Message from Dr. Belinda S. Miles – New Resource for Students – April 10, 2017
To the campus community:
This past weekend, New York State passed free tuition legislation – The Excelsior Scholarship — resulting in a new impactful opportunity for many of our students. Beginning fall 2017, individuals in households with incomes less than $100,000 will qualify for free tuition at Westchester Community College and all other SUNY and CUNY schools. As The Excelsior Scholarship Program approved by Governor Cuomo and the legislature is so new, we are still working on details and are addressing the possible impact. We do expect the college to grow significantly through this new resource as more students choose our institution for higher education. The scholarship will give “last-dollar” support after Pell and TAP are calculated in student financial aid packages. Please note that this special scholarship covers tuition and not the variety of other expenses that students incur while pursuing degrees such as the cost of books, etc. Also, there are certain restrictions such as the need for students to attend on a full-time basis, earn thirty credits per year, and have residency in New York State.
We are truly supportive of this new resource that will make college available to many who have not been able to consider higher education. We will keep you informed as we continue to analyze the details of the plan and implications for our current and prospective students.
Click below for information on how students may pursue their dreams of college education…for free.
https://www.suny.edu/smarttrack/types-of-financial-aid/scholarships/excelsior/
Dr. Belinda S. Miles
President