Overview
The Aid to Certain Independent Colleges and Universities, popularly referred
to as Bundy Aid, is a program that provides direct unrestricted financial
support to certain independent postsecondary institutions located in New
York State. The program is funded from an annual appropriation of the New
York State Legislature.
The genesis of the program was the appointment of the Select Committee on
the Future of Private and Independent Higher Education in 1967 by Governor
Nelson Rockefeller and Chancellor Richard Couper of the New York State Board
of Regents. The Select Committee, chaired by McGeorge Bundy, was charged
with advising "how the State can help preserve the strength and vitality of
our private and independent institutions of higher education and at the same
time, keep them free." The Committee's report, transmitted in 1968,
unanimously recommended that "moderate but real level of need calls for
direct assistance from New York to private colleges and universities." The
Legislature endorsed this and additional recommendations by establishing the
aid program during the 1968 session.
The 1969-70 academic year marked the inauguration of the program, during
which a total of $25.5 million was distributed to 57 participating
institutions. By 1987-88 the number of participating institutions had grown
to one hundred and the total annual payments had grown to over $113 million.
The term "participating institutions" is used to denote the fact that the
Legislature, in concurrence with the Select Committee report, did not grant
blanket eligibility to all independent institutions. This is reflected in
the total of Article 29 of the Education Law, which established the program,
i.e., Aid to Certain Independent Colleges and Universities. Institutions
must make application to participate and must meet the eligibility criteria
set forth in Section 6401 of the Education Law.
The annual entitlement for each institution is based on the number of
earned degrees conferred the previous year. The Legislature adopted earned
degrees as the basis for calculation rather than enrollment because of the
advantages pointed out by the Select Committee:
1. Avoidance of need to define student status, i.e. full-time, part-time,
degree-credit, etc.
2. Emphasis placed on productivity rather than number of students.
3. Incentive for improving retention.
The original rate provided $400 for each baccalaureate degree and each
master's degree and $2,400 for each doctoral degree. The associate degree
rate was not included until 1973-74 and was only used to calculate
entitlements for freestanding two-year institutions.
Increases in the rate schedule were enacted in 1973, 1976, 1980 and 1985.
These increases in the rate schedule, plus the increased number of
participating institutions are responsible for the overall increase in
annual payments through 1989-90. The current rates, if
fully funded, would amount to $600 per associate
degree, $1,500 per baccalaureate degree, $950 per master's degree, and
$4,550 per doctoral degree. Since 1990-91, the Legislature has not fully
funded the program. In 2011-12, the Legislature provided $35,129,000 or 20
percent, of full funding.
PROCESSING OF BUNDY AID
BUNDY Aid payments are awarded annually to degree-granting institutions that
have applied for and meet the qualifications for the program (BUNDY
institutions). After being initially approved, BUNDY institutions need only
to submit the annual reporting requirements to receive aid. Institutions
must submit:
- Certified earned degree counts
- Lists of degree recipients
- Estimates of earned degrees to be conferred
- Summary Budget
- Use of Aid Statement
- Annual Certified Audit
- Institutional Catalog
- Institutional Manuals
The amount of aid awarded to each institution in a given year is determined
by award rates specified in law, the number and type of degrees awarded in
the previous academic year, the number of degrees awarded by other
participating institutions, and State fiscal year appropriations. The
calculated BUNDY Aid is disbursed in three payments, with approximately 35%
in October, 35% in February and 30% in May for the degrees awarded during
the previous academic year. Institutions are allowed to correct/finalize
their degree counts through December 31 so that any adjustments to the
awards may be made in the February payment.
When the program is fully funded, the aid to each institution is determined
by summing the amounts obtained from multiplying the number of each type of
degree awarded by the current rate per degree. Currently those rates are
Associate - $600, Baccalaureate -$1,500, Master’s - $950, and Doctoral -
$4,550. If institutions have both associate and baccalaureate degrees they
may receive payments only for the baccalaureate degrees. In addition, each
doctoral degree awarded Medical/Dental Capitation Aid is excluded.
From 1990 to the present, the Bundy appropriation has been insufficient to
cover the fully funded calculated aid. In this case, to equitably ‘divide
the pot’, the total actual appropriation for all institutions is divided by
the calculated amount needed if fully funded. For example, the appropriation
for FY 2002 was $44.25 million while the amount needed for full funding was
$134.1 million. This produces a funding level of 44.25/134.1 = 33.02%. This
ratio with greater precision is applied to each institution’s expected aid
if fully funded to determine their actual aid.
