From: New York Times (New York, NY)
Date: July 25, 2010
The Accidental Giant of Higher Education
UUP President Phil Smith expresses the grave concerns the union has with the proposed SUNY Strategic Plan and the Empowerment Act. UUP member Henry Steck of Cortland shares Smith's reservations in this article. >> Full Story

From: Newsday (Long Island, NY)
Date: July 22, 2010
SUNY not for sale
In a letter to the editor, UUP President Phil Smith writes that the state must not be influenced to approve the Empowerment Act as a pre-condition for a $150 million gift to Stony Brook. >> Full Story available via paid subscription

From: Lohud (White Plains, NY)
Date: June 28, 2010
Groups say SUNY Empowerment Act would not help students
UUP joins other organizations to oppose the governor's plan that would allow SUNY and CUNY campuses to set their own tuition. >>Full Story

From: Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
Date: June 17, 2010
SUNY legislation not in students' best interests
In a letter to the editor, UUP member Edward Herman delivers some compelling reasons for lawmakers to defeat the so-called Empowerment Act. >> Full Story

From: Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
Date: June 13, 2010
SUNY's fate hinges on votes in Assembly
As the fate of the so-called Empowerment Act hangs in the balance, UUP President Phil Smith reiterates why the union is against the proposal. >> Full Story

From: The Business Review (Albany, NY)
Date: June 4, 2010
NYSTI receives emergency funding
UUP intervenes to help NYSTI after its members learned they would not have been paid after June 9. >> Full Story

From: The Record (Troy, NY)
Date: June 4, 2010
UUP president: NYSTI will get reprieve
UUP President Phil Smith said the union acted swiftly to keep NYSTI in operation after chapter members were told they would not be paid after June 9. >> Full Story

Similar articles also appeared in the (Albany) Times Union and the (Schenectady) Daily Gazette.

From: Fox 23 News (Albany, NY)
Date: June 4, 2010
NYSTI faces money woes, gets reprieve from state
UUP President Phil Smith stresses the importance of NYSTI after the union helped rescue NYSTI from the brink. >> Full Story

From: WNYT-TV (Albany, NY)
Date: June 3, 2010
SUNY projects questioned during New York's fiscal crisis
UUP President Phil Smith questions SUNY's priorities in spending $5 million to renovate its Albany headquarters --including a new chancellor's office suite-- while some employees in the building are losing their jobs. >> Full Story

From: Legislative Gazette
Date: May 24, 2010
Unions to gov: our ideas can end the deficit
UUP backs proposals that would allow the state to raise revenues as an alternative to devastating budget cuts. >> Full Story

From: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
Date: May 17, 2010
Unions optimistic as furlough hearing nears
UUP President Phil Smith is optimistic about the union's chances of winning its lawsuit against mandatory furloughs. >> Full Story

From: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: May 13, 2010
100,000 to stay on the job
UUP President Phil Smith reacts to the temporary restraining order from a federal judge halting the furlough of state workers that would have included UUP members. >> Full Story

From: Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
Date: May 13, 2010
Judge orders temporary halts to New York state worker furloughs
UUP President Phil Smith expresses confidence of success in litigation against state employee furloughs that would include UUP members. >>Full Story

This article also appeared in other newspapers across the state.

From: Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
Date: May 12, 2010
Unions take state to court over furloughs
UUP is among unions initiating legal action to stop the state from its plan to furlough unionized state employees. >>Full Story available via paid subscription

This article also appeared in other newspapers across the state.

From: NY News Connection (New York, NY)
Date: May 12, 2010
"Up Against a Wall," University professionals sue to stop furloughs
In this interview for radio, UUP President Phil Smith explains the union had no choice but to sue to stop the governor's furlough plan. >>Full Story

From: Daily Star (Oneonta, NY)
Date: May 12, 2010
SUNY schools plan for furloughs
UUP President Phil Smith and Oneonta Chapter President Bill Simons pledge the union will do all it can to fight the furloughs. >> Full Story

From: Newsday (Long Island, NY)
Date: May 11, 2010
4 unions file suit over state's furlough plans
UUP President Phil Smith says the state cannot breaks its contract with the union and impose a furlough on UUP members. >> Full story available via paid subscription

From: Press Republican (Plattsburgh, NY)
Date: May 11, 2010
Unions decry idea of state furloughs
Members from UUP's Plattsburgh chapter rally against the threat of furloughs. >> Full Story

