OTHER VOICES

1-22-10

Editor’s Note:  After Governor Paterson released his proposed 2010-11 budget Tuesday, Jan. 19, SUNY Oneonta President Kleniewski shared this with the campus community.
Chancellor Zimpher has informed all SUNY campuses that Governor Paterson will include The Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act in his 2010-11 budget proposal. 
Offering the most significant reforms to the state’s system of public higher education in a generation, the act includes zero-cost solutions to strengthen public higher education and build the foundation for tomorrow’s economy.
The Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act would provide SUNY and CUNY the flexibility necessary to become centers of job creation, enabling New York’s public higher education system to become the new model of excellence that better prepares students for the jobs of the future while also developing jobs today. 
The proposal would enable SUNY campuses to operate more efficiently and ensure the more effective use of resources by relieving campuses of overly bureaucratic procedures.
In addition to financial efficiencies and the elimination of redundancies in some processes, the act places tuition policy under the auspices of the Board of Trustees.  This change is expected to provide the financial stability necessary to establish multi-year plans for the SUNY system and the campuses.
The inclusion of the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act in Governor Paterson’s 2010-11 budget proposal is a positive sign for SUNY Oneonta, our community, and the State of New York.