With this letter, you're asking Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to directly allocate funding to close budget deficits at 19 struggling SUNY campuses with deficits totaling $146 million. These campuses desperately need an investment so they can continue to educate and change the lives of New Yorkers.

Last year, a historic $163 million in operating aid for SUNY was included in the 2023-2024 enacted state budget. Unfortunately, the SUNY Chancellor and Board of Trustees chose to distribute these funds inequitably, directing about half of those dollars to the four university centers, three-fourths of which are on stable financial footing.

The Trustees intentionally left the smaller campuses in the red, and now campuses are facing the consequences. SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Fredonia have already announced cuts to academic programs, faculty, and staff. This crisis could have been averted if the $163 million had been spent properly. We must support all of SUNY’s campuses, not just enrich the wealthy ones. SUNY fulfills a critical public mission by providing access to quality, affordable education to residents across the entire state.

Without additional funding, the 19 distressed campuses will be forced to close programs and announce job cuts.

Thank you for sending this letter!