SUNY announces elimination of application fees for low-income students

On Feb. 22, The State University of New York issued a press release following an announcement made by Chancellor Jim Malatras to eliminate the SUNY college application fee for students who come from low-income families, beginning March 1.

According to the press release, the elimination of the application fee will help potential SUNY students and their families save up to $350. Parameters for qualifying students include students who receive free or reduced lunch prices, household incomes that do not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or students who reside with foster families.

“Too many barriers from food insecurity to fees stand in the way of many qualified students—from low-income and communities of color—and a college education,” Malatras said in the press release. “We must do everything we can to break down barriers and empower students no matter their economic status or background, especially as a vast majority of all new jobs created requires some post-secondary education.”

The press release expressed that elimination of the application fee will help bring more diversity into the SUNY education system, in addition to helping students financially.

The COVID-19 pandemic is another reason for the elimination of the application fee due to the financial impacts on many families, according to the press release. There was a 13 percent overall decrease in first-time enrollment for Fall 2020, with the largest percentages found in Black, Latinx and Native American students. 

“The automatic fee waiver comes during the middle of a pandemic when too many lower-income families are struggling to make ends meet,” New York State Office of General Services Commissioner RoAnn Destito said in the press release. “It is now that the college-age kids from these families need this assistance the most.”

The elimination of the application fee is a part of SUNY for All Program and the “Big Dreams, Small Step” campaign, which provides resources and support to first-generation, low-income and underrepresented high school students.

New dining location opens in Fraser Hall

Campus Auxiliary Services opened the new 1871 Café this semester in the space next to newly renovated Fraser Library in Fraser Hall. The 1871 Café provides on-the-go coffee, snacks and drinks in an easily accessible location for students and faculty to acquire.

Throughout the Fall 2020 semester, Fraser Hall was under construction. The goal was to provide a library and cafe that would offer the campus community an alternative study space and food option while Milne Library, and its cafe Books and Bytes, is under construction. 

“We did open the 1871 Café to coincide with the start of the spring semester” CAS Executive Director Mat Felthousen said. “Traffic has been light so far, but traffic patterns, in general, have been different this year.”

The opening of the 1871 Café was followed by recent restrictions to help limit the spread of COVID-19. These restrictions require all dining locations on campus to be operated on a strict take-out only basis. Available seating areas enforced a policy of one person per table, in addition to regulations requiring masks to be worn unless an individual is actively eating or drinking. The 1871 Café provides grab-and-go food options including salads, sandwiches, entrees, snacks and parfaits. Additionally, the Café includes sushi options and coffee from Finger Lakes Roasters.

Although 1871 Café was established to provide Geneseo students and faculty an alternate venue in response to the Books N Bytes closure, students voiced their opinions to The Lamron about their impressions of the new café.

“I never got to use Milne, but I heard the actual library café used to be really nice,” political science major freshman Nicole Kemmett said. “So it was upsetting to see I wouldn’t have use of something similar.”

Psychology major sophomore Carra Lanigan said she is excited to visit, but hasn’t been able to go because of the harsh weather.

“When I first heard about it, I was intrigued and wanted to check it out,” Lanigan said. “But since it is so cold outside, I have not had the motivation to go yet.”