SUNY Flagships: University of Albany's Future at Stake. Voice Your Support Now !

The University of Albany is one of the four University Centers in the SUNY system. UAlbany has been a peer to SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Stony Brook, and SUNY Binghamton for over a century. But, ‘for how long?’ is the question the University of Albany, UAlbany alumni, the Capital District, and the City of Albany should be asking.

There is major concern after listening to the Governor’s State of the State Address, and his Speech concerning SUNY future. It appears that Governor Spitzer and his Commission on Higher Education are pushing for the creation of two flagship Universities in the SUNY system, but the University of Albany is not one of them. Flagship status means huge investment, with little investment to other campuses. Albany is the capital of New York State and is home to the NY State Government. Albany is also home to UAlbany. How would it be possible not to include the University of Albany in flagship status, representing the State of New York?

There is concern and it is evident in this News10 coverage:

“Albany-area politicians were shocked that with all of Governor Eliot Spitzer's talk of boosting higher education, that UAlbany did not even get a mention in the more than hour-long speech. He did, however, mention designating Stony Brook University and the University at Buffalo as "flagship" institutions.

Canestrari, the Assembly Majority Leader, could not believe that the governor did not mention UAlbany in calling for the creation of two so-called "flagship universities" - one on Long Island, the other in Buffalo.” Courtesy: News10 Albany

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On Tuesday, the Governor released his BUDGET PROPOSAL, containing major changes in funding for the SUNY system. The allocations of funds seem to be concentrated on the two University Centers that have been verbally labeled as future flagships of the State University of New York system, Buffalo and Stony Brook. This budget proposal has raised red flags, expressing concern over the omission of the Univesity of Albany and the University of Binghamton.

Being excluded from Flagship designation means a loss and reduction of billions and billions of dollars in funding. This funding affects every aspect of a university, including educational and athletic facilites.

The Times Union offered an interesting fact regarding the University of Buffalo being targeted with huge investment for MAJOR EXPANSION. “The New York Times reported that realizing UB's planned expansion will require a one-time investment of $1.6 billion. Governor Spitzer’s response… " we are saying to them, Yes, we want to dedicate significant revenues to help you transform. "

With such deliberate talk of supporting the Univerity of Buffalo and Stony Brook, what will happen to the University of Albany? Will UAlbany receive equal funding? Will UAlbany receive equal flagship status?

The answers to these very questions may be hinted at, if one looks at Sptizer’s budget proposal for SUNY.

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NOTICE THE VAST DIFFERENCES IN GOVERNOR SPITZER’S PROPOSED FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITY CENTERS OF SUNY. THIS MAY BE A SIGN THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY IS BEING PASSED BY FOR FLAGSHIP STATUS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK SYSTEM.

In every category of University Center funding, Buffalo and Stony Brook are receiving much, much more than the Albany and Binghamton.

Total budget allocations with Nanotech and Stonybrook hospital included:

SBU - $1,515,100,000
UB - $331,151,000 (no major projects funded)
UAlbany - $347,923,000
Bing - $234,577,000 (no major projects funded)

Total budget allocations without UAlbany’s Nanotech and Stonybrook’s Hospital. A more realistic measure of fund allocation per University center:

SBU - $873,000,000
UB - $703,000,000
UAlbany - $445,000,000
Bing - $374,000,000

Campus-wide critical maintenance per University center:

SBU - $86,160,000
UB - $75,031,000
UAlbany - $39,743,000
Bing - $38,334,000

Various Projects (which includes the Division I lighting for UA, but not the athletic appropriations for Bing, UB, or SBU):

UB - $178,214,000
SBU -$172,258,000
Bing - $120,689,000
UAlbany - $78,849,000

"Minor rehab" category:

UB - $1,306,000
SBU - $1,262,000
UAlbany - $556,000
Bing - $554,000

Community Colleges and small SUNY colleges receiving major Athletic Department funding:

SUNY Utica-Rome - $20,000,000 for a fieldhouse.
SUNY Brockport - $24,000,000 for Special Events and Recreation center
SUNY Canton - $18,000,000 for Athletics and Recreation center
Tompkins Cortland Community College Athletics Complex - $10,000,000"

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UAlbany Facilities Funding?

Facilities upgrades is a necessity when a University or a University system wants to compete on the National level. The University of Albany has been contemplating a new multi-purpose athletic stadium for the past few years, especially after claiming several NEC Championships the past few years. Finally, the university was prepared to include the stadium funding in this year's UAlbany budget request. The SUNY Board of Directors already approved the request. It was passed on to Governor Spitzer, along with the entire SUNY request.

The governor appears to have forsaken the University of Albany's athletic department. It appears he excluded the stadium funding in his budget proposal, which has been passed on to the State legislature.

Although SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Stony Brook already have large football stadiums on their campus, the governor has proposed to give them both over 100 million more than the University of Albany in athletic department funding. UAlbany plays in Division I FCS football but has a high school quality field, with rusted metal and wooden bleachers. The field only seats a couple thousand spectators, offering horrible views at best. UAlbany even hosts the NFL's New York Giants training camp during each summer.

