LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring New York State Higher Education Opportu-
nity Programs whose achievements and endeavors further enhance excel-
lence in education

WHEREAS, The State of New York is renowned for its centuries-old tradi-
tion of excellence and diversity in education and for the place of para-
mount importance which education holds for the people of the State; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor New York
State Higher Education Opportunity Programs whose achievements and
endeavors further enhance excellence in education, and whose students
join us today to protect these programs for generations to come; and
WHEREAS, The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), the Arthur O. Eve High-
er Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), the Collegiate Science and
Technology Entry Program (C-STEP), and the Liberty Partnerships Program
have had an immeasurable effect on the number of minority and low-income
students who are prepared for and complete their college degrees; and
WHEREAS, These programs are vital in order to make quality higher
education available to all New Yorkers, regardless of financial status;
and
WHEREAS, Millions of New Yorkers have benefited from higher education
opportunity programs that help them attend college in New York State;
and
WHEREAS, We celebrate the transformative power of this exemplary
program that offers to students of limited means, the limitless opportu-
nities that a college education provides; and
WHEREAS, Over 4 million New Yorkers have benefited from the TAP
program; and
WHEREAS, HEOP students, who do not meet the traditional criteria when
they are admitted, typically earn their degrees at rates that equal or
exceed other students; and
WHEREAS, Three in four HEOP students are Black or Hispanic and 80
percent of HEOP freshmen come from families earning less than $21,150
annually; and
WHEREAS, C-STEP focuses on increasing the enrollment and retention of
underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students in programs
leading to scientific, technical and health-related careers and 20
percent of C-STEP students enroll in graduate or professional programs;
and
WHEREAS, The Liberty Partnerships Program works to decrease New York's
high school dropout rate and participating colleges partner with area
high schools to provide "at risk" students with tutoring, mentoring,
college awareness, academic counseling, and home visits; and
WHEREAS, Each year, 1,500 Liberty high school graduates go on to
college; and
WHEREAS, After students and families make use of other forms of insti-
tutional student aid and federal assistance, NYHELPS gives them a
lower-cost way to borrow additional funds to pay for college; and
WHEREAS, With just cause and true purpose, this Legislative Body is
pleased to recognize the significant assistance of New York State Higher
Education Opportunity Programs; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor New York State Higher Education Opportunity Programs whose
achievements and endeavors further enhance excellence in education; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause further to celebrate the
achievements of all students who have been able to go to and graduate

from college because of the assistance provided to them through these
exemplary programs; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Higher Education Services Corporation, the Commission on
Independent Colleges and Universities, the State University of New York,
and the City University of New York.