As he wrapped up his address outlining the state of the State University of New York system, Chancellor John King envisioned what the next few decades will bring for the 75-year-old system.
“SUNY will be in the next 75 years, as it is now, a home and a refuge,” King said. “I know there’s a place at SUNY for everyone.”
The leader of New York’s 64-campus public higher education system said Wednesday that SUNY is ready to tackle a number of challenges it currently faces, from creating a more inclusive environment and increasing registration
King described four pillars as SUNY’s goals: student success, diversity, equity and inclusion, research and scholarship, and economic development and upward mobility.
Broadly speaking, King wants the SUNY system to serve as a center for research, a path to meaningful careers for students from diverse backgrounds, as well as an engine for high-tech development.
But now there are questions about whether SUNY campuses will serve as temporary shelters for migrants who have arrived in New York in recent weeks. King says SUNY is ready to help.
“The governor asked all state agencies to identify how we can help with the humanitarian crisis,” he told reporters after his speech. “No decisions have been made, but we at SUNY are committed to helping New York City and the state navigate this difficult time.”
There are also questions about SUNY’s enrollment, a problem made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a problem Gov. Kathy Hochul says she wants to address.
“We need to come together and talk about how we can increase our enrollment, let people know the value of this,” Hochul said.
King agrees: Wednesday outlined programs aimed at attracting more students, including automatic enrollment in community colleges, mental health service programs, as well as internship and job placement programs.
One of the goals is for all students to complete a paid internship before obtaining their degree.
“What we need to do is advocate for long-term investment,” King said. “The evidence is over the course of your life if you have a college degree, you’ll make a million more dollars. So we need to keep reminding people that a college education is an investment in their long-term economic well-being.”
State lawmakers and Hochul also agreed to increase operating aid to SUNY by $178 million to more than $1.3 billion as part of the budget. The added funding averted a proposed tuition increase for in-state students.
“This really addresses what the governor hoped to accomplish with his tuition increase proposal, it allows us to make significant investments in SUNY,” he said. “We look forward to continuing to work with the governor and the Legislature to invest in the success of our institutions.”
