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Weeks before the start of the fall 2008 semester, SUNY was up against yet another significant reduction — an estimated cut of $96 million in state support. This comes on top of a cut in May of $52 million. The latest slash ordered by Gov. David Paterson followed an unprecedented July 29 televised address in which he announced that the state faces “increasingly harsh economic times.”
UUP President Phillip Smith warned the additional $96 million cut will irrevocably damage the University’s ability to fulfill its core mission.
“Providing the people of New York with educational services of the highest quality, with the broadest possible access to all segments of the population is SUNY’s core mission under the state Education Law,” Smith told reporters in August. “This reduction — on top of the earlier $52 million cut from the general fund — will make it impossible to fulfill that mission and could result in tens of thousands of students being turned away, or closed out of courses needed for graduation. An education delayed is an education denied.”
“It is inconceivable that SUNY is being directed to absorb an overall cut of $148 million in anticipated state aid, just weeks before classes were scheduled to resume,” Smith added.
The $148 million cut does not include the state’s order to SUNY to reduce its non-general fund spending by as much as $109 million, affecting operations such as residence halls and food service.
As The Voice went to press, Smith called upon SUNY management as well as the governor and the Legislature to take whatever steps are necessary to protect SUNY’s core mission and maintain access for the growing number of students applying to SUNY schools.
Responding to the initial budget reduction in May, the SUNY Board of Trustees voted to revise its budget downward. Prior to the vote, Board Chair Carl Hayden pledged there will be “no layoffs associated with this,” although his pledge was not part of the written budget resolution.
Individual campuses are under orders to develop plans to reduce spending.
UUP is calling on its chapter leaders around the state to carefully monitor such plans.
“This requires vigilance on your part as campus leaders, as well as strong advocacy,” Smith said. “Tell your campus presidents of the vital need to prevent any drop in educational quality and urge them to protect SUNY’s mission by safeguarding direct student services.”
— Donald Feldstein