The SUNY Student Assembly is disappointed in the Governor’s decision to veto S.7259-A which called for a true Maintenance of Effort for SUNY and CUNY. Today, they issued the following response:
This legislation would have expanded the state’s original maintenance of effort for SUNY to include the system’s Health Science Centers and mandatory increases in operating costs including for faculty salaries and utilities.
These increasing mandatory expenses are currently absorbed by campuses, creating significant budgetary strains. These costs are then passed on to students through decreased allocations to educational programs and increased tuition.
“It is time for the state to step up to the plate and ensure that our campuses can continue to offer the high quality and accessible academic programs New Yorkers deserve,” said Michael Braun, President of the SUNY Student Assembly and Trustee on the SUNY Board. “Without Maintenance of Effort, students will bear the burden of these costs in the form of higher tuition and decreased access to the critical services that they depend on.”
The need for an expanded maintenance of effort will only compound in coming years as a result of the newly enacted UUP Contract, increasing utility expenses, and inflation. The Student Assembly stands ready to work with the Governor to explore alternatives which alleviate these mandatory costs and ensure that our campuses continue to thrive.
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