Chancellor Zimpher Highlights SUNY's Ability to Lead New York's Economic Recovery

Albany – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today provided an update on the on-going implementation of SUNY’s strategic plan – The Power of SUNY – before a broad coalition of approximately 300 stakeholders and experts from across the state who are working to fulfill SUNY's promise to lead New York’s economic recovery and improve the quality of life for New Yorkers. Lieutenant Governor Robert Duffy joined Chancellor Zimpher and SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Carl T. Hayden at today’s meeting, the Second Convening of the Power of SUNY Implementation Teams.

Job creation targets and the methodology to hold SUNY accountable for the successful implementation of the strategic plan – a report card – will be announced on January 19^th during Chancellor Zimpher’s inaugural state of the university speech, entitled State of the University 2011: The Power of SUNY to Revitalize New York’s Economy.

"Governor Cuomo has a clear and visionary agenda to put New York state back on the path of economic revitalization, and we look forward to our partnership with SUNY as we strive for that goal," said Lt. Governor Duffy. "The Cuomo Administration envisions SUNY as a critical component to rebuilding the State's economy and we look forward to working with Chancellor Zimpher and SUNY's leadership to help generate much needed jobs across New York."

Chancellor Zimpher said: “As Governor Cuomo stated in his State of the State speech, higher education will be a key economic driver in the revitalization of New York’s economy. We have already started to work toward this crucial goal by beginning to implement our strategic plan, The Power of SUNY. I want to thank Lt. Governor Duffy for attending today’s convening and providing invaluable support and guidance to our work. Governor Cuomo and Lt. Governor Duffy have called us to action – our campus presidents, our faculty, our staff, students, alumni and all New Yorkers. As their partner, SUNY accepts and embraces that challenge.”

Chairman Hayden said: “SUNY is already the economic engine for the 64 communities where we have a campus. We are the principal source of intellectual capital in New York, which is what our emerging economy is built on. Governor Cuomo and Lt. Governor Duffy have recognized that SUNY is a ready-made asset for their recovery plan, and we are willing partners in those efforts.”

On Wednesday, Governor Cuomo laid out his agenda to put New York on a path to recovery, and included specific steps to transform the state’s economy. Among those steps is the creation of regional Economic Development Councils with SUNY as a critical component. Lt. Governor Duffy will lead these councils, which will be drawn from the private sector, local governments, state agencies and academic institutions.

The attendees of today’s convening are members of SUNY’s Innovation and Transformation Teams – some of New York’s “best and brightest” in their focus areas, representing SUNY’s diversity, range of institutions and geographical distribution. The teams are one of the central implementation mechanisms for The Power of SUNY. The all day session divides attendees into 13 working groups with specific tasks (i.e. “SUNY and an Energy Smart New York” or “SUNY and a Healthier New York”). These teams are charged with the creation or solicitation, vetting, and recommendation of specific program proposals that will advance the initiatives in the strategic plan.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating more than 467,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs on 64 campuses with more than 2.5 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu 

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