SUNY Proposes Changes to Remedial Aid

A State University of New York task force has been working over the past few months to review and restrict the types of non-credit courses that should be eligible for state remedial aid. As a result of the task force's work, community colleges across the state anticipate that many courses currently eligible for remedial aid will soon no longer be eligible under the new SUNY definition and, consequently, remedial aid revenues are expected to decline at most campuses.

Under the proposed new definition, remedial aid would be restricted to include only those courses that "address deficiencies in knowledge or skills that are expected of all students upon matriculation into a college degree or certificate program." This includes "instruction concerned with diagnosing, correcting, or improving such basic skills as oral and written communications, reading, analytical concepts, and general study habits and patterns…"

If the new proposal is adopted by SUNY, academic support programs, such as learning labs, tutoring, and advisement programs would no longer eligible for remedial aid. In addition, vocational courses and courses aimed at the improvement of workplace skills would be ineligible. However, GED and ESL programs offered by community colleges would be eligible.

Like most of our sister institutions, if the current proposed definition is adopted by SUNY, SCCC anticipates a reduction in state aid as several of our long-standing non-credit offerings may no longer be eligible for remedial aid. SCCC should, however, fare better than most campuses because the majority of our remedial aid is generated by non-credit course offerings that target GED instruction.