ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 28, 2025) – The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York (CICU) has released the following statement from Lola W. Brabham, president of CICU, on the SFY 2025-2026 Executive Budget Proposal.
“This year’s Executive Budget Proposal outlines critical investments in higher education, including the expansion of Part-Time TAP. This particular initiative, strongly supported by CICU, reflects the state’s commitment to increasing access to education and supporting workforce development.
CICU also sees an opportunity to further strengthen the budget by including New York’s independent colleges and universities in the $35 million Opportunity Promise Scholarship. Our member institutions are proud to serve nontraditional students, including adult learners pursuing associate degrees in critical fields such as nursing and STEM.
We look forward to working with the Governor, the State Senate, and the State Assembly to ensure the budget meets the diverse needs of all students. We remain committed to advocating for crucial programs such as Bundy Aid and Educational Opportunity Programs, which have a proven record of helping students succeed.”
To learn more about CICU, please visit cicu.org.
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About the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York: The CICU is a statewide association representing the public policy interests of the chief executives of more than 100 independent colleges and universities in New York State. Founded in 1956 by a small group of private, not-for-profit college and university presidents, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) now represents 100+ independent campuses across New York State. Although not a government agency, CICU is an educational corporation formed under the New York State