BUFFALO, N.Y. — The State of New York is expanding the Tuition Assistance Program, known as TAP, in an attempt to make higher education more affordable and accessible.
Part of the expansion includes raising the minimum tuition assistance award to $1,000 and raising student income limits.
SUNY chancellor Dr. John King discussed the changes on Friday, saying he hopes this will increase diversity on campuses.
"Diversity makes us stronger, that our classroom discussions are richer, our faculties are better, our communities are healthier when we embrace diversity equity and inclusion," he said. "So, while other states may be going backwards, what we say in New York is that diversity makes us better, makes us stronger."
State officials said the changes are expected to benefit over 90,000 students in public and private colleges and universities across the state.
Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrated the program's expansion on Friday at Farmingdale State College on Long Island,, where she also announced $431,000 for new, modernized air traffic control simulation technology.
"This is a grant. This is not a loan. It does not have to be paid back," Hochul said during Friday's news conference. "And we expect to benefit more than 90,000 more students, and 48,000 of which are newly eligible because we changed those standards. We want students from all backgrounds to come to places like those colleges represented here today. These are outstanding institutions. This is what we brag about all the time."
Dr. King said the change will help all SUNY schools.
"You want to make sure that New York students know that they can get a high quality, affordable education, staying in New York State, and you also want to make sure that we are producing the workforce the state needs," Dr. King told 2 On Your Side last month.
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