Statement from SUNY Board of Trustees and Interim Chancellor Stanley on the Historic Budget Commitment to Higher Education
April 9, 2022
"Governor Kathy Hochul prioritized higher education in her State of the State Address and then followed through on that pledge by introducing one of the strongest executive budget proposals in nearly a generation. The new 2022-23 spending plan realizes her vision by making unprecedented investments in our students, campuses, and hospitals with a $255 million increase in operating aid, and more than $660 million in additional capital for SUNY alone.
We greatly appreciate the tireless efforts of the Governor, as well as our state legislators and their staff for this historic investment. The substantial increase in capital and operating aid will significantly benefit our students by ensuring that SUNY can fulfill its mission of providing a world-class education, continue to build state-of-the art research facilities and classrooms for engineering and other STEM fields, and hire excellent faculty to join our ranks.
The expansion of the Tuition Assistance Program and direct aid for students and campuses will also throw open the doors of academic opportunity to more New Yorkers than ever, with greater access to the high-quality, affordable education for which our campuses are renowned. Among the bold changes in this budget are Tuition Assistance Program reforms that now include eligibility to financial aid for part-time students, students in non-credit microcredential programs, and incarcerated individuals. Further, this budget supports students with children by removing work requirements for childcare subsidies. This is paired with increasing support for opportunity programs and mental health resources.
The budget also honors the sacrifices SUNY hospitals made by serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis by committing debt service relief for these institutions that provide care to underserved communities. It delivers well-deserved 'hero grants' for the healthcare workers who served throughout the pandemic and invests in enrollment, childcare, academic programs, and campus operations. We could not be more pleased that this budget also launches an 18-month study to establish a children's hospital at Downstate Medical Center.
SUNY applauds the Governor, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, our higher education chairs Senator Stavisky and Assembly Member Glick, and all legislators for their unwavering commitment to SUNY. Never before have we seen bigger, broader, or more meaningful investment, and it would not be possible without their efforts, partnership, and confidence in our system, alongside the consistent advocacy of our presidents, students, faculty, and staff."
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
Share this:
Holly Liapis
518-320-1311
Email the Office of Communications
