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Q&A
Implementation and impact of CUNY application fee waivers
0:34:04
·
3 min
The discussion focuses on the implementation and impact of CUNY application fee waivers. CUNY officials provide details on the current fee waiver program, its cost, and its effect on application numbers.
- Fee waivers are already being implemented for the 2025-2026 school year
- The program resulted in a 386% increase in applications in its first year
- CUNY is requesting $10 million to provide fee waivers for all students (freshman, transfer, and graduate)
Reine Sarmiento
0:34:04
We're doing the fee waivers now for the 2526 school year.
Eric Dinowitz
0:34:09
For who?
Reine Sarmiento
0:34:10
For all students.
0:34:13
We did the fee waiver last in November and gave waivers to not only the New York City public schools but also throughout New York State.
Eric Dinowitz
0:34:25
And what what and what was the investment in that?
0:34:27
What was the financial investment in that program?
Reine Sarmiento
0:34:31
This is actually the second year.
0:35:09
For 94,000 applicants for freshmen was $6,100,000.
Eric Dinowitz
0:35:18
And that's who you did this November?
0:35:21
Yes.
0:35:22
And then you also did it last year?
Reine Sarmiento
0:35:23
Yes.
Eric Dinowitz
0:35:24
And then when you did these programs, what was how did that impact the number of students who applied to CUNY?
Reine Sarmiento
0:35:32
So the first year we got a 386% increase in applications.
0:35:39
And this year we got 13%.
0:35:43
Now we were really hoping to be able to have a marked difference in enrollment.
0:35:48
But as you know that was the year in which the FAFSA had some challenges and affected our new student enrollment.
0:35:57
The impetus behind the fee waivers is so that students could act early enough and to be able to get to their college of choice.
0:36:10
Previous to the fee waivers, students were notified of their application in March and April.
0:36:16
Now they get their response in November and December which allows them to apply for financial aid and be ready.
0:36:23
So we consider this not only a benefit for students to be able to know more about the college process and select but also better be prepared for their studies in the fall.
Eric Dinowitz
0:36:37
Great.
0:36:37
And how much is this CUNY requesting from the administration for fee waivers for the up for this the upcoming fiscal year?
Reine Sarmiento
0:36:46
If we were to only do freshman, it would be 6.1.
0:36:51
If we did transfer, it would be 3.4.
0:36:56
And I could get these numbers to you.
Eric Dinowitz
0:36:57
Well, 3.4 additional for Okay.
Reine Sarmiento
0:37:01
If we did graduate, it would be a little over half a million dollars for a total if we did fee waivers across the board for every student transfer, freshman, and graduate of $10,000,000.
Eric Dinowitz
0:37:18
10 million dollars to allow kids to apply to college?
0:37:20
Doesn't seem that bad to me?
Reine Sarmiento
0:37:22
It doesn't.
0:37:23
And like you said, it's the investment.