Expanding College Access
Andrew believes New York should be a state of opportunity for all people. That means ensuring they can access a high-quality, affordable college education.
Andrew has already taken important steps to ensure every high school senior can access college:
He won universal FAFSA access for all high school seniors. Studies show 90% of seniors who complete the FAFSA go to college directly after graduation, compared to just 55% who don’t.
He passed a state budget that doubled the minimum award for the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)—the first increase since 2000—and expanded income eligibility from $80,000 to $125,000.
He won an expansion of the Opportunity Scholarship Program so adults aged 25-55 can get an associate’s degree tuition-free.
He secured millions in new funding for CUNY and SUNY to upgrade aging facilities, invest in academic research, and combat student food insecurity.
Andrew’s fight for a higher education system that’s fair, affordable and accessible to all is far from over. Here’s what he plans to do next:
End Legacy Admissions Preferences. For years, colleges have given the family of alumni an unfair leg up. Legacy preferences favor wealthy families, leading some to describe them as “affirmative action for the rich. Over 40% of all four-year colleges in New York provide a legacy preference, which shuts the door on immigrants and first-generation college students. Other states have already taken similar action to ban legacy admissions—and over 100 colleges have voluntarily done the same.
Pull back the curtain on early decision, which locks out many students who rely on financial aid. Under Andrew’s proposal, colleges would have to disclose how they use Early Decision to admit students, and who gets left behind.
Enact a New Deal for CUNY. Chronic underinvestment has forced CUNY to cut academic offerings, short-change students, reduce counseling, and delay building repairs, even as tuition keeps rising. Andrew’s New Deal for CUNY would transform our state's approach to higher education by:
Making CUNY tuition-free for all students, like it used to be.
Increasing the number of full-time faculty members while providing a pathway for more adjunct professors.
Increasing the number of academic advisors and clinical mental health counselors to ensure students have the support they need.
Creating a five-year capital plan for both CUNY and SUNY in the state budget to address critical maintenance needs.
Hiring staff to support students experiencing homelessness, and establish a pilot program that provides grants to increase enrollment, attendance, and success for homeless students.