From: Daily Star (Oneonta, NY)
Date: May 7, 2010
Paterson's proposed cuts concern area state workers
UUP President Phil Smith talks about the impact furloughs would have on faculty and campus communities. >>Full Story

From: Times Union (Albany, NY)
Date: May 2, 2010
SUNY needs to be funded by the state
In a letter to the editor, a SUNY alumnus and UUP member expresses her concerns about the proposed Empowerment Act. >> Full Story

From: The Chief (New York, NY)
April 23, 2010
SUNY Stony Brook to shut operation at Southampton
UUP President Phil Smith denounces the sudden decision to shutter Stony Brook's Southampton campus. >> Full Story available via paid subscription

From: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
April 19. 2010
UAlbany conference focuses on dangers of flexible tuition
UUP UAlbany chapter members team up with students against the Empowerment Act and budget cuts to SUNY. >> Full Story

From Post Star (Glens Falls, NY)
Date: April 11, 2010
Changes to SUNY would hurt system
In an opinion column, UUP President Phil Smith exposes the truth behind the so-called Empowerment Act. >> Full Story

Similar versions of this column also appeared in the Daily Gazette (Schenectady), Press Republican (Plattsburgh) Oneida Daily Dispatch, the Citizen (Auburn), Palladium-Times (Oswego), Poughkeepsie Journal, Daily Freeman (Kingston) and the Batavia Daily News.

From: Inside Higher Ed (Washington, DC)
Date: April 8, 2010
So long, Southampton
UUP reacts to the decision by Stony Brook's administration to virtually close its Southampton campus.>>Full Story

From: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
Date: April 5, 2010
Students, professors protest empower act
UUP members and students rally at SUNY New Paltz against the proposed Empowerment Act and state budget cuts. >> Full Story

From: WKBW-TV (Buffalo, NY)
March 31, 2010
Students clash with UB administrators over tuition
UUP members from the University a Buffalo rally with students against the Empowerment Act. >> Full Story

From: Daily Freeman (Kingston, NY)
Date: March 26, 2010
SUNY New Paltz demonstrators oppose higher ed cuts
Members of UUP's New Paltz chapter and students rally together on campus against proposed SUNY budget cuts. >> Full Story

From: Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY)
Date: March 25. 2010
SUNY New Paltz rally targets budget cuts
About 200 UUP members and students at New Paltz rally to protest SUNY
budget cuts. >> Full Story

From: Albany Student Press (UAlbany)
Date: March 24, 2010
Professors union gathers against budget cuts
UUP President Phil Smith warns about the dangers posed by the Empowerment Act at a forum hosted by UUP's UAlbany chapter. >> Full Story

From: Journal News (White Plains, NY)
Date: March 22, 2010
Private sector partnerships for SUNY would be a bad, costly deal for students
In a letter to the editor, UUP President Phil Smith responds to an earlier column from the SUNY chancellor promoting passage of the proposed Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act >> Full Story

Similar versions of this letter also appeared in the Buffalo News, Newsday, Syracuse Post-Standard, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin and the Utica Observer-Dispatch.

From: Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY)
Date: March 19, 2010
With enrollment increases at SUNY, getting into classes becomes more challenging
UUP President Phil Smith is quoted in this article that verifies the union’s claims of fewer course offerings and full-time faculty as a result of budget cuts. >> Full Story

This article also appeared in the Journal News and Ithaca Journal.

From: Pipe Dream (Binghamton, NY)
March 16, 2010
In Albany, proposals to decentralize SUNY garner mixed opinions
UUP teams up with students, including a contingent from SUNY Binghamton, to advocate against state budget cuts and the Empowerment Act. >> Full Story

From: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
March 15, 2010
Students meet with lawmakers to talk about SUNY's future
UUP President Phil Smith delivers a strong message against SUNY budget cuts at an Albany rally composed of UUP, CUNY and student advocates. >> Full Story

From: Press Republican (Plattsburgh, NY)
March 15, 2010
Lack of trust between SUNY groups clear
The lines are clearly drawn between proponents and opponents of the Empowerment Act. UUP strongly positions itself against the proposal. >> Full Story

From: Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
March 14, 2010
Higher education proposal offers counterproductive change
In his letter to the editor, UUP President Phil Smith counters the chancellor's claims about the Empowerment Act. >> Full Story

From: Times Union (Albany, NY)
March 13, 2010
Cramming takes new meaning
UUP President Phil Smith's warnings about the ramifications of SUNY budget cuts is supported by the problems experienced by students. >> Full Story

