M E M O R A N D U M


							March 23, 2010

To:	Members of the Board of Trustees 	

From:	Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor 

Subject:  Tuition for Students Affected by Earthquake in Haiti

	I recommend that the Board of Trustees adopt the following resolution:

Whereas this Board has already spoken of its wish to assist and provide coordinated humanitarian efforts for the victims of the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti; and 

Whereas a number of SUNY campuses have enrolled as students, Haitian nationals who have been displaced as a result of the consequences of the devastating natural disaster in that country and will be seeking to enroll additional students from this country; and

Whereas the U.S. government has extended eligibility for Temporary Protected Status to holders of nonimmigrant visas from Haiti in recognition of the impacts of the earthquake on their ability to return to that country and to maintain their residency abroad; and

Whereas this Board wishes to extend the benefit of resident tuition to affected students who are Haitian nationals as a humanitarian response which acknowledges these students� inability to return to their home; and 

Whereas it is estimated that this benefit will affect between 45 and 60 students University- wide currently and more in the future; now, therefore, be it


Resolved that the Chancellor or designee be, and hereby is authorized to amend the State University of New York Guidelines on Residency for Tuition Purposes to make graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in the State-operated institutions of the State University of New York, who are attending these institutions on non-immigrant visas and are Haitian nationals, eligible for resident tuition for the Spring 2010 semester through the Spring 2011 semester; and be it further

Resolved that the Boards of Trustees of the community colleges operating under the program of the State University of New York are hereby encouraged to act consistent with this policy.


Background

	The occurrence of the devastating earthquake in Haiti on 
January 12, 2010 has left millions displaced and homeless. In recognition of this crisis, the U.S. government has enabled Haitian nationals who are in the United States to study, work, visit or otherwise to extend their stays and to receive the benefits of Temporary Protected Status. SUNY campuses have in attendance a number of Haitian nationals as students. Given their inability to return to their country and maintain their domicile in Haiti, it is appropriate to provide these students with temporary resident status for purposes of the SUNY Tuition Policy. Accordingly, this Board is extending additional assistance to such displaced students by amending the University�s guidelines governing residency for tuition purposes to classify the affected group of students as residents who will be charged in-state tuition. This resolution authorizes the Chancellor to amend the guidelines for this purpose for the Spring 2010 semester through the Spring 2011 and encourages the Boards of the community colleges to do likewise. 

	The financial impact of this resolution will be borne by the nine campuses (four state-operated and five community colleges) that are enrolling Haitian students and may be supported by scholarship funds at those campuses. The impact will vary by campus ranging from $8,000 for a state-operated campus with one affected student to $39,500 at the University at Buffalo and $47,400 at Stony Brook University 





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Board Resolution		March 23, 2010