News channel 10’s following piece echoes this concern:

"After the Governor's budget proposal on Tuesday, some alumni were concerned that the University may be left out in the cold….

The Governor laid out his strategy for higher education….. With plans already drawn up for a new state-of-the-art stadium at the University of Albany, it might be expected to see big numbers in funding for the SUNY University of Albany campus. However, even though those numbers are seen for several SUNY and CUNY systems, Albany is not one of them.

Many local minds are abuzz with questions about the planned stadium, and if the school will receive the State support to get it up and running. With upper-class facilities already existing in other SUNY schools such as Buffalo and Stony Brook, the query remains if Albany can still be a flagship in the Governor's budget.” Courtesy: News 10 Albany

If SUNY is to gain national recognition, which the governor seeks, the university centers need the facilities to mirror success and quality of its programs. UAlbany is the most successful in terms of athletics, winning 27 conference championships and earning 13 NCAA tournament apprearances in only 7 years of Division I competition. The University needs a stadium, period. Buffalo and Stony Brook granted funding when they proposed their stadiums. Now, the governor is neglecting UAlbany for its deserved facility request.

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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FLAGSHIP LABEL

The flagship label is not just a frivolous title. A flagship campus is by definition the best. This will be New York State’s official designation that the specified universities are the new face of SUNY. These flagship Universities will be the showcase universities of the State University of New York system. The flagship campuses will gain National Recognition, and all others will wither into mediocrity.

By design, the flagship campus or campuses are the largest within any given state university system. In addition, these flagship universities are the best funded within the university system. Disproportionate spending on flagship campuses, including massive spending on educational facilities, higher quality professors, and athletic programs and facilities, is the norm. This flagship status is permanent and the universities labeled as ‘flagship’ always become the most prestigious of the entire system. Universities which fail to acquire flagship status become second class, and suffer in many ways.

If the University of Albany was passed over for flagship status, it would be a huge blow to its future. UAlbany would be labeled as ‘inferior’, in comparison to the flagship campuses of SUNY. The University would receive billions of dollars less in funding than the flagship campuses. This limited funding would mean that all growth in the University would terminate. Seldom would the University see any new construction of new, much needed facilities. A large majority of funding would be earmarked for upkeep of the present facilities.

There is much more at stake here than the future of UAlbany. If the University does not acquire the flagship status, the Capital District would would suffer a significant economic loss. This loss will be in the form of millions, if not billions of dollars, over the decade. Funding decreases immediately. This Flagship status is permanent and therefore the funding loss happens perpetually. In the long run, this means the loss of thousands of jobs in Albany and the Capital District, when enrollment numbers take a nose dive, and services are not needed anymore. Small businesses catering to the University student body will not survive.

With all of the history behind the University Centers and the investment into these four pillars of SUNY.... how can someone and a group of education specialists come out and exclude two of them, when considering Flagship status?

Maybe they don't know what flagship status actually means. Maybe they don't realize the negative impact this will have on the SUNY system as a whole, specifically the other two University Centers.

Would a New York teen pick a SUNY non-flagship school before a SUNY flagship school? Most of them will probably not do so. Would sport enthusiastic teens pick a SUNY non-flagship school with athletic facilities that resemble a high school, or will they pick a SUNY flagship with Division I quality athletic facilities? Probably the flagship with topnotch athletics and athletic facilities.

The people deciding the futures of the University centers have apparently not seen that UAlbany's enrollment applications have skyrocketed his decade. Those enrollment numbers will be dwindling rapidly if we are categorized as second rate.

The University of Albany and the Capital District would be huge losers if not given flagship status.

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WORLD CLASS RESEARCH WILL BE THE SOURCE OF IDENTITY FOR ‘THE NEW SUNY’

Governor Spitzer has the intention of bringing the SUNY University system to levels competitive among the world leaders. SUNY’s first class research is going to be the center piece in this endeavor. Why would there be a question on whether or not to include the University of Albany as a flagship? UAlbany is a powerhouse of research initiatives.

The University of Albany’s College of Nanoscale Science and Technology and Gen*NY*Sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics are only two of the University’s world class research centers. The Cancer center is considered among the top in the nation. The Nanoscale Center is considered the top in the World. Among those topnotch research centers at the University of Albany are: The Center for Neuroscience Research, The Atmospheric Sciences Research Center, and The Northeast Regional Forensic Institute.

Please visit: http://www.albany.edu/research/CentersInstitutesLabs.htm

UAlbany's College of Nanoscale Science and Technology is the first in the world dedicated to research, development, education, and deployment in nanoscience, nanoengineering, nanobioscience, and nanoeconomics. The NanoTech Complex - a $4.2 billion, 450,000-square-foot Megacomplex that has attracted over 250 global corporate partners - is the most advanced research complex of its kind at any university in the world.

UAlbany's Gen*NY*Sis Center for Excellence in Cancer Genomics, located in a $45 million facility, is committed to research that will discover the genetic origins of cancer and lead to finding a cure for the disease.

