“Students should be given the choice on where they want to go to school,” said Tom Buttafarro, director of board, community and government relations at St. Bonaventure University. “It shouldn’t be a financial choice. It should be the student’s best fit.”
As the April 1 budget proposal deadline approaches, the university has taken a stance.
On Jan. 3, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed the New York State Excelsior Scholarship, which would use state financial aid to cover the full cost of tuition for low-income students at SUNY and CUNY schools.
“He wants New York to have a more educated workforce, accessibility and to bring down high costs,” Buttafarro said.
He said the governor’s proposal would grant free tuition to New York State residents whose families make less than $125,000 a year.
This has concerned students, parents, faculty, staff and members of surrounding communities of private institutions.
He said that as of 2015, with almost 600 employees, St. Bonaventure University had a $141 million impact on the regional economy.
“This proposal can negatively affect SBU enrollment and can affect the economy of the local area,” Buttafarro said. “Say you’re a business recruiting top-notch physicians and engineers. One of the ways to sell our area is to say we have a premier college and college basketball team. These are selling points of the community.”
Buttafarro said that almost 40 percent, or 665 students, attending St. Bonaventure would be affected. This could cause the university to lose students or have a lower enrollment rate, he said.
“We are an enrollment-based university,” said Buttafarro. “We thrive on our freshmen admissions. We can defend how much we are worth, but we can’t compete with free.”
Buttafarro and other faculty members have been pushing Limitless Learning, a campaign against the governor’s proposal, on both the Notice Board and by word-of-mouth.
“The website was created by the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities to get students or anyone else involved,” said Buttafarro. “It allows people to send letters to their local elected officials to support independent college choices for all students.”
Buttafarro said Limitless Learning also supports investing in the Tuition Assistance Program for all students, rather than those solely attending SUNY or CUNY schools.
The Board of Trustees passed a resolution on Friday supporting the expansion of TAP.
Buttafarro said the university has been working hard to make sure their voice is heard on the issue.
“We have had a massive advocacy plan,” Buttafarro said. “We have had multiple meetings and coalitions with state legislatures, trustees and campus letter drives, have involved alumni through Limitless Learning, have sent hard-copy letters and have been in contact with senators and assemblymen.”
He said that participating in the government system is an important way to get involved.
“This is the only way to have your voice be heard,” Buttafarro said. “If you avoid the system, your voice will never be heard.”
Although unsure of what the senate, assembly and governor will conclude in the upcoming days, Buttafarro encourages students, faculty and others not to give up.
“Anything could happen right now,” said Buttafarro. “We’re hearing it’s going to pass or it may not pass. Every day is something different. This is the final push. Anyone in the community can sign up for Limitless Learning as a last effort to notify our officials.”
Buttafarro said other ways to support the cause include personally contacting legislatures by phone or email.
For more information on Limitless Learning or to send a letter to your elected officials, visit https://www.limitlesslearningny.org.
engjg14@bonaventure.edu
