Gov. Andrew Cuomo this afternoon introduced a measure that would allow state university campuses to raise their own tuition, creates a competitive $80 million grant program and creates a university revolving loan fund.

Tuition increases would be capped at 5 percent a year.

The bill would also provide for the unversity centers in Buffalo, Albany, Binghamton and Stony Brook to raise their tuition 8 percent.

The Tuition Assistance Program would be exempt from the tuition increases.

The Legislature has been loath to allowing campuses to raise their own tuition, but universities have argued the local control is needed in order to help undertake economic development programs.

The measure also provides for $140 million in capital funding for the campuses.

“The current tuition system does not serve our students, schools, or state,” Cuomo said in a statement. “This bill brings rationality to the SUNY tuition system, by allowing students and parents to reasonably plan for college expenses, instead of being subject to dramatic tuition increases and uncertainty.

A similar measure pushed by Gov. David Paterson failed last year.

The highlights include:
· Authorizing all SUNY campuses to implement a rational tuition plan by increasing tuition five percent annually for five years
· Authorizing University Centers to implement a rational plus tuition plan by including an additional three percent increase annually for five years conditioned on the approval of their NYSUNY 2020 applications by the Governor and SUNY Chancellor
· Requiring that any tuition increase under the five year rational tuition does not apply to students eligible for maximum TAP award
· Creating a State University Low Interest Revolving Loan Fund
· Requiring conflict of interest policies for implementation of NYSUNY Challenge Grant Program
· Authorizing the Empire State Development Corporation to issue $80 million in bond proceeds to implement NY-SUNY Challenge Grant Program

Here’s the bill:
Gpb11nysuny2020challenge Bill

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