Look at the Total Annual R & D $ at the Leading New York Research Universities:

Cornell.........648 million
Columbia.......541 million
Rochester......366 million
UBuffalo.......297 million *
NYU............284 million
UAlbany........274 million *
Mount Sinai....273 million
UStonyBrook...234 million *
Rockefeller....215 million
Yeshiva........189 million
RPI..............70 million
Syracuse........36 million
UBinghamton....29 million *

* SUNY Universtiy Centers

It is quite obvious that the two leaders in the SUNY University system are the Universtiy of Albany and the University of Buffalo. If there were only two Universities within the State University of New York system that should be granted FLAGSHIP status, these would be the two. On the other hand, it would be ashame if any of the University Centers of SUNY were left out to dry on this one. There has been too much invested already, and the research bases are solid and strong in all four centers. In a sense, SUNY already declared all four centers as Flagships of NY's State University system, when they were declared University Centers years ago. The solution that makes sense is to equally fund these university centers in all sectors: academics, facilities, athletics, etc. This is how to make SUNY stand out among the national leaders in higher education, to have four powerhouse Universities leading the Nation.

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The Governor commented that the SUNY Buffalo and Stony Brook were well positioned to handle rapid growth and expansion, through rapidly increasing state funding, and well positioned to lead the SUNY system.

The University of Albany is also well positioned. Before any mention of 'Flagships' in the SUNY system, UAlbany has become one of the top universities in the nation, with outstanding programs throughout. This is evident through the following national rankings.

The University of Albany Rankings
Top 25 Program Rankings:

#1 Nanoscience and Engineering - ahead of Cornell (#2), Michigan-Ann Arbor ((#3), Rice (#4), University of Pennsylvania (#5).
#2 Criminal Justice - (US News 2006)
#3 Africana Studies - (Black Issues in Higher Education July 2004)
#4 Information Technology and Management - (US News 2006)
#5 Social Welfare - (Academic Analytics 2006)
#6 Public Administration and Management - (US News 2006)
#7 Educational Administration - (Academic Analytics 2006)
#9 Public Finance and Budgeting - (US News 2006)
#10 Public Policy - (US News 2005)
#13 Educational and Counseling Psychology - (US News 2006)
#15 Library Science - (US News 2006)
#25 Public Policy Analysis - (US News 2006)
#25 Sociology - (US News 2006)

Atmospheric Sciences: ranked in the first quartile of NSF rankings in total federal R&D expenditures.

Chronicles of Higher Education ranks the doctoral programs in criminal justice, educational administration, and social welfare in their "Top 10" list nationally in their respective disciplines.

When medical schools are excluded from NSF funded research national rankings, the University of Albany is ranked 38th nationally. The University ranks 77th nationally in NSF funded research, behind Carnegie Mellon 76th when medical school funding is included when ranking the universities.

A recent ranking of the world's universities by the Institute of Higher Education: Shanghai Jaio Tong University Shanghai, China, which is a participant in the International Expert Group Created to Improve Higher Education Rankings, ranked University of Albany 89th in the nation.

According to The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, it is a Public Ivy.
Rankings-Courtesy: WKPD

If flagship designation is made, it should be given to all four university centers. Any given university center is too important to be pushed aside. Without equal funding and attention, a university can lose all momentum, and begin to degrade. After a decade's time, it will be evident which universities were foresaken.

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LET YOUR VOICE AND THOUGHTS BE HEARD NOW. CONTACT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE STATE GOVERNMENT. EXPRESS YOUR DESIRE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY TO BE GRANTED FLAGSHIP STATUS. EXPRESS YOUR DESIRE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY TO BE FUNDED EQUALLY TO THE OTHER THREE UNIVERSITY CENTERS IN THE SUNY SYSTEM. EXPRESS YOUR DESIRE FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBANY TO RECEIVE FUNDS TO UPGRADE ITS ATHLETIC FACILITIES AS WELL, INCLUDING THE REQUESTED FUNDS FOR THE MULTI-PURPOSE STADIUM.

CALL, WRITE, AND EMAIL NOW. CONTACT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS BEFORE THE STATE GOVERNMENT BEGINS BUDGET NEGOCIATIONS FOR SUNY FUNDING. STATE DEADLINE FOR BUDGET: END OF MARCH.

UAlbany Interim President George M. Philip
presmail@uamail.albany.edu

UAlbany Interim Provost Susan D. Phillips
sdphil@uamail.albany.edu

Governor Patterson:

Assemblyman Ron Canestrari:
canestr@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver:
speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco:
tediscj@ assembly.state.ny.us

Assemblyman John McEneny
mcenenj@assembly.state.ny.us

NYS Senator Hugh Farley
farley@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senator Neil Breslin
breslin@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno:
bruno@senate.state.ny.us

NYS Senate Minority Leader Malcom Smith:
masmith@senate.state.ny.us

City of Albany: Mayor Jennings
mayor@ci.albany.ny.us

President of The University of the State of New York (USNY) and Commissioner of Education: Richard P. Mills

Interim SUNY Chancellor: Dr. John B. Clark

NYS Commission on Higher Education
hecomm.sm.web@nysemail.state.ny.us