News Library
A 5-YEAR PLAN FOR IMPROVING SUNY
Published on January 21, 2001
Author: ROBERT L. KING
© The Buffalo News Inc.
Last month, during my State of the State University address, I announced a plan to move the State University of New York to the front rank of public higher education in America. To do so, I outlined a plan to bring $5 billion in new resources into the university over the next five years.
The News editorial, "SUNY's search for money," badly distorts the message of that address, falsely attributes the motivation for new fund raising and omits important basic facts. One part of my plan calls for the university to generate $1 billion through private fund raising. Private funds raised will supplement -- not replace -- state financial support. Obviously, the margin of excellence we aspire to achieve comes from increasing resources, not merely substituting one source for another. Unlike the past, funds raised by campuses will stay on campuses, and this commitment not to offset or reduce state aid comes from Gov. George E. Pataki. This commitment was an important part of my speech, but not part of your editorial. Another part of my plan calls for creation of a second $2 billion construction commitment, fully funded by the state. This follows the completion of the current $2 billion state investment that Pataki initiated. This state-supported initiative has breathed new life into our 64 campuses, enabled the university to create modern residence halls and state-of-the-art academic facilities and permitted upgrades to many existing structures and facilities. In addition to welcome operating aid and the $2 billion capital investment, New York provided over $636 million in need-based aid through the Tuition Assistance Program, or TAP, for 2000-01 alone. The most generous program of its kind in the nation, TAP removes tuition as an obstacle to attending the State University of New York for needy families. With the recently enhanced award levels and raised income ceiling, even more New York families will benefit from TAP. Using state support per student -- a valid and equitable method of evaluating support for public higher education -- New York compares favorably to other states. The state's recently enacted College Savings Program has generated $500 million in more than 100,000 accounts dedicated for future students. Married couples receive tax benefits of up to $10,000 per year through this program. The governor also signed another new law that will allow taxpayers to claim a $10,000 state income tax deduction to offset the cost of college tuition. State support for our operating budget has increased by $240 million, or over 32 percent, since 1995-96. And the governor announced during his State of the State address a proposal to create new high-tech "Centers of Excellence" by using $283 million in state funds to leverage more than $700 million in federal and private dollars. One of the first three centers would be located at the University at Buffalo's Center for Computational Research. Pure academic and intellectual achievement, medical research and the necessary benefit of ensuring lasting economic growth are among the worthy goals and noble causes of the State University of New York. We are able to achieve these goals and causes thanks in large measure to generous support from our state. And we can do even better, by adding to the support we get from the government by doing what I called for in my speech -- more private fund raising and increasing federal research dollars. ROBERT L. KING is chancellor of the State University of New York.<
Search again:
