The New York State Public Higher Education Conference Board is speaking out to ensure that lawmakers properly fund the state’s public higher education systems.

In early February, the conference board — co-chaired by former state comptroller H. Carl McCall and Roscoe Brown, director of CUNY’s Center for Urban Education Policy — presented testimony before the Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Mean committees.

“The 2007-2008 Executive Budget is a good foundation to build on,” McCall said. “It provides the funding necessary to support increases in the fixed base costs of SUNY and CUNY, including increases from collective bargaining, fringe benefits and other fixed costs. (And) it contains an increase in community college aid of $100 per student.”

However, McCall stressed that lawmakers must “build upon the good foundation” laid out in the proposed budget.

The conference board is asking lawmakers to:

• Provide enhanced operating aid to SUNY and CUNY;

• Increase support for community college aid by $250 per student;

• Increase full-time faculty lines; and

• Reject efforts to privatize SUNY’s teaching hospitals. (The conference board in December issued a scathing statement in opposition to the Berger Commission recommendations to privatize the SUNY hospitals in Syracuse, Brooklyn and Stony Brook.)

In addition, the conference board has embarked on a Capital District newspaper advertising campaign, and late last month members met face-to-face with lawmakers at the Legislative Office Building.

“There is no better investment for the future of our great state than quality, accessible and affordable public higher education,” McCall said. “Let us continue the actions of last year’s legislative budget, build upon the governor’s Executive Budget, and advance SUNY and CUNY to greatness.”

The coalition of 14 member organizations represents students, faculty and supporters of public higher education.

— Karen L. Mattison