Legislation

§ 6311. New York opportunity promise scholarship. 1. Eligibility. A
New York opportunity promise scholarship shall be awarded to an
applicant who meets all of the following conditions:

(a) is at least twenty-five years of age or older, but in no case more
than fifty-five years of age, as of January first of the calendar year
for the semester for which the applicant makes initial application;

(b) has applied for a New York state tuition assistance program award
pursuant to section six hundred sixty-seven of this chapter, a federal
Pell grant pursuant to section 1070 of title 20 of the United States
code, et. seq., and any other applicable financial aid;

(c) is matriculated at a New York state public institution of higher
education in an approved program directly leading to an associate's
degree in a high-demand field; provided that for the two thousand
twenty-five -- two thousand twenty-six academic year, such fields shall
include but not be limited to advanced manufacturing, technology,
cybersecurity, engineering, artificial intelligence, nursing and allied
health professions, green and renewable energy, and pathways to teaching
in shortage areas, provided further that such fields may be updated
annually thereafter by the department of labor no later than one hundred
eighty days prior to the first start date of the fall term of such New
York state public institutions of higher education, and provided further
that the eligibility of such approved program established in the
semester for which the applicant makes initial application shall
continue;

(d) is eligible for the payment of tuition and fees at a rate no
greater than that imposed for resident students in the applicable New
York state public institution of higher education; and

(e) has not already obtained any postsecondary degree, provided that
nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the eligibility
of a student who is already enrolled in an eligible associate degree
program on the effective date of this section and who meets all the
other eligibility requirements of this subdivision, and provided further
that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the
eligibility of a student who, though having previously obtained a
postsecondary degree, is enrolled in an approved program leading to an
associate's degree in nursing.

2. Amount. Within amounts appropriated therefor, and subject to
availability of funds, awards shall be granted for the two thousand
twenty-five -- two thousand twenty-six academic year and thereafter to
applicants who are determined to be eligible to receive such awards.
Such awards shall be calculated on a per term basis prior to the start
of each term the applicant is successfully enrolled and shall not exceed
the positive difference, if any, of (a) the sum of actual tuition, fees,
books, and applicable supplies charged to the applicant and approved by
the applicable New York state public institution of higher education,
less (b) the sum of all payments received by the applicant from all
sources of financial aid received by the applicant with the exception of
aid received pursuant to federal work-study programs authorized under
sections 1087-51 through 1087-58 of title 20 of the United States code
and educational loans taken by the applicant or guardian.

3. Additional provisions. An eligible recipient shall complete at
least six credits per semester, for a total of at least twelve credits
per academic year, in an approved program of study. An eligible
recipient shall be continuously enrolled without a gap of more than one
academic year, provided that such duration may be extended for an
allowable interruption of study including, but not limited to, death of
a family member, medical leave, military service, and parental leave.
Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this section, if an
applicant fails to meet the eligibility criteria of this section at any
point, no further awards shall be made to the applicant.

4. Conditions. (a) An eligible recipient shall continue to make
satisfactory academic progress in order to maintain continued
eligibility for an award pursuant to this section.

(b) Each campus that enrolls students pursuant to this section shall
take steps consistent with established policy to maximize the award of
credit for prior learning for participating students.

(c) No student shall receive an award pursuant to this section for
greater than ten semesters.

(d) A student who earns college credit pursuant to this section shall
be entitled to transfer such credit to another state university of New
York or city university of New York campus consistent with transfer
policies established by the state university of New York or city
university of New York.

5. Reporting. By September first, two thousand twenty-six, and by
September first of each year thereafter, the chancellor of the state
university of New York and the chancellor of the city university of New
York shall each submit a report to the governor, the speaker of the
assembly, and the temporary president of the senate, including but not
limited to the following information:

(a) enrollment data by full and part-time status;

(b) retention and completion rates by full and part-time status;

(c) barriers to student participation;

(d) demographic data related to the program;

(e) average prior learning and transfer credit awarded;

(f) the total amount of funds awarded and the average award per
student; and

(g) post-completion outcomes including transfer, employment, and
wages, as applicable.