From: YNN (Buffalo, NY)
March 9, 2010
Protesters take on governor's proposed education cuts
UUP President Phil Smith helps lead faculty and students who teamed together to fight state budget cuts to public higher education. >> Full Story

From: Press Republican (Plattsburgh, NY)
March 9, 2010
SUNY unions concerned about education proposal
UUP Plattsburgh Chapter President David Curry makes a strong case against the proposed so-called Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act. >> Full Story

From: History News Network
Date: March 8, 2010
Dismantling SUNY, America's Largest Public University System
UUP delegate Larry Wittner of UAlbany explains how the proposed Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act would pave the way for dismantling SUNY. >> Full Story

From: Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
Date: March 3, 2010
Proposal to hike tuition would hurt UB students
In a letter to the editor, UUP University at Buffalo Chapter President Mike Behun supports an opinion column that raised serious concerns about UB 2020 that later became part of the proposed Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act. >> Full Story

From: Times Union
Date: March 1, 2010
Capital Profile: Phillip H. Smith, President of United University Professions
UUP President Phil Smith speaks out against proposed SUNY budget cuts and the so-called Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act in this profile article. >> Full Story

From: Journal News (White Plains, NY)
February 11, 2010
Plan could mean higher SUNY tuition costs
In his letter to the editor, UUP President Phil Smith responds to an editorial that expresses concerns over the proposal to allow SUNY more autonomy. >> Full Story

From: Press & Sun-Bulletin
February 10, 2010
Binghamton University to offer veteran employee buyouts
Binghamton UUP Chapter President Darryl Wood comments on the administration's plan to offer buyouts to some long-term campus employees. >> Full Story

From: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
February 8, 2010
SUNY changes protested
More than 300 UUPers, students and members from other unions rally against the governor's proposed budget cut and his plan to virtually deregulate SUNY. >> Full Story

From: NY News Connection
February 8, 2010
Paterson's University "Empowerment Plan" labeled cruel hoax
In this radio report, UUP President Phil Smith denounces the proposed so-called Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act as a cruel hoax. >> Full Story

From: Daily Star (Oneonta, NY)
February 6, 2010
Paterson's plan would hurt SUNY
In a letter to the editor, UUP Oneonta Chapter President Bill Simons says proposed budget cuts and the plan to allow SUNY campuses to lease their property with minimal oversight threatens the University's mission >> Full Story

From: The Buffalo News
February 06, 2010,
Rally at Capitol targets Paterson’s SUNY proposals
More than 300 members from the United University Professions, the union representing 35,000 faculty and professional staff within the State University of New York, rallied at the Capitol Friday, urging lawmakers to reject Gov. David A. Paterson’s cuts to higher education and proposals to deregulate the SUNY system. >> Full Story

From: Gannett News Service (Albany, NY bureau)
February 5, 2010
Educators, students hold "Save our SUNY" rally
UUPers along with students and other unionists rally at the Capitol in Albany against the governor's proposed budget cuts and higher education reform plan. >> Full Story

From: Fox 23 News (Albany, NY)
February 5, 2010
Save SUNY rally
UUPers and students converge on the Capitol to protest state budget cuts to SUNY and the governor's plan that would largely deregulate SUNY and lead to much higher tuition rates >> Full Story

From: Times Union (Albany, NY)
February 4, 2010
SUNY union members to rally against cuts
UUP prepares to stage a rally at the Capitol against proposed budget cuts and the governor's plan that would largely deregulate SUNY. >>Full Story

From: Buffalo News
February 3, 2010
Don't let SUNY campuses set their own tuition rates
In his letter to the editor, UUP President Phil Smith challenges the newspaper's editorial that describes the governor's plan to allow more autonomy for SUNY as a bold step. >> Full Story

From: Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)
January 30, 2010
Paterson's SUNY tuition would hurt many students
In his letter to the editor, UUP President Phil Smith takes aim at the newspaper's editorial that called the proposal to allow SUNY campuses the power to set their own tuition a good idea. >> Full Story available via paid subscription

From: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
January 25, 2010
Gov's education act gets warm reception from SUNY presidents
UUP President Phil Smith expresses significant concerns about the governor's plan to grant SUNY campuses the authority to set their own tuition and lease their property with less oversight >> Full Story

From: Ithaca Journal (Ithaca, NY)
January 17, 2010
Paterson unveils higher education reform plan
UUP President Phil Smith voices some serious reservations about the governor's plan to loosen legislative oversight over SUNY. >> Full Story

This article also appeared in the Elmira Star-Gazette.

