SUNY Chancellor King Joins UB President Tripathi to Celebrate $14.2 Million Increase in New Operating Aid for the University

May 15, 2024

Back-to-Back NYS Investment, a 31.6% Increase for UB Over the Past Two Years, is Helping Expand Mental Health Counseling, Hire New Faculty for Research, and Grow Services for the Community 

Today's Visit Addresses Student and Community Mental Health Where Chancellor and President Met with Students, Faculty, and Staff

Fact Sheet Outlining Campus Mental Health Initiatives Available Here 


Buffalo, NY
– In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. visited University at Buffalo today to join President Satish Tripathi for a comprehensive discussion about mental health resources for students, as well as research to develop new therapies and outreach services for the community made possible, in large part, through substantial New York State investment.  

Earlier this month, the SUNY Board of Trustees approved UB's 2024-2025 allocation of $14.2 million. UB has benefitted from back-to-back increases in new operating aid from Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature, totaling $40.5 million, or a 31.6% increase, over the past two years.  

During the same time period, SUNY has benefitted from a total increase of $277 million, which represents the largest two-year investment in SUNY campuses in five decades. 

As part of the 2023-2024 budget increase, UB utilized $1 million in recurring funding from this year's enacted state budget to expand mental health services for its students, including hiring seven new on-campus counselors for each of its academic units, and by broadening virtual and teletherapy services. Counselors will join over the summer bringing the total number of counselors on campus to 31. 

"Thanks to Governor Hochul and the state legislature's confidence in public higher education, SUNY and our campuses are able to do more for our students and the state, and at UB there is growth in its academic programs, student support, and research innovation, and economic development as a result," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY is grateful to President Tripathi and his team for effectively utilizing state funding to provide caring and thorough mental health support, while directing strategic research for sustainable and effective care."

SUNY Board Trustee Eunice A. Lewin said, "UB is a center for academic excellence and an innovator in both mental health research and the providing of mental health services to students and the community. None of this would be possible without the support of our Governor, our Legislature and the steadfast leadership of President Tripathi and his team."

University at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi said, "It was an honor to welcome Chancellor King back to campus to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month. We appreciated the opportunity to share the many impactful ways that UB supports mental health through the groundbreaking research our faculty are conducting across disciplines and the impactful programs and services we offer to promote emotional well-being among our students. I would like to acknowledge and thank Governor Hochul for helping us ensure that our students have the resources and guidance they need to thrive personally and academically."

State Senator Sean M. Ryan said, "This year's state budget delivered record funding for SUNY, and that investment is paying off for Western New York. This major boost to operating aid for the University at Buffalo will not only benefit UB students – it will also have a positive impact on the surrounding community. Investing in our public universities is one of the best bets we can make as a state, and I am grateful to UB for ensuring this windfall will benefit the Buffalo community at large."

State Senator Patrick M. Gallivan said, "New York's investment in SUNY and in particular UB will better enable the university to meet the needs of students and the community at large. By increasing resources and expanding research, UB will play a critical role in the delivery of mental health services in Western New York."

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes said, "I'm grateful that my legislative colleagues and I were successful in securing operational resources for two years in a row allowing SUNY and the University at Buffalo to make these sizable investments into their students' well-being and mental health. The additional support services and research will improve both the students' overall campus experience and quality of life into the future. COVID highlighted that today's generation of students are both more interconnected and more isolated at the same time, all while dealing with more burdens than they should have to at their ages. I applaud Chancellor King and Dr. Tripathi for their desire and initiative to treat the whole person and not simply educate. I look forward to our region and state reaping the benefits of healthier New Yorkers in the years to come."

Assemblymember Karen McMahon said, "This year's state budget included significant funding for SUNY and the University at Buffalo. I applaud UB's decision to direct a portion of those funds toward expanding and supporting mental health resources on campus. More and more, we are coming to understand the importance of mental health. No longer is it stigmatizing when one seeks out mental health services. UB's commitment and investment in mental health services ensures that the campus community is more welcoming and supportive for all."

Assemblyman William Conrad said, "I was still in the classroom teaching high-schoolers a few short years ago, and I saw then the many unique challenges our young people were facing, not least of which was the aftermath of the pandemic, which forced an extended period of isolation that was difficult on even the healthiest adults. For our teens and young adults, it was truly traumatic - and as we know now, the effects were not short-lived. Add in the typical pressures of youth and compound them with the daily barrage of social media exposure, and it's no wonder our young people need support now more than ever. I was proud to back a state budget that acknowledged this reality and invested accordingly, and I thank Chancellor King and President Tripathi for fostering this invaluable discussion."

Assemblymember Jon D. Rivera said, "We've made great strides over the last several years in addressing long-lasting discrepancies in mental health education and awareness within our student populations. Large disparities still exist, particularly in recognizing these issues in communities of color and Latino neighborhoods within my district. This year's state budget includes the largest two-year investment in SUNY campuses in five decades. As a result, our community will have access to expanded services, additional counselors, and a stronger bridge to address gaps in mental health solutions. I thank SUNY Chancellor King and UB President Tripathi for their commitment to mental health equity on college campuses across New York."

UB's five health sciences schools, and the School of Social Work, have a long-standing commitment toward advancing mental health research and outreach in the Western New York community. For example, UB psychiatry faculty in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences spearheaded and continue to play a leading role in Project TEACH, a New York State-funded statewide collaborative that strengthens and supports the ability of maternal health and pediatric primary care providers as they deliver care to children and families who experience mild-to-moderate mental health concerns.

Additionally, UB's Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention, led by faculty researchers from the Graduate School for Education, is a national resource for educators and parents through its research on school safety and building social-emotional strengths of youth.

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.


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