Statement from Chancellor King and the SUNY Board Trustees on the Enacted FY2025-26 State Budget
May 9, 2025
"The State University of New York is deeply grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and the New York State Legislature for their unwavering support of SUNY's mission and their confidence in SUNY's ability to continue to deliver excellence and affordability on behalf of New Yorkers.
"The state's historic increased investment in both State-operated campuses and community colleges in the 2025-26 Enacted State Budget will maintain SUNY's affordability, bolster academic programs, and expand access to higher education for all New Yorkers.
"Significant funding toward New York's longstanding Educational Opportunity Program, which has served more than 85,000 students, and our growing ASAP and ACE programs will drive SUNY's continued leadership in academic advancement. This year's Direct State Tax Support for ASAP|ACE will make these programs permanent at SUNY and allow for an expansion of these vital student success and retention programs as they grow to serve 10,000 students within the next two years.
"Enactment of Governor Hochul's free community college initiative for adult students pursuing careers in high-demand fields is nothing short of a game-changer. This landmark initiative will open the door to upward mobility and career advancement for adults ages 25-55 who do not already have a degree.
"The final budget agreement provides crucial capital funding for critical maintenance, research facilities, and advancing SUNY's role in helping NYS achieve its decarbonization goals. Major new funding for SUNY research facilities and expansion of the Governor's Empire AI research center for the public good sends exactly the right message about the value of research to improve our lives and communities, and SUNY's world-class researchers are ready to answer the call.
"We are also deeply appreciative of the ongoing support for SUNY's hospitals and medical centers. The combined $750 million capital commitment for SUNY Downstate's hospital in last year's and this year's budgets will support a stronger, sustainable future of inpatient and outpatient care and is a historic investment in Central Brooklyn. For Upstate Medical, the region's only Level 1 trauma center, the $450 million will fully fund plans to construct a new hospital annex for SUNY Upstate, a new emergency department, a more modern burn unit, and additional operating room capacity.
"We also applaud the agreement for Police Benevolent Association of New York State members, including our university police officers, which provides a 20-year retirement system consistent with most state police agencies for all new hires, as well as an option to elect in to the new 20-year pension for existing Tier V and VI members.
"SUNY is on the move – and this year's budget represents another vote of confidence in public higher education and a brighter, more prosperous, and more sustainable future for New York State."
Background – Enacted Budget Highlights:
- $114 million in increased operating aid for State-operated campuses to support students and attract and retain top faculty and staff as SUNY delivers on its promise of academic excellence and affordability – bringing the total state investment in State-operated campuses over the last three years to nearly $400 million.
- Enactment of Governor Hochul's free community college initiative for adults ages 25-55 without a degree who choose to pursue a high-demand field.
- Maintenance of the 100 percent community college funding floor (avoiding over $75 million in lost State funding) and $8 million in increased operating aid for community colleges – representing the second consecutive year of operating aid increases for these vital institutions.
- $12 million investment to sustain and expand the ASAP|ACE retention and completion programs to reach 6,000 students next year on the path to 10,000 students within two years.
- $300 million for New York State Innovation Fund to support laboratory facilities and research activities as SUNY works to double research.
- $550 million for critical maintenance at SUNY's State-operated campuses and Statutory Colleges, along with $60 million in additional flexible capital for State-operated campuses.
- $25 million for a Green Energy Revolving Loan fund to provide funding for decarbonization projects at State-operated campuses.
- $200 million to fund thermal energy projects as part of the $1 billion proposed by the Governor to tackle decarbonization in New York State. SUNY will be an eligible entity to receive portions of the thermal energy network funding.
- A total of $750 million in capital funding (between last year's and this year's enacted budgets) to develop a sustainable future for SUNY Downstate's hospital that includes inpatient and outpatient care and supports the needs of the Central Brooklyn community.
- $450 million for Upstate Medical to fully fund plans to expand Upstate's emergency department, modernize and upgrade the burn unit, and add operating room capacity.
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 $1.16 billion in fiscal year 2024, 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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Holly Liapis
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