Here are some resources to help you learn more about the state budget and its impact on SUNY Oswego. These are real news, not ARG materials.
New York SUNY Budgets Cut Deep, Wounds Worsen
Source: World Socialist Website (wsws.org). Sep,9,2008
What happens when the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges and community colleges in the world has budget cuts of nearly $100 million? That is what has been proposed in the latest budget from the New York legislature in Albany.
Numerous colleges such as SUNY Cortland and SUNY Oswego are getting funds cut in the realm of $10 million. SUNY Buffalo is getting even more money cut, upwards of $16 million. However, many other schools are set to loose large amounts of funding.
The SUNY system however is not the only place that is seeing funding cut back. The CUNY system, City University of New York, is also seeing budget cuts in access of $51 million.
All of these cuts bring up a very interesting question. Who will be fronting the bill for all of these cuts? You may see these costs falling onto the people who need that funding the most…
-Summary by Michael Johnson
Effects of Budget Shortfalls Felt by SUNY Campuses
Source: New York Teacher. Feb, 19, 2009.
While the final word has not yet been stated to NYSUT’s higher Education locals, there is a large unsettling feeling, as tensions are already very high. With Governor Patterson’s proposed $201 million cut to the SUNY four year colleges, and the proposed yet for now denied $11milliioin cut to community college budgets at SUNY, and $4.2 million at CUNY, times seem scarce. Main concerns include
-Positions being un-renewed for more than a year
- Enrollment Increase
- Job Cuts
Undesirable measures have already been taken such as a four day week at SUNY Canton to cut down college costs, as well as U Albany’s eco-friendly method of turning down lights and thermostats, and closing their swimming pool. People are being urged to continue to write their congress through various organizations, such as the ones listed below:
www.nysut.org
www.uppinfo.org
www.psc-cuny.org
This is a problem that needs to be addressed. Let’s take a stance!
-Summary by Brandon Niezgoda
Federal Aid on the Way
Source: New York Teacher. Feb, 19, 2009.
Times are semi optimistic as a stimulus plan is to be instated. “As New York Teacher went to press, Congressional leaders had reached a deal on a $789 billion federal stimulus plan to send to Obama. The plan is highly important to the education system as it includes
- $53.6 billion in a State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, with 40.6 to go to local school districts.
- New York will receive 2.5 billion of this funding in the next 2 years, of which it should be used to restore cuts to schools and public colleges.
The bill was expected be signed on Presidents day. However good this seems, the fight turns to Albany, where the governor will be urged to actually use this money towards rebuilding the education system. If he does not use the money correctly, then the aid will not be the saving grace it seems to be.
-Summary by Brandon Niezgoda
New Advocacy Site Rallies Support For SUNY Funding
Source: Campus Update: Published by the Office of Public Affairs for the SUNY Oswego Community. Volume 20. Issue No. 11. Feb. 4, 2009
SUNY Oswego Advocates (www.sunyoswegoadvocates.org) arose in concert with a similar SUNY-wide site with a will to help people express grief over the recent monetary turmoil to hit SUNY Oswego. With goals to inform and educate.
It hopes to restore and prevent further cuts to SUNY with methods such as….
Current Budget Updates:
- Timely Videos and Blog’s Provided by University President Deborah Stanley
- Firsthand confessions from students.
- Contact Your Legislator page, for easy Communication to those in Charge.
- The optimistic website is hosted off campus due to its nature, as restrictions do not allow using state resources to lobby state government officials.
-Summary by Brandon Niezgoda
State Budget Update
Compiled by Clarisse Butler Banks
New York State is facing its worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The executive budget proposal for higher education is as follows:
- Cut aid to the SUNY four-year colleges by $201 million; CUNY colleges cut $64.6 million.
- Cut community college aid by $46 million at SUNY; $17 million at CUNY.
- Increase undergraduate tuition by 14 percent at SUNY and 15 percent at CUNY.
- Funding to SUNY hospitals would be cut by $25 million.
Where it stands:
The recently signed federal stimulus plan includes money for higher education. The governor’s stimulus task force is determining how much aid is available. The state did receive $180 million for increasing the maximum Pell Grants (aid to high-need undergraduate students) by $500.
What’s ahead:
Members of United University Professions at SUNY, the Professional Staff Congress at CUNY and the state’s community colleges will lobby in Albany against devastating cuts.
For state budget updates go to www.nysut.org.
