Ithaca College students traveled to Albany, New York on February 14th to stand up for student aid! More than 370,000 New York students count on state student aid programs each year to help pay for college.Ithaca College students traveled to Albany, New York on February 14th to stand up for student aid! More than 370,000 New York students count on state student aid programs each year to help pay for college.
Advocacy Day is an opportunity to demonstrate support for student aid funding and higher education. Annually, Ithaca College students and alumni from the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) join others to attend the New York Student Aid Alliance Advocacy Day. This year, hundreds of high school and college students, faculty and staff from across New York State visited Albany and gathered at the Legislative Office Building in the Empire State Plaza to share their stories about the value of New York State student aid programs.
Highly engaged IC student-advocates Dominique De Lisle ‘19, Sagrario Fabian ‘18, Arron Liriano ‘18, Abiola Tubosun-Kassim ‘19, and Angelique Weston ‘18, accompanied by the Ithaca College HEOP and CSTEP programs director, Dr. Orlando Kittrell and counselor Sihaya Moraleda, shared their personal stories of overcoming academic obstacles and eradicating socioeconomic stereotypes, while achieving long-term goals toward graduating from college – all possible due to New York State funding allocated for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and opportunity programs, including as examples, HEOP, EOP, CSTEP, STEP, Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP), SEEK, etc. The enthusiasm of the students helps to put a real face on student aid and truly reinforces for New York State legislators why the continuance of state funding is so important. This year, IC was publicly recognized by New York State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton and IC alum and educational opportunity program participant Senator Jesse Hamilton.
New York Student Aid Alliance Advocacy Day has proven to be the best opportunity for New York State students, faculty, financial aid and opportunity program administrators and other staff, as well as legislators, higher education policymakers and staff to come together in order to show support for student aid funding and higher education. It is vital that students collectively continue to advocate for themselves and that all students support their peers in standing up for student aid!
Join the New York Student Aid Alliance today. Protect New York State financial aid!
The Ithaca College Office of State Grants (OSG) provides oversight for HEOP and CSTEP. OSG is structured under the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Educational Affairs. OSG directly reports to the Vice Provost for Academic Programs.
https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20170309205821290