Allows the granting of academic credit at state or city operated institutions to veterans.
Summary
This bill would require state-operated institutions within the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) to grant academic credit, upon application, to eligible veterans for military training or service that is equivalent to coursework and meets the institution’s standards. The credit would apply without limitation toward a degree for full-time undergraduate veterans in good standing, and the bill prohibits the assessment of any fee, tuition, or other charge for receiving the credit.
The bill defines “veteran” broadly to include members of the armed forces and certain reserve and guard components who received an honorable or general discharge, as well as veterans with a qualifying condition or discharged LGBT veterans who received discharges other than bad conduct or dishonorable. It also directs the SUNY and CUNY boards of trustees to adopt procedures needed to implement the credit-granting requirement, and it would take effect on July 1 following enactment.
Impact
The bill would amend sections 355 and 6206 of the Education Law to create a new statewide academic credit policy for veterans at public higher education institutions operated by SUNY and CUNY. It would require these institutions to evaluate military training and service for academic credit, potentially reducing time to degree and out-of-pocket costs for eligible student veterans, while leaving institutions discretion to determine whether the completed military coursework meets their academic standards.
Sentiment
The available context suggests a generally supportive posture toward the bill, as it is framed as a veterans’ education benefit and there are no recorded votes or committee objections in the provided materials. The bill’s purpose is straightforward and favorable to service members seeking to translate military experience into college credit, which typically attracts bipartisan support in principle.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are administrative and academic rather than ideological. Institutions may be concerned about how to evaluate military training consistently, how much discretion they retain under the “meet the standards of the institution” language, and whether granting credit without limitation could affect degree requirements or program integrity. Another possible issue is the breadth of the veteran definition, including qualifying-condition and discharged LGBT veterans, though the bill text expressly incorporates those categories from existing veterans’ services law.
Enacts the "military experience recognized for institutional transfer (MERIT) act"; grants academic credit for veterans with regard to SUNY and CUNY college credits for military learning, training, coursework and occupational experience.
Grants volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians academic credit at state operated institutions of the state university of New York and the senior colleges of the city university of New York to the extent of three academic credits per year, and 6 credits in the aggregate; provides that no fee, tuition or other charge shall be assessed against a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical technician who qualifies for such credit; directs the board of trustees of the state university and the city university of New York to adopt necessary procedures.
Grants volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians academic credit at state operated institutions of the state university of New York and the senior colleges of the city university of New York to the extent of three academic credits per year, and 6 credits in the aggregate; provides that no fee, tuition or other charge shall be assessed against a volunteer firefighter or emergency medical technician who qualifies for such credit; directs the board of trustees of the state university and the city university of New York to adopt necessary procedures.