The Bundy Law as of April 1991
ARTICLE 129 – STATE AID FOR CERTAIN INDEPENDENT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION
§ 6401. State aid for certain independent institutions of higher learning
1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law to
the contrary, the commissioner is hereby authorized to apportion for each
annual period commencing July first nineteen hundred seventy-six and to pay
to any independent institution of higher education within the state which
meets the requirements of subdivision two of this section, upon application
by such institution, such amounts of state aid as are authorized to be paid
by subdivision three of this section.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, in order to qualify for
state aid apportionments pursuant to this section, any institution of higher
education must meet either the requirements set forth in subparagraphs
(i) through (v) of this paragraph or, in the alternative, the requirements
set forth in paragraph (b) of this subdivision:
(a)
(ii) The institution must be a non-profit college or university incorporated
by the regents or by the legislature, or a school of medicine, dentistry or
osteopathy authorized by the regents to confer the degree of doctor of
medicine, doctor of medical science, doctor of dental surgery or doctor of
osteopathy.
(iii) The institution must maintain one or more earned degree programs,
culminating in an associate or higher degree.
(iv) The institution must meet such standards of educational quality
applicable to comparable public institutions of higher education, as may be
from time to time established by the regents.
(v) The institution must be eligible for state aid under the provisions of
the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of
New York.
(vi) The institution must submit a financial statement which shall include
total assets and liabilities, in such form as may be approved by the
commissioner.
(b) An institution of higher education located in this state, at least
one-half of the students of which are economically disadvantaged, and the
course credits and degrees of which are offered by a consortium of
sponsoring colleges, each of which sponsoring colleges satisfies the
following requirements, shall qualify for state aid apportionments pursuant
to this section:
(i) The sponsoring college must be non-profit college or university
incorporated by the regents or by the legislature.
(ii) The sponsoring college must maintain one or more earned degree
programs, culminating in an associate or higher degree.
(iii) The sponsoring college must meet such standards of educational quality
applicable to comparable public institutions of higher education, as may be
from time to time established by the regents.
(iv) The sponsoring college must be eligible for state aid under the
provisions of the constitution of the United States and the constitution of
the state of New York.
(v) The sponsoring college must submit a financial statement which shall
include total assets and liabilities, in such form as may be approved by the
commissioner.
3. Degree awards. The amount of such annual apportionment to each
institution meeting the requirements of subdivision two of this section
shall be computed by multiplying by not to exceed four hundred fifty dollars
the number of earned associate degrees, by not to exceed one thousand two
hundred dollars the number of earned bachelor’s degrees, by not to exceed
nine hundred dollars the number of earned master’s degrees, and by not to
exceed four thousand five hundred dollars the number of earned doctorate
degrees, conferred by such institution during the twelve-month period next
preceding the annual period for which such apportionment is made, provided
that there shall be excluded from any such computation the number of degrees
earned by students with respect to whom state aid other than that
established by this section is granted directly to the institution, and
provided further that the amount apportioned for an associate degree shall
be awarded only to two year institutions qualifying under subdivision two of
this section. The regents shall promulgate rules defining and classifying
professional degrees for the purposes of this section. Institutions
qualifying for state aid pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (b) of
subdivision two of this section shall, for purposes of this subdivision, be
deemed to be the institutions which confer degrees. For purposes of this
subdivision, a two-year institution which has received authority to confer
bachelor degrees shall continue to be considered a two-year institution
until such time as it has actually begun to confer the bachelor’s degree.
4. Thirty-five percent of each such annual apportionment payable pursuant to
this section shall be paid on or before October fifteenth, thirty-five
percent shall be paid on or before February fifteenth, and the remaining
thirty percent shall be paid on or before May fifteenth.
5. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations requiring the submission to
him, by any institution intending to apply for state aid apportionments
pursuant to this section, of reports in such form, at such times and
containing such information as he shall by such regulations require,
concerning, but not limited to such matters as the present and contemplated
future programs, curricula and facilities of the institution, and its
financial affairs, its long range plans and its progress in implementing
such plans, and its administrative practices and procedures. No institution
shall be eligible to receive any apportionment of state aid, or portion
thereof, payable pursuant to this section unless such institution shall have
submitted all reports required pursuant to such regulations, in form
satisfactory to the commissioner.
RULES OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS
3.54 Definition and Classification of Degrees. (Additional statutory
authority: Education Law, Section 6401.) For purposes of apportioning State
aid pursuant to section 6401 of the Education Law, earned degrees are
classified as follows:
(a) An earned associate degree shall represent completion of two academic
years of full-time study or an equivalent which can be shown to accomplish
the same goals.
(b) An earned bachelor’s degree shall represent completion of four academic
years of full-time study or an equivalent which can be shown to accomplish
the same goals.
