State of the University Address Calls for Increased Support for SUNY 

State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.

ALBANY, N.Y. (January 11, 2016) -- State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher will deliver the State of the University address today, reiterating her call for the statewide advocacy campaign, "Stand With SUNY," which urges public support for the university system, its campuses, students, faculty, and staff. The chancellor's address will be streamed live at 10 a.m. from the Swyer Theater at The Egg in Albany.

Zimpher's address will highlight the centerpieces of the campaign including the appeal for increased state investment in its campus-directed Investment and Performance Fund, and the renewal of the reform legislation NYSUNY 2020 to keep tuition-setting authority with the SUNY Board for the next five years.

The University at Albany stands with the Chancellor and SUNY in this pursuit. We recently hosted a meeting with the Chancellor, other regional SUNY presidents, and the state delegation to discuss SUNY’s system-wide legislative priorities and the urgent need to increase state support for SUNY.

Support for SUNY2020 is critical to UAlbany’s largest academic expansion in nearly 50 years.
Since the inauguration of SUNY2020 in 2011, our University has hired more than 200 full-time faculty, enriched academic offerings with 29 new and expanded programs, expanded our research portfolio by 30 percent more grant applications and ensured affordability through $5.2 million in enacted TAP eligibility aid.

SUNY 2020 has also been key to helping to keep tuition predictable and affordable. Our neediest students have been protected against tuition increases and graduation rates are up 3 percent.

Further extending SUNY 2020 will ultimately help our University meet the needs of students and the state economy as we develop and offer programs in engineering, homeland security, and the health sciences.

"In carrying out the landmark reforms of NYSUNY 2020 and preparing to allocate the Investment and Performance Fund, we have proven that SUNY can and will maximize the state’s investment,” said Chancellor Zimpher at the Stand By SUNY launch late last year. "Our completion agenda for SUNY is ambitious but achievable, given the funding necessary to bring our best programs and initiatives to scale throughout New York State."

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