From: Bee Newspapers (Buffalo, NY)
December 23, 2009
New York state failing its SUNY schools
In a guest editorial, UUP President Phil Smith warns parents to ask their children who attend SUNY how state budget cuts are adversely affecting their education. This column appeared in all nine Bee Newspapers publications in the Buffalo area. >> Full Story available via paid subscription

This column also appeared in the six Times-Beacon-Record newspapers on Long Island; the nine Rising Publications and five Home Town Media Group newspapers, both in Westchester County; and in the six Eagle Newspapers publications in and around Syracuse.

From: National CrossTalk (San Jose, CA)
December, 2009
Overcrowded and Underfunded
UUP President Phil Smith is quoted in this article distributed nationwide that focuses on how New York's public higher education systems are being battered by budget cuts. >> Full Story

From: North Country Public Radio (Canton, NY)
December 18, 2009
SUNY Potsdam responds to Albany cutbacks with job cuts
UUP Potsdam Chapter President Laura Rhoads says full-time employees will not lose their jobs as the campus cuts 59 jobs in response to state budget cuts >> Full Story

From: Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)
December 7, 2009
Buffalo's control board gets new member
UUP Vice President for Academics Fred Floss is appointed by Gov. Paterson to a seat on the control board that oversees Buffalo's finances. >> Full Story

A similar article also appeared in Buffalo Business First.

From: New York Observer (New York, NY)
November 20, 2009
Professors union launches newspaper blitz
UUP places ads in 129 newspapers designed to directly alert parents of SUNY students to the toll state budget cuts are taking on their children's education >>Full Story

From: The Chief-Leader
November 6, 2009
Faculty unions protest planned budget cuts
UUP President Phil Smith rallies with fellow unionists from CUNY, UFT, NYSUT and Hunter College students protesting budget cuts to SUNY and CUNY. >> Full Story via paid subscription.

From: Inside Higher Ed (Washington, DC)
November 2, 2009
Insult to Injury
UUP President Phil Smith questions why SUNY and CUNY are being targeted by midyear budget cuts as UUPers joined their brothers and sisters from PSC and other unions at a New York City rally protesting budget reductions for both public university systems. >> Full Story

From: Times Union (Albany, NY)
October 26, 2009
Higher education feels fiscal pain
UUP President Phil Smith says the latest midyear budget cut against SUNY will seriously hurt students and their families >> Full Story

This article appeared in other newspapers across New York state, including Newsday (Long Island), Journal News (White Plains), Press Republican (Plattsburgh), Daily Gazette (Schenectady) and the Post-Star (Glens Falls).

From: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
October 13, 2009
Students, professors bemoan $90 million SUNY cut
UUP President Phil Smith speaks out against the budget cut for SUNY and what it means for the University and its students. He also urges the public to fight the reductions by visiting UUP's Web site. >>Full Story

From: Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY)
October 9, 2009
Larger classes, fewer options could result from SUNY cuts
UUP is joined by other organizations and the leaders of the Legislature's higher education committees in decrying the $90 million midyear budget cut for SUNY. >> Full Story available via paid archives

This article also appeared in the Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester), Ithaca Journal and Star-Gazette (Elmira).

From: Newsday (Long Island, NY)
October 7, 2009
Cuts may force SUNY to drop programs, boost class sizes
UUP joins with SUNY and its Long Island campuses in describing the effects the governor’s $90 million midyear budget cut will have. >> Full Story

From: Journal News (White Plains, NY)
October 7, 2009
Paterson directs agencies to cut $500M
UUP responds to the governor’s order to cut SUNY’s budget by $90 million as part of an overall $500 million midyear spending reduction. >> Full Story available via paid archives

This article also appeared in the Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton), Poughkeepsie Journal, Ithaca Journal and Star-Gazette (Elmira).

