Albany – The State University of New York Board of Trustees today authorized its state-operated colleges and universities to offer in-state tuition for the current academic year to students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands who have been displaced by Hurricanes Maria and Irma. The decision comes quickly after Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s directive this week.

SUNY will begin working with its state-operated campuses immediately to ensure all displaced students receive the in-state tuition rate. Today, SUNY’s Board of Trustees also encouraged the boards of trustees of its 30 community colleges and the boards of trustees of the statutory colleges at Cornell University and Alfred Ceramics, to take similar action.

“SUNY has a responsibility, as a public institution, to step in and help students when circumstances beyond their control may affect their ability to attend, pay for, and succeed in college,” said SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall. “This is SUNY’s call now, as our students and their families are challenged by the devastation left in Hurricane Maria’s path. The SUNY Board of Trustees is proud to do what it can for these displaced students.”

“Today we see SUNY and New York State at their very best, as we stand together and extend assistance to a community in need,” said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. “It is our hope that by easing the financial burden for students displaced by Hurricane Maria, they can stay in school and continue to work towards a degree. I commend Governor Cuomo for his leadership in the ongoing relief efforts and thank the SUNY trustees for their compassion, professionalism, and generosity.”

A copy of the resolution adopted by the SUNY Board is available online.

Today’s action by the SUNY Board of Trustees aligns with Governor Cuomo’s continued leadership in providing relief and recovery assistance to those impacted by Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, with 64 college and university campuses located within 30 miles of every home, school and business in the state. In 2015–16, SUNY served nearly 1.3 million students, including nearly 600,000 in credit-bearing courses and programs and more than 700,000 through continuing education and community outreach programs. SUNY students and faculty across the state make significant contributions to research and discovery, resulting in nearly $1 billion of externally sponsored activity each year. There are 3 million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu.