As Carl Hayden introduced SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher at Wednesday's SUNY Address, the chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees stated that SUNY has faced $670 million in budget cuts over the last three years, a 30 percent decrease in funding.
Zimpher took the stage to outline how SUNY schools can advance despite these cuts in the first-of-its kind address that took place at The Egg amphitheatre in Albany.
SUNY is the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the nation, with over 64 campuses, 468,000 students, a current workforce of 88,000, nearly 8,000 programs of study, and more than 2.5 million alumni around the globe. Because of SUNY's large-scale reach, with the common goal "to learn, to search, to serve," Zimpher declared it to be one of New York's greatest assets.
Apparently lawmakers agree. Two weeks ago, in his State of the State address, Governor Andrew Cuomo declared that in his mission to revitalize New York's weakening economy he will seek aid and partnership with the SUNY system.
"SUNY is up to the challenge and we are well positioned to answer your call," Zimpher asserted in response to this appeal. "We are absolutely focused on leveraging our mission toward economic recovery and job creation for our great state."
Zimpher began by rattling off a list of SUNY's top accomplishments of 2010, such as the advances made by SUNY's Research Foundation, and the countless awards and honors SUNY has received. Yet, despite these numerous accomplishments, Zimpher promised to deliver a more competitive SUNY that will transform from "great" to premier status among the world's universities.
In order to accomplish this and harness SUNY's full capability, Zimpher outlined various measures that will come into effect in the future.
One reform will be the implementation of performance-based resource allocation. Beginning in 2012, SUNY will dispense state support among its campuses based on performance in critical areas, such as their research production, student retention, and commitment to preparing students to enter the workforce.
In regard to raising revenue from alternative sources, Zimpher called for a renewed tuition policy in the form of a 5-year plan that would take effect starting in 2012.
"A major component of SUNY's popular reputation is its affordability," said Bryan Mogle, a sophomore pre-pharmacy major. "Hopefully the chancellor's desire for an increased tuition is not a dramatic one because that could seriously damage the SUNY system's appeal."
Zimpher urged that changes in SUNY's tuition, which is among the lowest in the nation, would be "fair, responsible and predictable."
Not only will SUNY strive to be competitive in itself, it will also strive for a competitive New York. Zimpher calculated that for every million dollars in investment in SUNY, 20 jobs would be created.
"We must be anchors in our local communities," Zimpher said. "In many cases our communities' largest employer, consumer of goods and services, and a massive source of construction and jobs."
It is estimated that SUNY has the aptitude to create nearly 20,000 construction and construction industry jobs and another 20,000 spinoff jobs through partnerships.
SUNY has already formed a process for identifying and selecting opportunities for partnership with the private sector that assures the project's financial viability, protects organized labor interests, and promotes SUNY's mission of teaching, research and service. In the future, Zimpher hopes to create more partnerships with the private sector with the goal to generate more jobs where they are needed most.
"This fundamental recognition of the power of education to transform our society, our economy and our future," Zimpher said. "This, my friends, is the power of SUNY.
E-mail: news@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