- Summary prepared by Chad Patterson
Possible Cuts Forces SUNY to Take Action
Proposed state budget cuts to the SUNY system is forcing several schools to take evasive action. Earlier in the year, Governor David Paterson proposed a 148 million dollar deduction in SUNY’s budget. This prompted many schools to find ways to save. University at AlbanySUNY Cortland, and SUNY Plattsburgh are all on hiring freezes in order to save dollars (The Voice, April 2009).
Other schools, such as SUNY Canton, Morrisville, and ESF, are freezing buildings by turning thermostats down and trying to save on energy costs (The Voice, April 2009). SUNY Alfred and SUNY Fredonia are both looking to cut full – time positions to save dollars (The Voice, April 2009). Lastly, and most severely, SUNY Stony Brook suspended admissions to their graduate nursing program in order to try to save money (The Voice, April 2009).
SUNY schools have said that they do not want to cut programs, however, if funding cuts persist then there may be no choice.
-Summary by Garry W. Herbert Jr.
SUNY: A Catalyst for the State’s Economic Recovery
Source: Rochester Business Journal
How much more can our S.U.N.Y. schools take? New York state has been known to have its money problems in the past and each time these problems occur, it’s as if our S.U.N.Y system ends of paying for it.
“Already, the University has doen far more than its share to ease the state’s current financial crisis. Suny has endured three rounds of budget reductions this year and potentially a fourth if Governorn Paterson’s latest proposal were to be enacted. to date, SUNY has been cut 172.9 million in state tax dollar support, or 12.5 percent. This excludes negotiated union contracts that are still unfunded, which would bring the total to $210 million, or 15 percent.”
“More shocking, SUNY may see little if any of the tuition increase recently enacted by SUNY trustees to add value to SUNY students’ education. That’s because the governor plans to “sweep” most of the additional tuition revenue into the general fund to help offset the state’s deficit. This is tantamount to tax on SUNY students and to a further $65 million reduction in state tax dollar support for SUNY, totaling $275 million in state aid reductions, or 20 percent for this year alone. If the 2009-10 budget stays flat and does not include additional state funds, SUNY tax dollar support will have been reduced by $325 million or nearly 25% over the two-year period.”
“If SUNY were to approach these reductions in state aid likea business, by eliminating operations, it would have to close 20 campuses, since $325 million in state support is equivalent to the total state support for 20 of the 29 state-operated campuses–69 percent of the University. Such closures would devastate the state’s economy with a negative impact of more than $15 billion, plus eliminate viable access to higher education opportunities in New York for deserving students.”
-Summary by Robert Waloven
Students Rush to Safe Haven?
Source: The Buffalo News. Mar. 23, 2009.
The economy has people conserving in multiples aspects of life. Higher education is no different. SUNY received nearly 300,000 applications to its 64 state campuses this year, its largest number ever.
“Clearly, this is the best year in the college’s history,” said William Caren, associate vice president for enrollment services. “We’re dramatically more selective. Hundreds and hundreds who would have been admitted last year are on the waiting list this year.” THESE AMAZING STATISTICS ARENT’S WITHOUT THEIR MANY CONCERNS.
“The state chopped $210 million from SUNY’s budget last year and then swept revenues from this year’s tuition hike into the state’s general fund to help balance New York’s budget. Campuses are warning of fewer available courses, larger classes and enrollment reductions. At the same time, SUNY presidents are fighting for more freedom from state regulations and small, annual tuition increases to help fund campuses. “SUNY is at a crossroads,” said David Henahan, a SUNY spokesman. “We are seeing increased demand but experiencing a substantial decrease in funding across the system.”
-Summary by Robert Waloven
SUNY Budget Cuts Spark Protest
The U-Albany student union organized a protest, but SUNY students all across the state took part. The students are taking issue with the cuts and said that 90% of the hike won’t even be going to the schools, rather to cover the state budget deficit. They also said that the calculations made toward what cuts were going to be made came before the current economic situation, so over 100% of tuition costs will go towards fixing the State budget. Opponents of the bill want Governor Paterson to reconsider cuts toward the SUNY system and look for funds elsewhere.
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Pressconnects.com “Greater Binghamton””
Meanwhile, Binghamton University’s Student Assembly hosts a rally outside the new union to protest funding cuts to State University of New York institutions and a new tuition policy that will send students’ money to the state’s general fund. The rally will coincide with similar events at other SUNY schools and in Albany. The students argue that cuts to SUNY are disproportionate to other state agencies
-Summary by Chad Patterson
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