College should be affordable for all, to provide access to one of the greatest economic equalizers. For the past decade, public college tuition and other costs associated with getting a college degree in New York have swelled faster than inflation while direct state aid to higher education institutions and financial aid programs has flat-lined. Now, the public health and economic fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic has placed even more strain on students, their families, faculty, and our colleges. Balancing the state budget must not add to the crushing financial burden students and their families are experiencing right now. Investing in a college-educated workforce and citizenry is key for supporting a just recovery for individuals and nurturing an economy burdened by COVID-19. We the undersigned students, faculty, and members of the NY college community, call upon you to:

• Stop public college tuition hikes
• Fully fund CUNY and SUNY operating budgets and close historical campus budget gaps to support on-time graduation and safe and quality educational experiences
• Increase TAP’s financial assistance to cover the full-cost of public college tuition and expand TAP to part-time students, graduate students and incarcerated individuals, and making the aid available during winter and summer sessions
• Stabilize and protect community college funding to withstand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Protect Bundy Aid for independent college students from budget cuts
• Expand NY’s proven Opportunity Programs to more students