Dear Colleague:

We will soon begin accepting applications for the second academic year of the Enhanced Tuition Awards (ETA) Program, which enables resident students attending a New York State private, degree-granting, not-for-profit college to receive financial assistance to complete their college degrees on time. ETA Program recipients are eligible to receive $6,000 annual awards through a combination of their TAP award, ETA Program award, and a match from their participating private college.

As an eligible private college, you may opt into or opt out of the ETA Program each year. Colleges that opt into the Program are required to both provide a match of up to $3,000 for the duration of a recipient's attendance at the college, and freeze such student's tuition for the duration of the award in order to maximize the financial benefit to the student.

A participating college may not use institutional aid that has been awarded as part of an ETA Program recipient's existing financial award package as matching funds. Additionally, the institution may not use a student's receipt of an ETA award as a condition when determining such student's eligibility for other institutional aid, or the amount of such other aid.

We a have provided a link to the form through which your college will accept or reject the terms of the ETA Program for the 2018-19 academic year. This form must be completed and signed by the Chief Executive Officer or other fiduciary officer, and returned to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), 99 Washington Avenue, 13th Floor, Albany, New York 12255, Attention: Cheryl Fisher by Monday, February 26, 2018, as an indication of your institution's intent to opt into or opt out of the ETA Program for the 2018-19 academic year.

Please be aware that the participation decision made by your institution regarding any one year neither obligates nor precludes your college from deciding differently in future years; however, you must continue to both freeze the tuition charge and provide matching funds to ETA Program recipients who remain eligible for awards for the duration of such students' attendance at your institution.

Please feel free to contact my office at (518) 474-5592 should you have any questions. Legal questions may be directed to HESC Supervising Attorney This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dr. Guillermo Linares
Acting President