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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

UUP: Executive Budget a good start

 

Albany, Jan. 20, 2004 -- The Executive Budget proposal released today acknowledges what United University Professions (UUP) has been saying all along: The State University of New York (SUNY) is important to the state's future, said UUP President William E. Scheuerman.

"We are pleased that the governor is starting the process of rebuilding the state's investment in SUNY. On its face, this Executive proposal appears to put more public money into the public university system," Scheuerman said.

"Still," he added, "the devil remains in the details and UUP will need to analyze this budget plan to ensure that it provides the adequate state support for which the union has been advocating."

UUP has been vocal in its insistence that SUNY is a sound investment, training tomorrow's workforce, energizing local and state economies, creating cutting-edge research and providing state-of-the-art health care.

"Our message has apparently been heard," Scheuerman said.

UUP has not been alone in its support for the University. A scientific poll of New York registered voters commissioned by UUP earlier this month found overwhelming confidence in SUNY (77 percent) and the education it provides (67 percent). The poll also indicated that employers think SUNY graduates are well prepared for the job market (85 percent). A large majority (76 percent) said SUNY's budget should not be cut.

"The public understands that SUNY has a vital role in New York's economy and wants state government to support it," Scheuerman said.

Scheuerman faulted the Executive Budget for its cuts to the Educational Opportunity Program and New York State Theatre Institute, and for proposing to privatize SUNY's teaching hospitals which, UUP maintains, would threaten quality and jobs.

"We will work with all our state lawmakers to address these two important issues, as well as to make a decent budget proposal even better," Scheuerman said.

 

UUP represents more then 34,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 New York State-operated campuses, and is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).    

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