Niagara University Students Take Financial Aid Advocacy to Albany
Four Niagara University students traveled to the Capitol in Albany Tuesday to speak with New York lawmakers about the importance of universal access to state-sponsored financial aid.
Liam Donovan (Lewiston, N.Y.), Noah Hubbel (Greece, N.Y.), Joi-Alexis Johnson (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Mary McCormick (Avon, N.Y.) participated in the New York Student Aid Alliance Advocacy Day, an annual initiative coordinated by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities.
This is the 10th year the organization has hosted an Advocacy Day in Albany.
The students met with elected officials to encourage their ongoing support of independent education, particularly the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), Bundy Aid and the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP).
Bundy Aid, HEOP, TAP, the Science and Technology Entry programs (STEP/C-STEP), and the Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) saw proposed funding cuts of a combined $50 million in this year’s Executive Budget. On Tuesday, students from across the state gathered in Albany to urge lawmakers to restore critical student aid funding.
Niagara University was awarded $308,351 in HEOP funds to use for financial aid purposes last year. Sixty-three students, including Johnson, benefited.
“Financial aid has made it possible for me to attend Niagara University,” the sophomore social work major told several elected officials. “If I was not in NUOP/HEOP, I’m not sure that I would be in college at all.”