SUNY Completes First Facilities Master Planning Effort in System History

Success is a First for Higher Education Nationally

Albany – In a first for the State University of New York and higher education nationally, SUNY today announced the completion of its Facilities Master Plan (FMP), which identifies the infrastructure needs on all state-operated and statutory campuses across New York and informs the system’s multi-year capital funding requests.

With capital plans now in place for each individual campus as the result of this process, SUNY will combine those plans to form one detailed capital strategy for the system that will list specific projects and estimated costs in campus priority order and propose a timeline for their completion.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said, “The capital planning efforts successfully carried out by the State University of New York show how we can identify efficiencies and cost savings across government by making smart and informed decisions. SUNY’s process offers an outstanding planning model both nationally and in New York, as our Regional Economic Development Councils and New York Works Task Force undertake similar efforts.”

“The thorough and comprehensive planning process carried out by SUNY’s Facilities Master Plan has allowed us to maintain our infrastructure across New York and be excellent and responsible stewards of state funding,” said SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall. “By providing SUNY system and each campus with a roadmap for future capital improvements, the process will be invaluable to us as we begin planning for 2013-17.”

“The power of SUNY is distinctly evident in our Facilities Master Plan, which helped each campus identify, prioritize, and plan in advance for a full decade of capital projects,” said Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “The process has also been invaluable to SUNY and to New York State, informing our system-wide capital plan and the supporting state funding it requires. We are greatly indebted to the Construction Fund’s leadership and staff for carrying out such a comprehensive and successful planning effort on behalf of the University.”

The FMP analyzes criteria and guidelines for facility improvements and development in support of each campus’ academic mission and strategic plan. At the start of the process, campuses took inventory of facilities space and conditions as well as current and projected enrollments, and projected their needs over the course of 10 years. Using this information, the FMP process has helped campuses to identify opportunities for better use of existing space and buildings, as well as potential needs for new space and facilities.

With roadmaps in place for each individual campus, SUNY will now combine those plans to form one detailed capital strategy for the system that will list specific projects and estimated costs in priority order and propose a timeline for their completion.

The FMP coordinates space reassignment, building rehabilitation and expansion, facilities conversion, demolition, and new construction in alignment with the mission and strategic plans of each SUNY campus.

“There is a great deal of wisdom in implementing a System-wide approach to facilities master planning for the SUNY campuses,” said Stony Brook President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. “The rigorous and collaborative approach conducted with students, faculty and staff on the Stony Brook campus has provided us with a solid blueprint that supports our strategic academic and research missions while enhancing and upholding our environmental stewardship principles and our ability to accommodate enrollment projections.” 

SUNY Delhi President Candace S. Vancko said, "The facilities master planning process has been invaluable for our campus. It provides a roadmap for SUNY Delhi's growth by ensuring that our capital priorities mesh with and fully support our priorities for academics and student services."

SUNY will now generate its capital plan for 2013-17, based on the information gathered and outlined by the FMP. The plan will encompass the infrastructure needs and priorities of each state-operated and statutory campus and propose a realistic, affordable funding timeline for New York State.

About the State University of New York

The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States, educating nearly 468,000 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.