The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) is proud to highlight a newly published op-ed examining how recent federal student loan changes could impact healthcare education and workforce development across New York State.
Co-authored by Assemblymember Phara Souffrant-Forrest and Michelle Jones, Director at Large of New York State Nurses Association, the piece outlines the growing strain on healthcare systems and the importance of maintaining access to education for future healthcare professionals.
The op-ed highlights how hospitals, nursing homes, and community clinics across New York are facing ongoing workforce shortages, with providers managing increased patient demand and limited staffing resources. It emphasizes that restricting access to student loans for healthcare education could further reduce the number of trained professionals entering the field—deepening existing challenges across both urban and rural communities.
This work is part of CICU’s continued advocacy to ensure that federal and state policies support student access, institutional sustainability, and the workforce needs of New York’s economy.