The following are the significant changes that have been made to the Executive Budget for higher education in the adopted state budget for 2007-08:

The total increase for the SUNY state operated campuses for 2007-08 above 2006-07 is $160.5 million.

State Operated Campuses – Funding

The adopted state budget increases financial support for SUNY state operated campuses by $10 million for services and expenses related to enrollment growth, full-time faculty, expansion of opportunity, and high need programs.

Educational Opportunity Centers

• Additional financial support is provided for the operation of the ATTAIN lab program in the amount of $6,095,329

Small Business Development Centers

• Additional funds of $500,000 are provided for the centers.

Educational Opportunity Program

• Additional funds 0f $839,511 are provided.

Community Colleges

• An additional $50 per student is provided above the $100 per student proposed in the Executive Budget for a total increase of $150 per student in base aid through the community college aid formula
• There is an additional $1 million provided for community colleges with low enrollment

Cornell Cooperative Extension

• An additional $500,000 is provided.

CUNY

The total increase for the CUNY senior colleges for 2007-08 above 2006-07 is $78 million.

Senior Colleges

• Additional financial support of $6.26 million is provided in support of master plan initiatives, which may include full-time faculty.

SEEK Program

• Additional support of $652,040 is provided for the SEEK program

Community Colleges

• Community college base aid is increased $50 per student above the $100 provided in the Executive Budget for a total increase per student of $150.

Bundy Aid

• Bundy Aid is increased by $4.2 million

Opportunity Programs

• The Liberty Partnership Program is increased by $538,000; the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is increased by $1,037,000.

Nursing Programs

• Funds of $1,027,000 are added to the budget to support expansion of nursing programs at private institutions.

Higher Education Services Corporation

• The legislature rejects the Executive's proposal to eliminate the use of the Ability to Benefit examination as a measure to determine TAP eligibility. .

The following are significant continuations from the Executive Budget:

• The Commissioner of Education is directed to evaluate the effectiveness of all teacher preparation programs in the state.
• The Board of Regents is required to explore the development of a pre-k through postsecondary (P-16) data system that tracks student performance from pre-k through attendance at public colleges in this state and links students to teachers or instructors.