LUPINACCI WANTS TO REDUCE COLLEGE DROPOUT RATES

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,I – South Huntington) and the Joint Committee on Higher Education recently held their first budget hearing and discussed the future of public education with SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and CUNY Chancellor James Milliken. Lupinacci’s top priority for higher education in the coming years, he said, is reducing the rate of student dropouts. He also discussed the governor’s recent community college proposal, which would provide two years of college loan payments to qualifying students.

“One of my main concerns is making sure our campuses can lower dropout rates in the coming years. Too many students are abandoning their education after only one year in college, whether it’s due to financial or other reasons. Everyone deserves a chance to earn a college degree, and the new proposal to provide loan payback to qualifying college students could be a great opportunity,” said Lupinacci. “Research needs to be done, however, on this proposal and its effect in our classrooms and on our campuses. We need to make sure our campus facilities can maintain the increase in students or decide if infrastructure changes are necessary.”

Lupinacci also suggested that to reduce SUNY dropout rates, which have increased particularly among freshmen in recent years, students should become involved in internships earlier in their undergraduate careers.

“If we want to lower dropout rates, we need to make learning exciting,” said Lupinacci. “As a college professor, I encourage students to partake in internships and stay active in their community. Internship programs not only help students with social skills, but are also a great way to get students engaged with hands-on learning and real-world experiences. I’m confident that our students would want to return to school and appreciate their college experience if we encouraged internships earlier in the college process.”

Lupinacci is a college professor and former South Huntington school board member, and is the Ranking Member on the Assembly Committee on Higher Education and has worked extensively to provide a quality education to SUNY and CUNY students.

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