MCC Daily Tribune

SUNY BOT Authorizes In-State Tuition For Students From All Nations Granted Temporary Protected Status

Adopted Resolution Supports A Designation By The Department Of Homeland Security

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022

Albany, NY – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today authorized state-operated colleges and universities to offer in-state tuition to students from nations granted Temporary Protected Status, including those who cannot return home and prospective students seeking safety and opportunity.

The resolution provides real financial relief for students and families facing acute adversity and advances Governor Kathy Hochul’s mission to support evacuees and refugees with compassion.

“This is a critical investment in solidarity and opportunity that sends an unmistakable message – evacuees and refugees are welcome in the Empire State,” said SUNY Board Vice Chairman Cesar Perales. “We are proud to deliver financial relief to impacted students and their families, and we are hopeful that we can do more to help students around the globe continue their pursuit of an excellent college education.”

SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said, “This is a way for SUNY to provide a measure of stability for people whose lives have been uprooted by circumstances entirely beyond their control. These students enrich the diversity of our campus communities, and we’re committed to helping them strengthen their futures.”

Assembly Higher Education Committee Chair Deborah J. Glick said, “New York not only welcomes and assists families from abroad that are facing great challenges; now we will encourage them to further their education at SUNY. This resolution is the right thing to do for refugees and evacuees, but it is also wise to encourage more students from diverse backgrounds to enroll at SUNY who may otherwise have been financially prevented from doing so.”

Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Toby Ann Stavisky said, “These students and their families are dealing with great uncertainty and upheaval in their lives. They need our attention and support. Offering this financial relief will help many of our refugee and displaced students keep their educational aspirations alive, while assuring them that they have an ally in New York State.”

Also, during the Board meeting today, the Board of Trustees renewed the extension of in-state tuition benefits to students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who have been displaced by Hurricanes Maria and Irma. The Board first approved this measure after the hurricanes hit the islands in 2017.

A copy of both resolutions adopted by the SUNY Board of Trustees are available online:

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 state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.3 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 2022, 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 www.suny.edu.

Patrick Morris
Community Relations
12/14/2022