New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday a plan to offer free tuition at state and city colleges and universities. This benefit will be for students pursuing associate degree studies in certain high-demand fields. This was confirmed by the same government authority in a speech in Albany, where she detailed her agenda for the current state legislative session.
Details on New York’s free college tuition plan
It should be noted that this news is nothing new. His office had already talked about this program and said that it would cover New York residents between 25 and 55 years old. Although, for this, students would have to enroll in associate degree courses at universities operated by the State University of New York and the City University of New York. The cost of books and other fees would also be borne by the state.
“We will make college education completely free for students between the ages of 25 and 55 who enter high-demand fields such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare and education,” Hochul said. In this regard, he stressed that such a benefit represents a real savings for New Yorkers seeking new careers. In addition, it will allow them to recoup money while filling vacancies in these critical industries.
Currently, New Yorkers already get discounted tuition at the vast network of state and city colleges and universities. This includes nearly 90 schools, and an existing program offers free tuition at schools for those residents earning less than $125,000 a year.
“We cannot talk about the future without talking about education. It is the great equalizer that opens opportunities for everyone,” the governor said. He added: My father’s college degree lifted my family out of poverty and opened doors to better paying jobs. Working with the legislature, over the past two years we have doubled tuition assistance at SUNY and CUNY and expanded the number of recipients.
The importance of a college degree
The New York governor explained that with this free tuition plan, every citizen will have the opportunity to earn a degree at the colleges previously named. As she said in her speech, this will open up greater job opportunities. This is a great social tool that allows to fill the demanded jobs of tomorrow.
There are other states, such as Massachusetts, that have similar education programs to New York’s, with free tuition. While others offer different types of benefits, such as discounts for state universities, or coverage regarding study material.
Banning the use of smartphones during school hours
Another issue that Hochul intends to address during his administration is the use of smartphones in schools. As he explained, they will work on creating a statewide standard for distraction-free learning that will operate throughout New York State.
Hochul considers it detrimental for students to use their cell phones and surf social networks during school hours. The solution he proposes is the use of cell phones without internet access, so that parents can continue to communicate with their children in case of emergency, but without the constant distractions.
If this measure becomes a reality, New York would join states such as Oklahoma, Kansas, Florida, Ohio, Vermont, Pennsylvania and Louisiana, where the regulation is already in force. The decision of these cities was based on studies that indicate that the excessive use of these items is associated with increased stress, anxiety, depression and sleep problems, so that their concentration decreases significantly.
Other issues that Hochul addressed in her speech
The New York governor not only talked about the free tuition plan and smartphones, but addressed many other issues in her speech in Albany. For example, she announced measures to address the growing insecurity in the subway. He also emphasized the need to increase mental health services and strengthen physical security. This could be done with plans for additional patrols and station improvements.
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