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Act now to support tuition assistance.



Send your message to the governor and key legislators now >




As you may already know, this year's executive budget fails to increase funding for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).

Young Scholars Liberty Partnerships Program graduatesWith more than 335,000 students across the state (including an overwhelming majority of in-state UC students) relying on the program to cover their college costs, TAP remains a crucial component in keeping higher education affordable. In spite of this, undergraduate students have not seen a TAP increase in eight years and graduate students have been waiting more than 20 years.

Even more alarming, the governor’s budget proposal slashes funding for the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) by $1 million and $500,000, respectively. HEOP and LPP are tried-and-true formulas for making the dream of a college education possible for socio-economically challenged students, and these cuts will have a significant impact on these valuable programs.

To be sure, the governor’s budget has demonstrated support for a number of higher education investments. However, it falls short where help is needed most: student financial aid, particularly for low-, moderate-, and middle-income families. Access to higher education for all deserving students, not only for those who can afford it, should be among our top priorities as a state.

Advocating for change



As part of UC’s ongoing advocacy efforts, a delegation of students accompanied by faculty and staff traveled Albany on March 11 to encourage legislators to adopt the following recommendations:
  • Restore and increase HEOP and LPP funding.
  • For the neediest dependent undergraduate students, raise the maximum TAP award to $6,000, raise the minimum award to $1,000, and raise the income level for the minimum award.
  • For the neediest nondependent undergraduate students, raise the maximum award to $4,000 and raise the income eligibility level for the minimum award.
  • For the neediest graduate students, raise the maximum TAP award to $1,000 and the minimum award to $500.

How you can help

  • E-mail State Leaders – Go to the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu) e-Advocacy Web site at http://capwiz.com/cicu/home/ and lend your voice to this effort by sending your state legislators and the legislative leadership a brief message of support for these necessary and appropriate funding increases.
  • Spread the Word - E-mail, call, or personally encourage others to add their voices of support.

The time to act is now. Please help us send a clear message to our elected leaders and representatives in Albany that TAP, HEOP, LPP, and other higher education programs make an enormous difference for thousands of deserving students.




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