Gov. Paterson’s budget cuts hit tuition aid programs

New York’s state government is facing a projected budget deficit of $6.4 billion for the fiscal year 2009-10, turning Albany upside down. In an attempt to close the gap, New York Gov. David A. Paterson announced massive budget cuts in late August.

But the budgets cuts affect college financial aid.

At a televised speech in early August, Paterson said the state of the economy in New York was at levels comparable to the Great Depression and he called for an emergency economic session of the Senate and the Assembly in an attempt to come up with cost-cutting measures.

After the budget was revisited, cuts were made to the Direct Institutional (Bundy) Aid, the Higher Education Opportunity Program, the Science and Technology Entry Programs and Liberty Partnership Programs.

Among the programs most greatly affected were the Bundy Aid grants and HEOP, which were cut by $1.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively, according to NYU’s Office of Government and Community Affairs

NYU’s Office of Government and Community Affairs plays a large role in dealing with issues in Albany, and it organizes several lobbying trips throughout the school year to give students a chance to personally appeal to lawmakers. More than 330,000 New York State residents rely on state funding to attend the colleges of their choice, according to the office.

CAS sophomore Citlalli Negrete attends NYU solely because of the money she receives from HEOP. She was one of over 50 students who attended the NYU Day in Albany last March to lobby on behalf of continued funding for the program.

“I wouldn’t be here without this money,” Negrete said. “Six percent is definitely a lot of money to cut. It will affect the funding of our higher education.”

State aid is of particular importance now due to the recent credit crisis. Thousands of students across the country attending private universities have been adversely affected by the declining credit market, leaving some with the sole option of dropping out.


Chris James is city-state editor. E-mail him at cjames@nyunews.com.