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Governor Announces Legislation For Free College For WTC Victim Families
Scholarships to surviving family members means free education at SUNY or CUNY. Governor Pataki has announced he will submit legislation guaranteeing a college education to all of the families of those killed or seriously and permanently disabled in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center at all SUNY and CUNY schools, or an equivalent amount of aid for students who attend private colleges in New York State. The Governor will also direct the Board of Trustees at SUNY and CUNY to implement the policy immediately.
The Governor’s "World Trade Center Memorial Scholarship" legislation would also expand an existing program that guarantees a college education for the families of fallen police and firefighters by extending that same benefit to Emergency Medical Services workers who are killed on the job, whether in the WTC attack or elsewhere. The initiative also expands the benefits available to police and firefighters, as well as EMS workers, who are seriously and permanently disabled in the ongoing WTC rescue and recovery efforts.
"We have pledged to stand with the families of those killed by last week’s outrageous and cowardly attacks on the World Trade Center, and today we take a small but important step to keep that pledge," Governor Pataki said. "These families should not have to worry about how they are going to pay for college, and with this measure, they will never have to. This commitment - which will cover those who may be seriously injured in the difficult and dangerous work still ahead - will ensure that the families of our heroes will receive our support not only today, but in five, ten, or 20 years, when they are ready to attend college."
New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said, "Governor Pataki and I will continue to stand with the victims of this terrible act, not only now, but well into the future. The families of our heroes - the brave men and women of our Police Department, Fire Department and EMS - will take great comfort in knowing that their children will never have to worry about paying for college."
Under the proposal, the State would pay the cost of attendance at any State University of New York or City University of New York institution for the children and spouses of victims, or provide them an equivalent amount to attend a private college or university located in New York State.
The program is modeled after the Memorial Scholarships for Families of Deceased Police Officers, Peace Officers, and Firefighters, which provide similar college scholarships for family members of police officers and firefighters who are lost in the line of duty.
The Governor’s proposal would cover the cost of items such as tuition, room and board, fees, books, supplies and transportation. The benefit would be available for four years of full-time undergraduate study (or five years for certain five year baccalaureate programs).
The current average cost of attendance at a SUNY four- year college is nearly $12,000 per year, including tuition, room & board, fees, books, supplies and transportation. At today’s costs, the new scholarship would be valued at more than $47,500 for four years of study.
The Governor’s initiative would be available to the children and surviving spouses of the innocent victims who perished or were seriously and permanently disabled in the horrific World Trade Center terrorist attack, including those victims who lived out-of-state, many from New Jersey and Connecticut, or those who were residents of other countries. Also, the new program would be available to the children and spouses of any innocent victim who perished in the other September 11th terrorist attacks, including the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
The Governor’s legislation would become effective immediately and be in effect for the current 2001-2002 academic year. The initiative would be administered by the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC).
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