On February 24, 2026, CICU President Lola W. Brabham testified before the Senate and Assembly Finance Committees regarding the FY2027 New York State Budget, outlining urgent priorities to protect student access, strengthen workforce pipelines, and stabilize New York’s higher education ecosystem.
In her testimony, President Brabham emphasized that recent federal changes to student loan programs, combined with rising operational costs and reductions in federal research funding, are creating significant challenges for students and institutions across the State. She underscored that New York’s public and independent colleges and universities are deeply interconnected—and that disruptions in one part of the system impact communities, employers, and families statewide.
President Brabham called on the Legislature to take decisive action to:
- Establish the New York State College Access Program (NY-CAP) — a state-backed loan program designed to provide safe, affordable financing options for students, particularly those pursuing graduate degrees in critical workforce fields such as teaching, nursing, mental health, and STEM.
- Expand and strengthen the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), including restoring support for graduate students and fully funding financially independent students.
- Reject proposed cuts to Educational Opportunity Programs and increase investment in HEOP, STEP, CSTEP, and Liberty Partnerships.
- Restore Bundy Aid, reinvest in cutting-edge research partnerships, and provide new funding for the Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program (HECap).
- Support rural colleges and students with disabilities, ensuring that access and opportunity remain central to New York’s higher education strategy.
“New York has long been a national leader in educational opportunity,” President Brabham stated. “At a time of growing federal constraint, the State’s response matters more than ever. By investing in affordable pathways across our entire higher education ecosystem, we are investing in New York’s economic future.”
CICU will continue working closely with lawmakers, state leaders, and member institutions throughout the budget process to advance policies that protect students and strengthen communities across New York.
👉 Read President Brabham’s full written testimony here