New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Aug. 21 that the state will eliminate mandatory fees for graduate student workers at State University of New York campuses.
Hochul said the move is intended to make higher education more affordable for graduate students who work while pursuing their degrees.
“Our graduate student workers serve as teachers, researchers and other critical functions on our campuses while pursuing their degrees, and, with this step forward, we are supporting them in continuing to play these vital roles," Hochul said.
Mandatory fees eliminated
The complete elimination of mandatory fees for graduate student workers marks the end of a four-year phaseout. The fees previously averaged about $2,000 per year.
State lawmakers supported the phaseout through continued
investments in SUNY operations in state budgets beginning in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
More than 7,500 SUNY graduate student workers provide services on campuses across the state, including conducting research, working as teaching assistants and supporting regular campus operations, according to a news release from the governor's office.
More about SUNY
The State University of New York has 64 colleges and universities across New York and is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY eliminates mandatory SUNY graduate student worker fees averaging $2,000 a year
