named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Government Affairs Advocacy
APC engages in federal and state policy advocacy, particularly on regulations affecting proprietary colleges, including Gainful Employment rules, Financial Value Transparency, and Title IV funding access.
Member Support and Data Disclosure
APC compiles and discloses institutional data for member colleges, including enrollment, demographics, financial responsibility scores, and job placement rates, to promote transparency and accountability.
Workforce Alignment Initiative
APC member institutions develop career-focused curricula in partnership with employers in high-demand fields such as healthcare, business, technology, and fashion to ensure graduates are job-ready.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Education Policy Advocacy & Reform 2 activities
- Advancing state-level policy advocacy for private college studentsAdvocates for legislative and regulatory changes in New York State to expand financial aid access, including securing part-time student inclusion in TAP, increasing income thresholds and award amounts, and promoting equity for students with intellectual disabilities and graduate learners. Organized Student Advocacy Day and issued public statements on key issues like the Gainful Employment rule.
- Promoting federal transparency and equitable regulation in higher educationAdvocates for expanded federal transparency by supporting a public website to disclose Debt-to-Earnings and Earnings Premium data for all higher education programs across all sectors by July 1, 2026, and opposes regulations that disproportionately target for-profit institutions while excluding public and non-profit sectors.
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General Support for Educational Institutions 1 activity
- Building institutional capacity of member collegesSupports 13 private, family-founded institutions in New York through curriculum development aligned with employer needs, assessment of institutional outcomes, compilation of audited financial data for transparency, and governance via an elected board of college leaders. Also covers membership dues for access to SUNY compliance resources on Title IX and related regulations.
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Organizational Newsletter Production and Distribution 1 activity
- Conducting and publishing research on higher education trendsPublishes the APC Bulletin regularly, with at least 12 volumes and multiple seasonal editions released over time, providing research and analysis relevant to member institutions and the broader higher education community.
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Higher Education Degree Programs 1 activity
- Delivering higher education degrees and certificatesMember colleges confer thousands of associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate credentials annually to over 23,000 students across 20 campuses in New York State. In the 2022-2023 academic year alone, 6,373 degrees and certificates were awarded, including 849 at the graduate level.
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Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
- Providing institutional financial aid to studentsMember institutions provided over $95 million in grants, scholarships, and institutional aid to students during both the 2016 and 2017/2018 academic years, supporting access and affordability for learners across New York State.
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Military and Veteran Educational Support 1 activity
- Serving veterans in higher educationEducates over 2,000 veterans and provides targeted support services and scholarships to help them complete their degrees at member institutions.
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Higher Education Career Placement 1 activity
- Supporting student success and workforce outcomesGraduates from member institutions achieve an average 85% job placement rate in their field of study within 12 months of graduation and carry lower-than-average student loan debt ($22,143), contributing to strong post-graduation economic outcomes.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$840K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$792K94%
Investment income$48K6%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$815K
Program expenses0%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$136K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$1.24M
Cash$171K
Investments$1.07M
Liabilities$76K
Net assets$1.17M
Liquid reserves18.3 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +0.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DONNA STELLING-GURNETT | PRESIDENT & | 40 | $130K |
board members · 10
- CHARLES E CALLAHAN III — TRUSTEE
- CHRIS GERACE — TRUSTEE
- DAVID COHEN — CHAIR
- DAVID RHODES — TRUSTEE
- DOUGLAS JORDAN — TRUSTEE
- ELIZABETH MARCUSE — VICE CHAIR
- JAMES DILIBERTO — TRUSTEE
- MARC JEROME — TRUSTEE
- MARY BETH DEL BALZO — SECRETARY
- TIMOTHY LUING — TREASURER
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- ADG Partner — Web design and development partner for APC's website.
- APC member colleges Network — Colleges that are part of the Association of Private Colleges network and confer degrees under the APC umbrella.
- Assemblymember Hyndman Partner — Higher Education Committee Chair whom APC acknowledges for championing investments in the Tuition Assistance Program.
