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Lawmaker Proposes Loan Forgiveness For Engineering Students

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Students with an engineering degree from a college or university in New York State may find a financial helping hand under a proposal now under design.

As WCBS 880's Paul Murnane reported Saturday, state Sen. David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) admitted that lawmakers are still working on ways to pay for would-be loan forgiveness for New York engineering grads willing to make a five-year local commitment.

Lawmaker Proposes Loan Forgiveness For Engineering Students

"We have to make it a priority to stop the brain drain," Carlucci said.

Manhattan College Dean of Engineering Tim Ward said the degree can take more than four years, but students under the heavy math and science burden even before their college years can seek out groups and form bonds with their peers "so that they could help each other succeed."

He said seeking out others with similar ambitions and circumstances was key.

"You need to develop community," he said.

The Emprie Engineers Act would forgive 50 percent of the total tuition paid to all schools an engineering student attends, or paid by a state resident to a State University of New York school – whichever is less, according to published reports.

If approved, the bill would go into effect on Jan. 1 of next year, according to published reports.

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