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Dormitory Authority of the State of New York
Functions
The Dormitory Authority is responsible for providing financing, construction management, planning, design, and equipment-purchasing services for higher education, health care, and other institutions as authorized by the Public Authorities Law. It also provides long-term low-interest loans to college and graduate students to supplement grants from the State, federal, and other private sources.
History
This authority was established in 1944 (Chapter 524) as a public-benefit corporation to finance and prepare plans, designs and cost estimates for construction, and to operate and maintain dormitories for the state colleges for teachers. The enabling legislation designated a governing board of eight: the commissioner of education, the comptroller, and six members appointed by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York. Over the next two decades, numerous amendments expanded the Dormitory Authority's responsibilities to include colleges under the jurisdiction of the State University of New York, private institutions of higher learning, institutions for the training of nurses, regional boards of cooperative educational services, health facilities, community colleges, and facilities for the aged. Several other amendments have authorized the Dormitory Authority to construct specific cultural and educational facilities. In 1984 (Chapter 216) the Dormitory Authority was given responsibility to provide loans to college and graduate students who could demonstrate remaining financial need. In 1995 (Chapter 83), the Medical Care Facilities Finance Agency and the Facilities Development Corporation were merged into the Dormitory Authority as part of the Health Care Financing Consolidation Act. In 2006, the governing board of the Authority established its first audit and governance committees. The composition of the governing board has also changed over time to its present membership of three ex officio members (the commissioner of education, the state comptroller or his/her appointee, and the director of the budget), as well as four members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.