From: NY Post (New York, NY)
October 7, 2009
Gov's $lim-fast plan
UUP reacts to the governor's decision to slice SUNY's budget by $90 million. >>Full Story


From: NY News Connection (New York, NY)
October 7, 2009
NY Governor Orders 11% Cuts: Higher Education the "Big Loser"
UUP President Phil Smith forcefully speaks out in this radio report against the governor's move to cut $90 million from SUNY's budget. >>Full Story

From: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY)
September 8, 2009
UUP: SUNY can't absorb more cuts
As students return to classes on SUNY campuses, UUP President Phil Smith details the toll that past budget cuts are taking. >>Full Story

Excerpted from: The Chief-Leader (New York, NY)
September 4, 2009
UUP Leader Fears Toll SUNY Cuts May Take
Students and educators returning to State University of New York colleges as the school year begins are in danger of a decreased quality of education because of severe budget cuts by the state, United University Professions President Phillip H. Smith warned last week. >>Full Story via paid subscription

Excerpted from: Press & Sun-Bulletin (Binghamton, NY)
September 3, 2009
SUNY chancellor finishes whirlwind tour of state campuses
Phil Smith, president of United University Professions, said he appreciated Zimpher's statement about readjusting priorities "because I do know that SUNY is going to have to use its money wisely.... >> Full Story (Similar versions of this article also appeared in the Poughkeepsie Journal, Ithaca Journal, Elmira Star-Gazette, Utica Observer-Dispatch, and the Albany Times Union.)

Excerpted from: Newsday (Long Island, NY), Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio) and other newspapers
September 1, 2009
New SUNY chancellor completes 64-campus tour
UUP President Phil Smith is quoted in this article that spotlighted the conclusion of SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher's tour of all 64 SUNY campuses. Smith stressed the necessity for the state to provide SUNY with sufficient funding, explaining the sullen economy has led to "a surge in applications as more and more families look to send their children to SUNY as an affordable alternative.">>
Full Story from Newsday
Full Story from Dayton Daily News

Excerpted from: Times Union (Albany, NY) 
August 27, 2009
Union decries campus cuts
It's back to school time for the State University of New York campuses.
But the schools will look a bit different, thanks to the heavy toll of budget cuts, says Phillip H. Smith, president of United University Professions, the nation's largest higher education union. >> Full Story and scroll down to "union decries campus cuts"

From: New York News Connection (New York, NY)
August 25, 2009
Community College Enrollment Soars
(John) View is also chapter president for United University Professions, which is calling on both the governor and lawmakers to protect the State University of New York system from any further budget cuts this fiscal year and into 2010. >> Full Story

From: New York News Connection (New York, NY)
August 24, 2009
Recession Hits State Universities As Schools Reopen
Professors at SUNY are being asked to increase their class sizes by 10 percent and more, according to United University Professions president Phillip Smith. He says those bigger class sizes are just one way that hiring freezes and state budget problems are affecting education quality and access as students head back to class. >> Full Story

Excerpted from: The Chronicle of Higher Education 
August 3, 2009
In a Shrinking City, a University Offers a Bold, and Chancy, Vision of Growth
"The UB2020 plan would be implemented through a process of basically destroying the university," says Phillip H. Smith, president of United University Professions, a union that represents faculty and staff members in the state system. >> More

Excerpted from: Newsday (Long Island, NY)    
June 9, 2009
No autonomy for SUNYs
United University Professionals agree that actions to invigorate the Long Island and Buffalo economies are sorely needed. But we also know that the bill that grants virtual autonomy for the University at Buffalo and similar legislation introduced by Sen. Ken LaValle on behalf of Stony Brook University would be far more harmful than helpful to Long Island and western New York students. >> Full Story

Excerpted from: Buffalo News    
June 8, 2009
UB 2020 bill brews trouble in Albany on autonomy
“Granting the University at Buffalo’s president unilateral authority to raise tuition and set differential tuition rates will dramatically reduce access and affordability for current and prospective UB students,” Phillip Smith, president of the union, said....>> Full Story

Excepted from: Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY)   
May 30, 2009
UB should not be given authority to raise tuition
United University Professions agrees that Buffalo’s economy should be invigorated. But we also know that A/S 2020 would be far more harmful than helpful to students and parents. It shakes the very core of SUNY, formed to provide “the broadest possible affordable access” to New York’s students. >> Full Story    

Excerpted from: Poughkeepsie Journal (Poughkeepsie, NY)   
May 08, 2009
Nursing education backers rally - Teachers and students lodge protest on cuts to SUNY New Paltz president
Supporters of the SUNY New Paltz nursing program on Thursday called on the college president to reverse his decision to eliminate the program. >> Full Story

From: Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY)  
May 08, 2009
SUNY New Paltz's teachers union rallies to save axed programs
Fighting words were the order of the day Thursday during a rally on behalf of the embattled nursing and masters teaching programs at SUNY New Paltz.>> Full Story

Excepted from: Legislative Gazette (Albany, NY) 
April 6, 2009
Mixed reaction to final education budget
The United University Professions union also sees the budget as a mix of positive and negative outcomes. >> Full Story

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