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The Voice
March 2003

Poll shows New Yorkers confident in SUNY

New Yorkers continue to give SUNY high marks and are confident that its graduates are well prepared for the workforce, according to a survey commissioned by UUP.

The poll also found that an overwhelming number of New York residents realize the importance of a SUNY campus to their local economy.

“The results reinforce what we’ve known all along,” said UUP President Scheuerman. “New Yorkers are happy with the job SUNY does and recognize it as a valuable tool in economic development.”

The survey, of 607 likely voters from throughout New York state, was conducted Jan. 7-9.

More than 76 percent of those polled said they had a very positive or positive impression of SUNY. That figure is nearly identical to the result of a similar survey question asked by UUP in January 2002.

Other poll results:

  • 71.9 percent said SUNY does an excellent or good job in educating the state workforce.
  • 75.8 percent of employers or those in hiring positions said they were confident that SUNY graduates are well prepared for the job.
  • 79 percent said the SUNY college in their community is important to the local economy.

In addition, respondents cited various reasons for protecting SUNY from harmful budget cuts, including:

  • cutting-edge research (87.9 percent);
  • high-quality health care and medical education (85.8 percent);
  • technology development and education (83.7 percent);
  • need for more full-time faculty (75 percent);
  • New York’s economic recovery (73.8 percent); and
  • higher education for the state’s high school graduates (68.5 percent).

“When considering these and other issues, 74.1 percent of survey respondents thought that a strong case was made for protecting SUNY from budget cuts,” Scheuerman said. “UUP will carry that message to the Capitol throughout the legislative session. The public knows that our University is a good investment. New York needs SUNY, now more than ever.”

— Frank Maurizio