UUP Op-Ed Pieces

Stability is critical to SUNY
By William E. Scheuerman

Recent reports about the uncertainty over how much tuition will rise at SUNY clearly define a problem now confronting the University: how to achieve stability in the face of declining state support for public higher education. As president of United University Professions (UUP), I recently attended a meeting with SUNY Chancellor Robert King, state lawmakers and others that was also reported about, to promote stability for the University.

This year, state support for SUNY was cut by $183.5 million. While UUP vigorously advocated for its full restoration, the Governor and Legislature said they couldn't do it. Instead, they relied on a tuition increase to fill the fiscal gap.

Relying on tuition to solve SUNY's financial woes is symptomatic of a bigger problem -- the chronic underfunding of the University. If New York wishes to have the highly educated workforce it needs, it simply cannot afford to reduce its investment in SUNY. The state's economy, particularly in upstate regions, needs a strong and vibrant SUNY. The University's economic multiplier effect is conservatively estimated at 2.1, which means that $183.5 million has an economic impact of $385.4 million in New York state. If you put the $183.5 million into the economic engine, you get more than twice as much back. If you take it out, the negative impact is more than twice as much, too.

Gov. Pataki and the Legislature wanted to stabilize SUNY and maintain the University's programs and workforce. Yet, the goal of stability is somewhat muddled. Of the $183.5 million in projected revenues from a tuition increase, lawmakers directed SUNY to raise $52 million from out-of-state tuition. SUNY's Chancellor claims, however right or wrong, that the $5,000 tuition increase required to raise the $52 million will chase nonresident students out of the University, resulting in a decline in both enrollments and projected revenues.

Chancellor King also wants stability for SUNY, with no layoffs or cuts in academic programs. In fact, everyone seems to agree that stability is good for the University and its students. But the fundamental questions remain: Will SUNY have the stability it needs? If not, what must we do to get it?

So, in this difficult year, let's not shut the door on students. Let's make sure that SUNY students have access to the academic programs they need to graduate in four years and become productive citizens of the state. And let's ensure that access is complete and uninhibited through the state's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), so that indigent SUNY students will continue to get all the financial help they need to attend the University, whatever the tuition.

When the state's economy rebounds and investment in SUNY is increased, let's give students a tuition decrease. In the meantime, let's not forget the obvious: If SUNY lacks stability, a tuition increase means students will pay more for less!

William E. Scheuerman is president of United University Professions, which represents more than 29,000 academic and professional faculty on SUNY state-operated campuses.

Edited version published by Times Union on 6/19/03