College Students Travel To Albany to Support Strengthening TAP

ALBANY, NY (02/26/2009)(readMedia)--

Who: Students from New York's proprietary colleges

What: Student Rally

When: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Where: Room 711-A, Legislative Office Building, Albany

Students and faculty from across New York will gather at the State Capitol in Albany on Tuesday, March 3, to urge Gov. Paterson and the Legislature to preserve the state's Tuition Assistance Program. The delegation represents the Association of Proprietary Colleges (APC).

From 9 to 11 a.m., students will meet with their respective legislators and ask them to reject a 2009-10 executive budget proposal that would increase the full-time status for TAP eligibility from the current and federally accepted 12 credit hours per semester to 15. APC believes the measure would weaken TAP and limit access to college for thousands of New Yorkers.

The students also will:

  • Discuss the positive impact that TAP has had on their lives.
  • Provide information about the benefits of an education from an APC College, including flexible class schedules, small class sizes, accelerated study programs, career placement services and field-experienced faculty.
  • Ask legislators to support the NYHELPS low-interest loan program proposed by Gov. Paterson.

Following their meetings, the delegation will gather in LOB Room 711A for a rally and student remarks. Representing APC will be individuals from the following colleges: The Art Institute of New York City (Manhattan), Berkeley College (Manhattan, White Plains), Briarcliffe College (Patchogue, Bethpage, Queens), Bryant & Stratton College (eight campuses upstate), The College of Westchester (White Plains), DeVry College of New York (Long Island City, Manhattan), Laboratory Institute of Merchandising (Manhattan), Long Island Business Institute (Commack, Queens), Monroe College (the Bronx, New Rochelle) and New York Career Institute (Manhattan).

The Association of Proprietary Colleges represents 26 tax-paying, degree-granting colleges located on 36 campuses across New York. Proprietary colleges are one of the four sectors of higher education in New York. APC Colleges offer degrees in more than 60 associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs, including business, medical assisting, hospitality management, graphic arts and technology.

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