SUNY Chancellor King Announces Funding from ECMC to Help Ensure New Yorkers Can Access Financial Aid
July 24, 2024
Funding Boosts SUNY's FAFSA Outreach to Students Including Communication, Multilingual Support, and Marketing
Due to Federal Delays, FAFSA Submissions Rate Down 12.3% Year Over Year in New York State
Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced a $500,000 award from ECMC to further SUNY's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion efforts so more students can access financial assistance to make their college education hopes a reality this fall.
"While it seems like summer break might have just started, the Fall 2024 semester is only weeks away and we want to make sure every student receives the financial aid they are entitled to. Due to federal delays, FAFSA completion rates in New York State are lower compared to last year, and the award from ECMC will boost our outreach to students and their families to assist them in completing the FAFSA, ensuring they have the financial aid necessary to make college a reality," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Together, we can empower more New Yorkers to claim the over $200 million in unused federal financial aid each year left on the table in NYS because of students not completing the FAFSA and help them find their place at SUNY."
According to an analysis by the National College Attainment Network, the high school class of 2023 left more than $4 billion in Pell Grants nationwide unclaimed by not completing the FAFSA. In New York State, nearly $226 million was left unclaimed.
The ECMC funding – made possible by the U.S. Department of Education – will further SUNY's FAFSA completion efforts by:
- Providing SUNY campuses with funding to support extra service time and transportation costs for staff to conduct outreach across the state;
- Funding outreach coordinators to aid campuses with outreach efforts;
- Partnering with community-based organizations to provide multilingual support and credible messengers, including FAFSA completion events in Spanish;
- Offering gift cards for student returnees who complete their FAFSA application to be used at their SUNY bookstore for purchasing books and supplies; and
- Conducting a statewide digital marketing campaign targeted to current high school seniors to complete the FAFSA throughout the summer.
Executive Director of The Education Trust–New York Arlen Benjamin-Gomez said, "EdTrust-NY applauds SUNY for securing this pivotal grant from ECMC Foundation. This funding will bolster FAFSA completion outreach efforts statewide ensuring that more New York students navigate the financial aid process successfully. We are particularly pleased that resources from this grant will support our partner community-based organizations who work to ensure students from low-income backgrounds, students from immigrant households, and first-generation students have access to higher education. This initiative aligns with our mission to foster educational equity by empowering students with the financial resources they need to thrive academically and beyond."
Northeast Regional Director at Young Invincibles Sean Miller said, "Completing FAFSA is the first step to economic security for working-class students. We can't let New Yorkers miss out on the most important opportunity to make higher education affordable and attainable. FAFSA is essential to qualify for federal and state financial aid, plus grants and scholarships, enabling students to evaluate options and costs, earn a degree, and pursue a rewarding career. Young Invincibles is thrilled to work with SUNY, Governor Hochul's administration, and our network of NY community partners to bolster FAFSA support for students and families. Together, we will ensure that New York is a national leader in access to financial aid, higher education, and workforce opportunities."
Due to delays in the federal release of the new FAFSA and federal technical glitches, year over year, FAFSA submission rates are down 12.3% in New York State according to the United States Department of Education. New York State students have completed 107,246 FAFSAs compared to this time last year's 122,354.
Governor Kathy Hochul introduced legislation, which was passed in the FY2025 Enacted Budget, requiring universal FAFSA completion beginning in the 2024-25 academic year for graduating high school seniors in an effort to boost completion rates. Studies show that students who complete the FAFSA are more likely to go to college. Specifically, 90% of high school seniors who complete the form go to college directly after graduation, compared to just 55% of seniors who don't fill out the aid application.
SUNY has held FAFSA completion events and discussions at several school districts across the state including the City School District of Albany, Buffalo Public Schools, Valley Stream Central High School District, and Yonkers Public Schools.
The New York State FY 2025 enacted budget included a doubling of New York State's Tuition Assistance Program's minimum award from $500 to $1,000, an increase to the maximum income threshold from $80,000 to $125,000 for dependent students, and an increase to the independent student income eligibility from $10,000 to $30,000. Completing the FAFSA allows New York State resident undergraduate students to access TAP.
SUNY has taken numerous steps to assist students and their families in applying for financial aid to make college more affordable including:
- FAFSA information sessions across the state, including FAFSA Completion events in Rochester, Buffalo, and New York City;
- Virtual FAFSA completion workshops, held in English and Spanish, to help families complete the FAFSA;
- Working with State partners and school districts to develop and promote online resources including print-ready resources for counselors and students to help guide them through the financial aid process; and
- Continued engagement of the SUNY FAFSA Completion Corps, an AmeriCorps funded program that supports nearly 50 SUNY students serving as near-peer mentors to help students complete the FAFSA, which launched in October 2023.
For additional resources on completing the FAFSA, please go to NYS Higher Education Services Corporation - FAFSA READY or Smart Track - SUNY. Students interested in applying to a SUNY institution can do so here.
About ECMC
As a nonprofit corporation providing services in support of higher education finance, ECMC assists students and families in their efforts to plan and pay for college
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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