N.Y. Educ. Law § 355-d

* § 355-d. Educational opportunity centers. 1. There shall be created\nwithin the state university of New York a comprehensive system of\ntuition free higher education institutions providing programs and\nservices that promote the growth and stability of the state's\neducationally and economically challenged communities as referred to in\nthis section as educational opportunity centers.\n 2. Such educational opportunity centers shall be managed and\nsupervised by the state university and shall provide programs and\nservices that include, but are not limited to:\n (a) academic programs leading to and increasing persistence in higher\neducation;\n (b) vocational programs leading to career pathways, gainful employment\nand self-sufficiency;\n (c) counseling and guidance services to enhance student retention;\n (d) targeted services for business and industry to upgrade the skill\nlevels of emerging and incumbent workers such that they support\nincreased productivity and the creation and retention of job\nopportunities;\n (e) collaboration with secondary schools to assist in the academic\npreparation of at-risk youth;\n (f) collaborative programs with colleges and universities to increase\nopportunities for center graduates for advanced placement and receipt of\nacademic credits for academic work completed at such center;\n (g) collaboration with other state and local agencies, workforce\ndevelopment boards and charitable organizations to meet emerging\nstate-wide priorities for serving the disadvantaged; and\n (h) entrepreneurial training opportunities that may lead to community\neconomic development.\n 3. The state university shall formulate a plan and guidelines for the\norganization, development, coordination and operation of educational\nopportunity centers and may promulgate such rules and regulations\nnecessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Such plan shall\ninclude:\n (a) definition of academic and economic eligibility provided, however,\nthat state residency be a minimum eligibility requirement;\n (b) procedures for the selection of such students for admission to a\ncenter;\n (c) program objectives including coordination with the university's\nlong range mission and goals; and\n (d) program evaluation and reporting.\n 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the employees\nof the educational opportunity centers operated in cooperation with the\ncity university of New York and/or a college within the city university\nof New York shall be employees of the city university of New York and\nshall retain their respective bargaining unit representation. Nothing in\nthis section shall be deemed to waive or impair any rights or benefits\nof employees of the city university of New York that otherwise would be\navailable to them pursuant to the terms of agreements between the\ncertified representatives of such employees and the city university of\nNew York pursuant to article fourteen of the civil service law.\n * NB Effective May 31, 2021\n