Office of Community and Government Affairs

Cupola atop a building on the Molloy University campus

The Office of Community and Government Affairs' mission is to provide the Molloy community with a comprehensive interface with community organizations and all levels of government. Our office is dedicated to strengthening Molloy University's reputation as a leading academic institution while supporting our commitment to transformative education and community service. We aim to foster collaborative partnerships, advocate for the University’s and students’ interests, pursue strategic initiatives, identify opportunities aligned with Molloy's mission, and drive positive change throughout the broader Long Island community.

OCGA Activities

  • TAP Expansion and CICU Advocacy Day

    In February 2025, the Office of Community and Government Affairs (OCGA) coordinated Molloy University’s largest-ever student delegation to Albany for the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) Advocacy Day. This annual event is a cornerstone of the Office’s efforts to engage students in public policy and advocate for greater access to higher education through enhanced financial aid.

    Molloy News: Molloy Students Speak Up for Higher Education Funding

    Led by OCGA Director Neal Lewis, the nine-student delegation took part in advocacy meetings with state legislators, passionately making the case for expanding Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) eligibility to include both part-time and graduate students. These changes would help remove significant financial barriers for nontraditional students, many of whom balance jobs and family responsibilities while pursuing their degrees.

    Shortly after the Advocacy Day, legislation to expand TAP was agreed on and passed.

    • This was the first reform of TAP in 25 years.
    • The minimum TAP funding increased from $500 to $1,000
    • The family income threshold for TAP recipients was increased from $80,000 to $125,000. 

    Molloy Student at Advocacy Day

    Students also advocated for: Restoring cuts and increasing investment in opportunity programs such as HEOP, STEP/CSTEP, and LPP; expanding the Opportunity Promise Scholarship to include students in New York’s independent sector; fully restoring funding to Bundy Aid, which is still essential to ensuring college affordability.

    Molloy’s participation was a collaborative effort supported by Student Affairs, Molloy Student Government, and CSTEP, reinforcing the university’s commitment to leadership development and civic engagement. In addition to the impact of their advocacy, students gained hands-on experience with the legislative process and a deeper understanding of how public funding decisions are made. Their personal stories left an impression on lawmakers and highlighted the real-life impact of state funding decisions on student success.

    The day served as both an advocacy success and a meaningful learning opportunity—one that strengthened Molloy’s voice in statewide policy discussions and empowered students to become agents of change.

  • Workforce Development Outreach

    The OCGA is engaged in outreach to the community and Long Island businesses to determine how newly-designed, flexible, non-degree, credential courses can meet the needs of employers and job-seekers.

    On September 30th, 2025, Molloy University held a Talent Solutions Summit for leaders in business, labor, and education to discuss how to best educate workers for the needs of the region's economy today and in years to come. 

    Molloy President James Lentini addresses the Talent Solutions Summit