UUP Press Releases

CONTACT: Denyce Duncan Lacy or Don Feldstein at (518) 640-6600
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

UUP:  Executive Budget plan seems to be a good first step

Albany, Jan. 18, 2005 – United University Professions (UUP) is cautiously optimistic that the Executive Budget proposal for SUNY’s state-operated campuses is a “good first step” toward an adequate spending plan for the State University, said UUP President William E. Scheuerman.

“The governor recognized the importance of SUNY and its needs, and addressed legitimate cost increases in this budget,” Scheuerman said.

Preliminary analysis indicates that the Executive Budget plan includes an increase for SUNY’s state-operated campuses, additional funding for the University’s three teaching hospitals, and a small boost to the bottom line of the New York State Theatre Institute.

“We seem to be off to a good start,” Scheuerman said. “However, much of the increases are supported by a proposed tuition hike instead of additional public funding, and we’re concerned that the uncertainty of the funding source could lead to layoffs.”

 UUP is also concerned about the Executive Budget proposal to cut Medicaid funding to the SUNY hospitals and the governor’s plan to privatize them.

“That’s another ill-conceived plan that we’ll fight to defeat again this year,” Scheuerman said of the privatization proposal.

UUP also expressed disappointment in the governor’s plan to make cuts to the Educational Opportunity Program.

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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