million students have received state aid over the past four decades. Please join our campaign to protect student aid funding. As you know, New York State faces difficult financial challenges, including a budget deficit of $7.4 billion for the coming year. We need to help our elected officials understand that students are one of our state's best investments. Your voice makes a difference. Please stand up for student aid!

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The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) hosted the New York Student Aid Alliance Lobby Day on February 9, 2010. Eight hundred and fifty students from more than 50 college and university campuses gathered in Albany to advocate for state student aid programs, including the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) and its Collegiate counterpart (C-STEP), and Liberty Partnerships Programs.

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The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) will host a "birthday celebration" for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) to draw attention to the history, legacy, and potential of state student aid programs. For 35 years, New York State's Tuition Assistance Program has helped millions achieve their college aspirations; and for 40 years, the state Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program has changed the lives of thousands.

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Laura L. Anglin, president of the Albany-based Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU), will today testify on the Independent Sector's legislative priorities for SFY 2010-11 before the State Senate's and Assembly's fiscal committees in Hearing Room B of the Legislative Office Building in Albany, New York. She is available by telephone throughout the day and expects to testify ninth, at approximately 3 p.m. This brochure and these slides supplement her testimony.

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"With demand for state student aid at an all-time high, the Executive Budget released today puts an obstacle in the path for thousands of low- and moderate-income New Yorkers enrolled at colleges and universities in the state. By reducing the maximum TAP grant and eliminating Grad TAP, students will lose an essential source of assistance for meeting current college expenses."

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cIcu has a private 2-3 person office space available at its 17 Elk Street property just walking distance from the New York State Capitol: 746 sq. ft., $1,235 per month includes 2 parking spaces, all utilities and cleaning plus the use of a boardroom. Perfect for government or not-for-profit organization. Please contact cIcu Building Manager Jill Keyes (436-4781; jill@cicu.org) for more information or a tour. Click "Keep Reading" for the Ad.

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Every year, more than $300 billion in federal funds is allocated to states and communities based on census data. Learn more about the 2010 Census and how to become a "Census Partner."

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Spring Hill College and the University of Mobile are among the 1,200 four-year private schools nationwide in the Yellow Ribbon program. Participants have doubled since the benefits program began in August, according to Jo Schuda, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in Washington, D.C. Schools agree to cover up to 50 percent of costs above the public university cap, and the federal government matches that aid dollar-for-dollar.

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U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says removing the middleman - his term for the private sector - from giving student loans will save the nation about $87 billion over 10 years, money that could be used to provide more Pell grants to poor students. It sounds nice, but we don't buy it. Any savings, we suspect, would quickly evaporate once the federal government had the student loan business to itself. Look for inflated administrative costs, poor service and increased defaults.

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As Congressional Democrats and the White House begin a last-ditch push to pass legislation to overhaul health care this week, it remains far from certain that a plan to revamp the student loan programs will be merged into the health legislation. While the odds of that happening are better than not, it is still possible that Democrat leaders will decide to ditch or postpone action on the student aid measure if they conclude that it could discourage even a few key lawmakers from supporting the health care bill.

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