On May 22nd, Toby Ann Stavisky, the State Senator of the 11th District of New York and Chair of the Higher Education Committee of the State Senate, was awarded the State University of New York (SUNY) Medal by SUNY Chancellor John King.
John King, the Chancellor of the State University of New York, stated that awarding Stavisky this honor is a recognition of her “unwavering advocacy for public higher education in New York State over the years.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). Stavisky and State Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy spearheaded a comprehensive reform of the program to better reflect current economic realities. The “Turn on the TAP” initiative helped secure significant improvements in the New York State budget, including:
– Doubling the minimum scholarship amount from $500 to $1,000
– Expanding the income cap for economically non-independent students’ families from under $80,000 to under $125,000
– Raising the income eligibility for economically independent single students from a maximum of $10,000 to a maximum of $30,000
– Increasing the income eligibility for independent married students from a maximum of $40,000 to $60,000
Stavisky noted that during her tenure as committee chair, she worked tirelessly to reverse the long-standing issue of underfunding at the State University of New York, resulting in the first increase in enrollment numbers in years.
State Assemblywoman Fahy, Chair of the State Assembly Higher Education Committee, also received this honor in recognition of her contributions.