Think Binghamton advocacy update

With a new governor and many new Senators and Assembly members in Albany heading into budget season, now is the time to emphasize the importance of Binghamton University and SUNY to the vitality of the state and the region, to argue against additional state cuts in higher education, and to advocate for legislative reform including the implementation of a fair and predictable tuition policy for SUNY.
 
In his address to the faculty and staff at the University Forum on Jan. 18, Interim President C. Peter Magrath backed SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher’s proposal to provide greater flexibility in setting tuition and retaining its revenue.

“How high tuition is and how much control we have over tuition are the key political and financial issues we face,” he said. “If you want to know what in Albany is going to affect our future the most, it’s the tuition issue. Pay attention and back us up.”

Magrath acknowledged the “fear that if we had the flexibility to increase tuition then we would deprive access to worthy students with real need,” but said he is passionate that students who have financial need are able to come here. “I’m confident that we would find the resources through tuition assistance programs,” he said.
 
Key upcoming dates include the governor’s Feb. 1 budget deadline and the start of the new fiscal year April 1. Although Governor Andrew Cuomo emphasized the need to cut state spending in his Jan. 5 State of the State Address, he has also singled out SUNY as a key partner in the state’s economic recovery.

Binghamton will hold its 10th Advocacy Day in Albany on March 1. For more information on advocacy issues and to join the University’s Think Tank advocacy group, visit the Think Binghamton website.