Chancellor Cantor encourages activism on state budget cuts

Chancellor Cantor encourages activism on state budget cutsMarch 08, 2005Matthew R. Snydermrsnyder@syr.edu

This message, from Chancellor Nancy Cantor to the students, faculty and staff of Syracuse University, is posted here as a service to the University community.

As you may know, the Governor’s budget proposal cuts Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grants by half and reduces the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) by 50 percent. These cuts could be devastating for Syracuse University students, who would lose close to $1.5 million in assistance for meeting college expenses.

The Governor’s budget proposes cutting TAP awards in half for students entering college in the fall of 2005. Students would only receive the remaining half of their TAP awards upon graduation. The Governor has also proposed eliminating $10.5 million in financial aid for HEOP students. In the 2003-04 academic year, 3,318 SU students qualified for more than $7.2 million in TAP funding. In that same year, more than 200 SU students benefited from HEOP.

During the last three years, the legislature rejected proposed changes to TAP, but we cannot count on the same result this year without fully engaging in advocacy. Now is the time for the SU community to share with policymakers in Albany our perspective on the TAP proposal and the elimination of 50 percent of HEOP. Our affiliation with the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu) makes it possible for us to join with other campuses across the state in a strong grassroots advocacy effort.

Using an electronic advocacy system, the process takes only minutes. To access the system, go to http://econstituent.votenet.com/cicu and follow instructions for sending an e-mail to state policymakers. Personal information will not be used for commercial purposes.

I urge you to use this method to e-mail Governor Pataki and New York State legislators supporting TAP and HEOP. You may also customize your message to call for restorations to programs that sustained a 5 percent cut in state funding last year, including the Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP), the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), and Direct Institutional Aid program (Bundy Aid).

Many voices are valuable-and necessary-in the effort to save student aid. Let your voice be heard. Thank you for participating in this important effort.

Sincerely,

Nancy CantorChancellor and PresidentSyracuse University