Students, staff, faculty have opportunity to speak out for TAP increases

Students, staff, faculty have opportunity to speak out for TAP increasesMarch 27, 2007SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Students and families who benefit from New York State’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) have a rare opportunity right now to tell Albany how important TAP is to Syracuse University.

“But we can’t wait,” says Diana Napolitano, associate in SU’s Office of Government and Community Relations. “We need to tell our representatives now, before the state budget process draws to an end. Legislators in Albany are now deciding the fate of many important programs. Some will receive additional funding, while others will be cut out of existence.”

This year alone, 335,000 students are relying on TAP to pay for college. Napolitano points out that for the first time in five years New York’s higher education programs do not face deep cuts. But TAP’s maximum award hasn’t been raised in seven years for undergraduate students, independent students’ awards have not changed in 17 years, and graduate student awards have remained static for two decades.

SU students, faculty and staff can join thousands of other concerned citizens and make their voices heard by visiting http://www.capwiz.com/cicu/home to share with Gov. Eliot Spitzer, legislative leaders, members of the Higher Education Committees and their own elected representatives how TAP and other student aid programs have helped them accomplish their goals. Time is critical, and submissions should be made as soon as possible, Napolitano says.

The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (cIcu), of which SU is a member, has posted online its TAP proposal. To view this proposal, visit http://www.cicu.org/CMT/frontpage/TAPFinal2.02.pdf.

For more information on supporting TAP, contact the Office of Government and Community Relations at 443-3919.