Governor Hochul revealed a groundbreaking plan on Tuesday, wherein the highest-achieving graduates from every high school in New York will gain automatic acceptance into the state’s public university systems. This initiative, a key focus in the governor’s State of the State priorities for higher education, aims to enhance equity, increase enrollment, and showcase the excellence of New York’s public universities while retaining talented individuals within the state.
Hochul emphasized the transformative potential of higher education, stating, “Access to higher education has the potential to transform the lives of young New Yorkers and change the trajectory of a student’s life.” In the coming year, the State University of New York (SUNY) will develop a direct admissions program, enabling students in the top 10% of their classes to secure automatic entry into the system’s most selective campuses, such as Stony Brook and Binghamton University.
The City University of New York (CUNY) is set to expand its existing direct admissions program. SUNY Chancellor John King highlighted the significance of direct admission in ensuring that exceptionally talented students are aware of the opportunities available at SUNY. Drawing inspiration from other states like Texas, California, Illinois, and Idaho, where direct admission has proven to enhance equity, Governor Hochul aims to create a similar positive impact in New York.
For instance, California offers guaranteed admission to the top 9% of high school graduates at University of California campuses, resulting in increased enrollment of under-represented students at selective campuses. New York is taking steps to simplify and improve the often stressful college admissions process. In the current school year, 65,000 local public school students received admissions letters to CUNY’s community colleges, along with additional information about the system’s four-year colleges. CUNY views this proposal as a bold step toward educational equity, facilitating a smoother college transition for numerous families.
SUNY also proactively reached out to 125,000 high school seniors outside NYC in June, directing them to local community colleges for the fall semester. Locally, Chancellor King, along with Schools Chancellor David Banks, announced that all high school seniors would receive “welcome” letters providing information about SUNY programs. These initiatives collectively represent New York’s commitment to creating a more accessible and equitable higher education landscape for its students.
