New York Residents: SUNY Reform Bill Pending

UPDATE: THIS BILL PASSED THE NYS SENATE, AND IS BEING TAKEN UP IN THE ASSEMBLY, SPECIFICALLY IN THE ASSEMBY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE NOW!

CALL THEM AND ASK THEM TO INCLUDED UALBANY AND ALL UNIVERSITY CENTERS IN THIS LEGISLATION OR KILL THE BILL.

In January 2009, Buffalo-area legislators introduced Bill A.2020/S.2020 (the "UB 2020Flexibility and Economic Growth Act") to provide the University at Buffalo relief from burdensome state regulations. Shortly afterwards, President Lois B. DeFleur joined with the presidents of the other SUNY University Centers to request that Binghamton, Albany and Stony Brook be included in the legislation.

The bill seeks to implement several recommendations made by New York's Commission on Higher Education, including increased spending and contracting flexibility and greater access to capital funding. These common-sense regulatory reforms will allow the SUNY University Centers to increase quality, compete for the best students and reduce costs. Given the current fiscal crisis, reducing New York's excessive red tape represents the most viable path toward reaching our goal of becoming the nation's premier public university. None of our peers are subject to similar bureaucratic processes that New York State requires of our outstanding academic institutions.

The Senate Committee on Higher Education is currently considering this legislation. Send your message to designated New York legislators today, urging them to pass this long overdue legislation with all four SUNY University Centers included.

Courtesy: BU News

Suggested Email To NYS Representatives:

Subject: Pass SUNY Reform Bill With University At Albany Included

In January 2009, Buffalo-area legislators introduced Bill A.2020/S.2020 (the "UB 2020Flexibility and Economic Growth Act") to provide the University at Buffalo relief from burdensome state regulations. Shortly afterwards, the presidents of the other SUNY University Centers — Binghamton, Albany and Stony Brook — requested to be included in the legislation.

I urge you to pass the legislation with all four university centers included. The bill seeks to implement several of the recommendations made by New York's Commission on Higher Education, including increased spending and contracting flexibility and greater access to capital funding. These reforms will allow the SUNY University Centers to increase quality, compete for the best students and reduce costs.

Given the current fiscal crisis, regulatory reform represents the most viable path toward improving the quality of higher education in New York state. These are common-sense recommendations that should be widely implemented — not confined to just one University Center. Peer institutions in other states are not subject to the bureaucratic processes that New York state requires of SUNY. With your support, all four SUNY University Centers can continue to grow and excel.

Please support and pass an amendment to include all 4 university centers, Albany – Binghamton – Buffalo – Stony Brook, in this proposed legislation.

Pass with all 4 university centers or kill the bill.

CALL, WRITE, AND EMAIL ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTE MEMBERS NOW.

GlickD@assembly.state.ny.us
Deb Glick

AlfanoT@assembly.state.ny.us
Tom Alfono

BarronI@assembly.state.ny.us
Inez Barron

ButlerM@assembly.state.ny.us
Marc Butler

CahillK@assembly.state.ny.us
Kevin Cahill

Castronl@assembly.state.ny.us
Nelson Castro

ConteJ@assembly.state.ny.us
James Conte

CusickM@assembly.state.ny.us
Michael Cusick

EddingP@assembly.state.ny.us
Patricia Eddington

EngleS@assembly.state.ny.us
Steve Englebright

FitzpatrickM@assembly.state.ny.us
Michael J. Fitzpatrick

GottfrR@assembly.state.ny.us
Richard N. Gottfried

JaffeeE@ assembly.state.ny.us
Ellen Jaffee

LavineC@assembly.state.ny.us
Charles Lavine

LiftonB@assembly.state.ny.us
Barbara Lifton

LupardoD@assembly.state.ny.us
Donna Lupardo

MageeW@assembly.state.ny.us
William Magee

MillerJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Joel Miller

MorellJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Joseph Morelle

PaulinA@assembly.state.ny.us
Aimee Paulin

PeopleC@assembly.state.ny.us
Crystal Peoples

PeraltJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Jose Peralta

PheffeA@assembly.state.ny.us
Audrey Pheffer

QuinnJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Jack Quinn

StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us
Al Stirpe

GlickD@assembly.state.ny.us,AlfanoT@assembly.state.ny.us,BarronI@assembly.state.ny.us,ButlerM@assembly.state.ny.us,CahillK@assembly.state.ny.us,Castronl@assembly.state.ny.us, ConteJ@assembly.state.ny.us,CusickM@assembly.state.ny.us, EddingP@assembly.state.ny.us,EngleS@assembly.state.ny.us,FitzpatrickM@assembly.state.ny.us,GottfrR@assembly.state.ny.us,JaffeeE@assembly.state.ny.us,LavineC@assembly.state.ny.us,LiftonB@assembly.state.ny.us,LupardoD@assembly.state.ny.us,MageeW@assembly.state.ny.us,MillerJ@assembly.state.ny.us,MorellJ@assembly.state.ny.us,PaulinA@assembly.state.ny.us,PeopleC@assembly.state.ny.us,PeraltJ@assembly.state.ny.us,PheffeA@assembly.state.ny.us,QuinnJ@assembly.state.ny.us,StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us,TobaccoL@assembly.state.ny.us



CALL, WRITE, AND EMAIL YOUR OTHER REPS NOW.

UAlbany Interim President George M. Philip
presmail@uamail.albany.edu
Phone:(518) 956-8010

UAlbany Interim Provost Susan D. Phillips
sdphil@uamail.albany.edu
Phone: (518) 956-8030

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Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
speaker@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-3791

Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari
canestr@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-4474

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb
KolbB@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-5772

Assembly Minority Leader Pro Tempore James Tedisco
tediscj@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-5772

Assemblyman John McEneny
mcenenj@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-4178

Assemblyman Bob Reilly
ReillyR@ assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-5931

Assemblyman Tim Gordon
GordonT@ assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-5931

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NYS Senate Majority Leader Malcom Smith
masmith@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-2701 / Fax:(518)455-2816

NYS Senator Neil Breslin - Senate Assistant Majority Leader
breslin@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-2225

NYS Senate Minority Leader Dean Skelos
skelos@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-3171

NYS Senator Hugh Farley
farley@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-2181, fax (518) 455-2271

NYS Senator Roy McDonald
mcdonald@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-2381 Fax: (518)426-6985

NYS Senator James Seward
seward@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: (518)455-3131

NYS Senator Steve Seland
saland@senate.state.ny.us
Phone: 518-455-2411

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Governor Patterson
Phone: 518-474-8390

City of Albany Mayor Jennings
mayor@ci.albany.ny.us
Phone: (518) 434-5100 Fax: (518) 434-5013

President of The University of the State of New York (USNY) and Commissioner of Education
Phone: (518) 474-3852

Office of SUNY Chancellor
chancellor@suny.edu
Phone: (518) 443-5355

NYS Commission on Higher Education - Hunter Rawlings - Chair, John Reid - Executive Director
hecomm.sm.web@nysemail.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 486-4238

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Contact those above and contact your reps:

Find Your NYS Assembly Reps
Find Your NYS Senate Reps