SUNY Student Assembly President Reacts to NY State of the State

 

The following statement was issued today by SUNY Student Assembly President Thomas D. Mastro. 

"We appreciate the Governor's investment in SUNY and support of keeping budget decisions within the system. Governor Cuomo continues to show dedication toward ensuring that we remain the greatest system of public higher education in the country.  

"However, we are disappointed in the Governor's failure to include in his budget a sensible Maintenance of Effort plan that keeps pace with the reality of increasing inflationary and obligatory costs. When the Governor vetoed the state support bill passed by the legislature, he made it clear that it would be revisited during budget negotiations. Well, we're ready to talk. It is crucial that the state make a good faith effort to maintain their support of SUNY such that the burden does not fall squarely on the shoulders of our students and our campuses.

"We support the renewal of a fair, equitable, and predictable tuition plan and are glad the Governor does too. Students and families must have the ability to predict their financial futures and the renewal of rational tuition does just that. It is critical, however, that the state pays their fair share, that tuition dollars stay on college campuses, that students are consulted, and that tuition is not raised to the maximum allowable threshold.

"We join the Governor in his vision to improve and expand SUNY's involvement with New York's economy. Helping more people be able to afford a higher education degree is the common sense step toward reaching that goal."

Source: The State University of New York Student Assembly (SUNYSA)