(c) An earned master’s degree shall represent completion of one academic
year of graduate-level study or an equivalent that can be shown to
accomplish the same goals. For purposes of apportioning State aid only, the
following degrees shall be classified with earned master’s degrees:
bachelors of laws (L.L.B.); doctor of law (J.D.); master of comparative
jurisprudence (M.C.J.); master of comparative law (M.C.L.); master of laws (L.L.M.).
(d) An earned doctoral degree shall represent completion of three academic
years of graduate level study or an equivalent that can be shown to
accomplish the same goals. Doctoral studies shall include the production of
a substantial report on research, or the independent investigation of a
topic of significance to the field of study, or the production of an
appropriate creative work, or the development of advanced professional
skills. For purposes of apportioning State aid only, the following degrees
shall be classified with an earned doctoral degree: doctor of dental surgery
(D.D.S.); doctor of medicine (M.D.); doctor of podiatric medicine (D.P.M.);
doctor of medical science (Med.Sc.D.); doctor of chiropractic (D.C.); doctor
of osteopathy (D.O.); doctor of judicial science (S.J.D.); and doctor of
science of law (J.S.D.), Au.D., doctor of audiology,
D.N.P., doctor of nursing practice, D.P.T., Doctor of Physical Therapy.
(e) An earned master of philosophy degree shall represent completion of all
requirements for the doctor of philosophy degree except the dissertation,
but shall not constitute a separate degree for the purpose of this section
or of Education Law section 6401.
1310. Standards of education quality. (Additional statutory authority:
Education Law, Section 6401.) To be eligible for State aid pursuant to
section 6401 of the Education Law, an institution of higher education must:
(a) meet those standards of educational quality set forth in part 52 of the
regulations of the Commissioner of Education for the registration of
curricula in all public and private higher institutions of the States; and
(b) be accredited by an appropriate nationally recognized regional
accrediting association or have such other equivalent recognition of
educational quality as may be determined sufficient by the Commissioner of
Education.
April 1992
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION OF AN INSTITUTION FOR BUNDY
ELIGIBILITY
Article 129, section 6401 of New York State law states that for independent
institutions of higher education to be eligible for state aid, they must be
eligible for aid under the provisions of the constitutions of the state and
federal governments. Those constitutions forbid public aid to sectarian
institutions. No formal regulations exist in New York State defining the
criteria for religious affiliation. Assessments of religious affiliation are
currently based on advice from counsel and past practice. The effective
criteria for BUNDY eligibility related to religious affiliation are:
1) Institutions may have no denominational control. Boards must be
self-perpetuating and a majority (51%) must be laypersons. (Laypersons
appointed by a Bishop, for example, would be unacceptable).
2) Institutions may not require courses in religious doctrine or philosophy.
Materials such as catalogs detailing degree requirements may be used as
evidence.
When an institution applies for BUNDY aid, a review committee is appointed
to examine the institution’s control. This examination is based on review of
materials submitted by the institution and a site visit made by one or more
committee members (normally a theologian). Results of the committee's
findings are provided to the Commissioner, who makes a decision regarding the
institution’s eligibility for BUNDY aid.
BUNDY PARTICIPANT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
- Summary Budget (Preliminary) - Fiscal Year
(a one page summary of budgeted amounts by major revenue and expenditure
categories for the institution)
July 1, or the first day of fiscal year if it begins after July 1
- NYSED-2: Certification of Earned Degrees Conferred - July 1, through June 30
accompanied with a list of degree recipients in the prescribed format (see
Attachment 1).
Due August 1
- Statement of Use of Bundy Aid during Academic Year
(a letter describing what was funded and what benefits resulted due to Bundy
Aid)
Due August 31
- Fiscal Year Annual Certified Audit
[Submission of 2 audit reports are required to fulfill both the Bundy Aid
Program requirements and the reporting requirement mandated by CEO Memo No. 97-01, issued 1/8/97]
Due October 6 or within 120 days of end of institutional fiscal year
- Current Institutional Catalog
[Submission of 1 catalog will fulfill both this requirement & the general
HEDS catalog request.]
-
Current Faculty Manual
- Current Student Manual
- Current Administrative Manual
(If there is no update on Catalog or Manuals, please specify in writing.
There is no need to resubmit.)
Due October 15
- NYSED-2A: Estimate of Earned Degrees to be Conferred - Provide an estimate of the number of graduates for July 1 through June 30 of the upcoming year Due March 15
- All forms that are part of the Higher Education Data System Package must be
completed in order for an institution to participate in the Bundy Aid
Program. Failure to comply with any of the above requirements may result in
the withholding of payments.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
An independent postsecondary institution desiring to participate in the Aid
to Independent Colleges and Universities must meet the following criteria.
