Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation requiring the SUNY and CUNY Boards of Trustees to adopt policies requiring system universities and colleges to award college credit based on military service

By Council Members Maisel, Ulrich, Dickens, Gentile, Koo, Mendez, Rose, Lander, Van Bramer, Williams, Dromm, Cohen, Vallone and Arroyo.

Whereas, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that New York City is home to roughly 200,000 veterans; and

Whereas, As the United States (U.S.) deescalates operations abroad and reduces the size of the active duty military, greater numbers of service members will return home to the New York metropolitan area in the subsequent months and years; and

Whereas, Many of these newly-returned veterans will utilize G.I. education benefits and enroll at local community colleges and four-year universities; and

Whereas, According to the VA, the number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans pursuing post-secondary education opportunities has grown from almost 420,000 in 2001 to more than 1 million in 2013; and

Whereas, Veterans endure arduous and demanding training throughout their military careers and develop a wide range of skill sets; and

Whereas, According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 26 states have passed legislation directing public colleges and universities to adopt policies for recognizing military-acquired skills and learning; and

Whereas, Currently, New York does not have a statewide standard mandating public colleges and universities to award academic credit to students who are veterans for their military experiences, training and coursework; and

Whereas, The State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) are public institutions of higher education; and

Whereas, There are approximately 3,000 student veterans enrolled at CUNY schools and over 8,200 student veterans enrolled at SUNY schools in New York State; and

Whereas, In June 2014, the CUNY Board of Trustees adopted a policy on military transfer credits which authorizes schools to award credits in specific subject matter area or general electives for the satisfactory completion of military service, experience and military training courses; and

Whereas, CUNY's policy as currently adopted leaves the determination of whether to award credit to each individual university or college; and

Whereas, SUNY does not currently have a standardized policy in place regarding the awarding of college credit to veterans based on military experience; and

Whereas, Student veterans grapple with daunting challenges including socialization, tuition costs, and other hurdles that can exacerbate the transition from a service member to a civilian; and

Whereas, Standardizing SUNY and CUNY policy for all schools would provide student veterans with a wider range of options for schools to attend and receive college credit; and

Whereas, Adopting such legislation would ease the transition of veterans into campus life and rightfully acknowledge their military experiences and training with college credit; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation requiring the SUNY and CUNY Boards of Trustees to adopt policies requiring system universities and colleges to award college credit based on military service.

RJH/ENB

4/22/2015 1:56 p.m.

LS 1860/2014