News Release
Apr 12, 2006
Former State Legislators Stafford and Costigan Honored for Creating TAP
Two former state legislators, the late Ronald B. Stafford and Peter J. Costigan, were honored on Monday, March 7, by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) and the Council of Governing Boards (CGB) for their leadership roles in creating the original state Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) legislation and for their sustained contributions to higher education.
On behalf of her late husband, Kay Stafford accepted a Corning Incorporated Steuben Apple (Ronald Stafford received CICU’s John Jay Award in 1994), and Costigan received the John Jay Higher Education Public Policy Award during CICU’s 50th Anniversary Annual Meeting reception held at the New York State Museum. The presenting event sponsor is TIAA-CREF.
“As I think about CICU’s first five decades and as we celebrate higher education in New York State throughout 2006, it is the right time to recognize our true higher education heroes. Peter and Ron deserve this honor for their years of work supporting college students and programs that promote access,” said Abe Lackman, president of CICU.
CICU Board Chair Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of Wells College, stated, “The Tuition Assistance Program continues to make higher education a reality for students who would not otherwise be able to attend college. TAP has changed the lives of millions.”
“The more than 3,000 trustees within New York’s Independent Sector salute the former state Senator Ronald B. Stafford and Assemblyman Peter J. Costigan for their leadership, dedication, and commitment to our state’s students and independent colleges and universities,” said Ronald Sylvestri, Chair of the Council of Governing Boards.
Stafford served as Vice Chair of the joint Select Committee and also chaired the Senate’s Higher Education Committee. Costigan was Chair of the Joint Senate and Assembly Select Committee on Higher Education that recommended the creation of TAP. Both men served as lead sponsors for the original TAP legislation in their respective houses.
Since 1974, the Tuition Assistance Program has provided grants to 9.1 million New Yorkers studying full time as undergraduates at a college or university in the state. TAP annually enables nearly 400,000 low- and moderate-income students to attend the college or university that is best for them. More than 95,000 students in the Independent Sector receive TAP, and most (85%) TAP funds go to families earning less than $40,000 annually. One in three full-time Independent Sector students who are New York State residents come from a family earning less than $40,000.
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The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) represents the chief executives of New York's 100+ independent (private, not-for-profit) colleges and universities on issues of public policy. Member colleges compose the largest private sector of higher education in the world and confer most of the bachelor's degrees (56%), master's degrees (72%), and doctoral and first-professional degrees (80%) earned in New York State.
CICU member campuses enroll more than 466,000 students, including nearly 300,000 New York State residents. One in three (27%) New Yorkers enrolled full time at independent colleges and universities in the state comes from a family earning less than $40,000 annually. And most (52%) African-American and Latino students who earn their bachelor's and graduate degrees in New York State are Independent Sector alumni.