- Berkeley College Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by Executive Vice President Timothy Luing, who serves as Treasurer.
- Bryant & Stratton College Partner — Longstanding member institution of APC, first established in 1854.
- Bryant & Stratton College Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Chris Gerace.
- COMMUNITY EMPLOYERS Partner — Collaborates with community employers to develop relevant curricula.
- College of Westchester Partner — Member institution of APC offering programs in business, accounting, digital media, and technology, with partnerships with employers such as Krasdale Foods.
- Five Towns College Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by its president, Dr. David Cohen, who serves as Chairman.
- Krasdale Foods Partner — Fortune 500 company with a hiring relationship with College of Westchester, an APC member institution.
- LIM College Partner — Member institution of APC that offers degrees in the business of fashion and partners with industry recruiters.
- LIM College Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by President and CEO Donna S. Gurnett.
- Monroe College Partner — Member institution of APC with high graduation rates for minority students, preparing graduates for careers in criminal justice, nursing, and culinary arts.
- Monroe College Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by President Marc M. Jerome.
- National Center for Education Statistics Government — Source of data on graduation rates, student outcomes, and institutional performance for APC member institutions.
- New York Automotive and Diesel Institute Partner — Joined the Association of Private Colleges as a member institution.
- New York School for Medical & Dental Assistants Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by Co-Director Doug Jordan.
- New York State Assembly Higher Education Committee Government — Worked with the Committee, chaired by Assemblymember Fahy, to advocate for expanded financial aid access in the 2025 FY budget.
- New York State Board of Regents Government — Granted degree-granting authority to APC member institutions starting in 1972.
- New York State Education Department Government — Source of data on degree completion and student outcomes for APC member institutions.
- New York State Legislature Government — Longstanding supporter of financial aid programs like TAP that serve APC member college students.
- New York State Senate Higher Education Committee Government — Worked with the Committee, chaired by Senator Stavisky, to advocate for expanded financial aid access in the 2025 FY budget.
- Office of Governor Kathy Hochul Government — Collaborated with the Governor's office to influence the New York State 2025 FY budget to expand TAP eligibility.
- Plaza College Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by President Charles E. Callahan, III.
- SUNY Student Conduct Institute Partner — APC covers membership dues for its member institutions to access compliance resources and guidance through the SUNY Student Conduct Institute.
- School of Visual Arts Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by President David Rhodes.
- Senator Stavisky Partner — Higher Education Committee Chair whom APC acknowledges for championing investments in the Tuition Assistance Program.
- The College of Westchester Partner — Represented on the APC Board of Trustees by President Emeritus Mary Beth Del Balzo, who serves as Secretary.
- U.S. Department of Education Government — Federal agency with which APC engages on regulatory policy, particularly regarding Gainful Employment and Financial Value Transparency rules.
- U.S. Department of Education Government — Source of College Scorecard data used to report student loan debt outcomes for APC member institutions.
+ 2 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Accelerated Academic Progressmethodology: accelerated_academic_calendarBy implementing a year-round, three-semester academic calendar, the association reduces time-to-degree and promotes on-time completion, because increased instructional time and continuous enrollment minimize delays and momentum loss.
- Integrated Student Success Modelmethodology: holistic_student_supportBy providing holistic academic and non-academic supports—including small classes, counseling, financial literacy, and career development—the association improves graduation rates and reduces student debt, because comprehensive support systems address the multifaceted barriers faced by at-risk learners.
- Policy Advocacy for Equity and Accountabilitymethodology: equity-focused_policy_advocacyBy advocating for equitable financial aid policies, regulatory parity across higher education sectors, and transparency in institutional reporting, the association improves access and outcomes for underrepresented and low-income students, because fair policy frameworks reduce systemic barriers and increase accountability for student success and public investment.
- Workforce-Aligned Educationmethodology: workforce_aligned_educationBy aligning curricula with labor market demands through collaboration with employers and community leaders, the association increases students' readiness for immediate workforce success and improves long-term integration into New York’s workforce, because education that reflects real-world job needs produces better employment outcomes.