1. be incorporated by the Regents or Legislature as a non-profit college or
university.
2. maintain one or more earned degree programs culminating in an associate
or higher degree.
3. meet such standards of educational quality applicable to comparable
public institutions.
4. be eligible for State aid under the provisions of the Constitution of the
United States and the
Constitution of New York State.
The materials required to be submitted to show that the institution seeking
eligibility meets these criteria are as follows:
1. a copy of the charter incorporating the institution as a non-profit
college or university.
2. a catalog listing the academic course offerings leading to an associate
or higher degree.
3. a statement showing that the institution has been accredited by a
nationally recognized, regional
accrediting association (Middle States), by the Board of Regents, or
accreditation by
specialized national accrediting bodies.
4. a copy of the latest Certified Public Audit of the institution’s
financial status.
Note: The Education Department will provide information showing that the
institution has met the standards set forth in Part 52 of the Regulations of
the Commissioner for the registration of curricula in all public and
independent institutions.
5.
a. a completed copy of the Constitutional Eligibility Questionnaire.
b. a copy of the institution's constitution and by-laws.
c. a list of the members of the institution's governing body with a brief
biographical sketch.
6. letter stating desire of the institution to participate in the programs.
Upon receipt of these materials, the institution eligibility status will be
determined by the Eligibility Committee. The Committee reserves the right to
request any additional information and/or materials needed to make the
eligibility determination.
Constitutional Eligibility Questionnaire to be Completed
by Bundy Program Applicants
1. What are the stated purposes of the institution, as set forth in its
charter or legislative authority (please quote verbatim) and in other
relevant documents?
2. Is the institution wholly or in part under the control or direction of
any religious denomination?
3. Does the institution receive financial assistance from any religious
body?
4. Do the policies of the institution with respect to the selection of
members of its governing board, its administrative officers or its faculty
provide that the faith or creed of a candidate shall be relevant in any way
to his selection?
5. Do the policies of the institution with respect to the admission of
student provide that the faith or creed of an applicant shall be relevant in
any way to his admissibility to the institution?
6. Do the policies of the institution with respect to the awarding of
scholarship, fellowship or other financial assistance to its students
provide that the faith or creed of an applicant shall be relevant in any way
to the awarding of such assistance?
7. Is any denominational tenet or doctrine taught in the institution?
8. Does the institution award any degree or degrees in the field of
religion?
Does the institution include within its structure, or is it affiliated with
any seminary or school of theology?
Independent Colleges and Universities Participating in the Bundy Aid Program
20011-12
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Adelphi University
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Albany Law School
Albany Medical College
Alfred University
American Academy of Dramatic Arts
American Academy McAllister Institute
Bank Street College of Education
Bard College
Barnard College
Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing
Boricua College
Bramson Ort College
Brooklyn Law School
Canisius College of Buffalo
Cazenovia College
Clarkson University
Cochran School of Nursing
Colgate University
Metropolitan College of New York
College of Mount Saint Vincent
College of New Rochelle
College of Saint Rose
Columbia University
Cooper Union
Cornell University
Culinary Institute of America
Daemen College
Dominican College of Blauvelt
Dowling College
D'Youville College
Ellis Hospital
Elmira College
Fordham University
Union Graduate College
Hamilton College
Hartwick College
Helene Fuld College of Nursing
Hilbert College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hofstra University
Iona College
Ithaca College
Juilliard School (The)
Keuka College
LeMoyne College
Long Island College Hospital School Of Nursing
Long Island University
Manhattan College
Manhattan School of Music
Manhattanville College
Maria College of Albany
Marist College
Marymount Manhattan College
Medaille College
Mercy College
Molloy College
Mount Saint Mary College
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Nazareth College of Rochester
New York College of Health Professions
The New School
New York Chiropractic College
New York College of Podiatric Medicine
New York Institute of Technology
New York Law School
New York Medical College
New York School of Interior Design
New York University
Niagara University
Pace University
Paul Smith's College of Arts & Sciences
Polytechnic University of New York
Pratt Institute
Excelsior College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Roberts Wesleyan College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rockefeller University
The Sage Colleges
St. Bonaventure University
St. Elizabeth College of Nursing
St. Francis College
St. John Fisher College
St. John’s University
St. Joseph's College
St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing
St. Lawrence University
St. Thomas Aquinas College
Sarah Lawrence College
Siena College
Skidmore College
Syracuse University
Teachers College
Touro College
Trocaire College
Union College
University of Rochester
Utica College
Vassar College
Villa Maria College of Buffalo
Wagner College
Webb Institute
Wells College
Yeshiva University
|