Chancellor Zimpher Announces Creation of SUNY Campus Alliance Networks

Campus Presidents and System Administration to Collaborate on Regional Shared Services Plans to Enhance Student Services, Access

Albany -- State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher today announced that SUNY campus presidents and System Administration will collaboratively develop and implement regional SUNY Campus Alliance Networks, which will expand academic resources and course availability for students while increasing efficiency within the SUNY system.

By sharing administrative functions among area colleges, SUNY Campus Alliance Networks will redirect existing funding to enhance learning opportunities and access for students. All of SUNY’s 64 campuses will remain open, and each campus will retain its individual identity (name, unique programs, colors and insignia, etc.).

“In the fall, as we implement a rational tuition policy that requires students and their families to make a greater financial commitment to SUNY, it is absolutely crucial that we make good on their investment by ensuring that their education experience is not only protected but also enhanced,” Chancellor Zimpher said. “SUNY Campus Alliance Networks will expand access for students by making available to them academic resources, courses, and programs at additional campuses in the region.”

Campus Alliance Networks call for collaboration on administrative functions – among leadership and within information technology or human resources, for example – while increasing efficiency and enhancing educational opportunities by making the business and academic resources of other campuses in the region available to students, faculty, and staff at each site.

It is intended that cost savings generated by administrative reorganization will be redirected toward academic instruction and other student-support services. The extent to which services will be shared among alliance partners is expected to vary by campus and region, and will follow discussions between campuses and the Office of the Chancellor.

The SUNY Board of Trustees, in a resolution adopted at its June 15 meeting, directed the chancellor and empowered presidents to promote campus-to-campus collaboration and implement strategies to improve efficiency, generate cost savings, build capacity, and expand student services through the use of shared administrative functions, procurement opportunities, and realignment of academic program offerings where possible.

Accordingly, through the alliance networks SUNY campus presidents will develop plans to employ available resources more efficiently by sharing services on a sector, regional, or mission basis. Planning among campuses from all sectors (community colleges, technology colleges, and research universities) is just beginning and, when complete, will identify specific opportunities to reduce and consolidate administrative services and collaborate on procurement procedures and academic offerings.

“As we carry out the SUNY mission to educate tomorrow’s workforce – the business owners, industry leaders, and employees that will lead New York’s economic recovery – it is critical that we increase efficiency within SUNY and maintain access to the most affordable public higher education in the northeast,” Chancellor Zimpher said. “We are very sensitive to the fact that SUNY campuses are deeply embedded within communities across New York. The SUNY Campus Alliance Networks allow us to maintain that presence while improving upon the education we are providing our current and future students.”

Chancellor Zimpher first outlined the concept of shared services within SUNY in her State of the University Address at the beginning of the year.

A map of the proposed alliances can be found here.

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 nearly 3 million alumni around the globe. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunity, visit www.suny.edu 

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