March 11, 2019 – UUP Cobleskill Chapter

All,
Attached you will find a bulletin board/newsletter/website promo that dovetails UUP’s new social media ad campaign (see description below), focused on securing an extra $65 million in the 2019-2020 state budget to close the TAP Gap. In addition to educating lawmakers, we’d like to get as many people as possible to send an e-letter to Albany.

A story about the social media ad is on our website. The following is a brief overview: The 30-second video ad, titled “Sixty Five,” runs through March 19. The ads target legislators, legislative staff, political insiders and others in Albany, using a mix of social media, geo-targeted ads focused on the state Capitol. Appearing on Connected TV, Facebook, Instagram and other social media outlets, the ads focus on UUP members, union-friendly households, educators, and pro-education advocates in the Capital Region area. Viewers are taken to a landing page on UUP’s website where they can send an electronic letter to their elected officials urging them to support full state funding of the Tuition Assistance Program.

in solidarity,
karen mattison
associate director of media relations and publications
518.640.6626 (direct line)
800.342.4206

FROM: Jeri O’Bryan-Losee, Statewide Secretary/Treasurer

Subject: Need Help Managing Your Student Loan Debt?

Dear Colleagues,

Over 12 million people in the United States are struggling to make their monthly student loan payments, and millions more see economic and personal opportunities pass as they prioritize paying down their debt. Does this sound like you or someone you know?

Many of these people may qualify for free federal programs that can help reduce their monthly payments and eventually lead to student loan forgiveness, but these lifeline programs are significantly under-enrolled. In an effort to help our members get access to these programs, United University Professions and the American Federation of Teachers are proud to host a Student Debt Clinic which will provide information on how to enroll in Income-Driven Repayment plans and Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

We will be offering Student Debt Clinics at the following times and locations in March:

MONDAY, MARCH 18
SUNY Empire State College (Saratoga)
12:00- 1:30 p.m.
5:15- 6:45 p.m.
LOCATION: 113 West Ave, Room 143

SUNY Upstate Medical University
12:00- 1:30 p.m.
5:30- 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: NYSUT Regional Office (Syracuse), 4983 Brittonfield Parkway, East Syracuse, NY 13057

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

SUNY Morrisville
12:00- 1:30 p.m.
5:30- 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: SUNY Morrisville, Hospitality Suite

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

UUP Statewide Office
12:00- 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: NYSUT Auditorium, 800 Troy Schenectady Rd, Latham

THURSDAY, MARCH 21

SUNY Cortland
11:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Student Life Center, Room 1104

To attend a Student Debt Clinic, you must pre-register here: http://aft.to/StudentDebtClinicRSVP.

From the “student debt clinic” drop down menu, please select the UUP clinic that you are interested in attending – they are labeled “UUP [Campus Name] [time] [date].” In the affiliate field, type in the full name of our local (United University Professions), but it autofills after a few keystrokes.

Registration is first come, first serve, and we must cap attendance for a single clinic at 40 participants in order to ensure that we are able to provide maximum assistance to attendees. [If you can’t make one of these clinics, don’t worry – we’re planning on offering them again. If you want to help host a clinic at your worksite, please let us know!]

Managing your student loan debt is the first step in taking on the inequities which plague our system of higher education, and we look forward to seeing you at the Student Debt Clinic and working together to find a collective solution to the problems of student debt and college affordability!