Letter to Editor

December 8, 2003

Letters to the Editor
Newsday
235 Pinelawn Road
Melville, NY 11747

To the Editor:

My comments on SUNY's proposed tuition increase were taken out of context in the Associated Press report, "Indexing of SUNY Tuition Increases Not Embraced," Dec. 6. United University Professions (UUP) does not support the idea of annual tuition increases at SUNY. We support adequate public funding for SUNY so no tuition hikes are needed. However, if yearly hikes are going to happen, tying them to an index is a good idea in order to bring predictability and the ability to plan to the University's students and their families.

The state needs to make a greater investment in the University. But that commitment will only happen when the SUNY Board of Trustees begins advocating for the University by seeking a state budget that adequately meets its needs. Four straight years of flat funding requests unfairly leaves SUNY students and their families bearing the burden of refilling the University's coffers; tuition should not be used as a substitute for sufficient state support for New York's public university system.

Sincerely,

William E. Scheuerman
President, United University Professions

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December 8, 2003

Letters to the Editor
Press & Sun-Bulletin
Vestal Parkway East
Binghamton, NY 13850

To the Editor:

My comments on SUNY's proposed tuition increase were taken out of context in the Associated Press report, "Fee plan for SUNY criticized," Dec. 7. United University Professions (UUP) does not support the idea of annual tuition increases at SUNY. We support adequate public funding for SUNY so no tuition hikes are needed. However, if yearly hikes are going to happen, tying them to an index is a good idea in order to bring predictability and the ability to plan to the University's students and their families.

The state needs to make a greater investment in SUNY. But that commitment will only happen when the SUNY Board of Trustees begins advocating for the University by seeking a state budget that adequately meets its needs. Four straight years of flat funding requests unfairly leaves SUNY students and their families bearing the burden of refilling the University's coffers; tuition should not be used as a substitute for sufficient state support for New York's public university system.

Sincerely,

William E. Scheuerman
President, United University Professions