This e-letter asks your representatives in the state Legislature to approve a $41.8 million increase in the state’s 2026-27 Executive Budget to close multimillion-dollar structural deficits at four SUNY colleges and universities: SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), SUNY Buffalo State University, SUNY Fredonia and SUNY Potsdam.

The financial crisis at these campuses is not due to mismanagement, mission drift or enrollment declines. The debt they carry was accumulated through a series of circumstances not of their own making.

Buffalo State ($16 million deficit), Fredonia ($11 million deficit), ESF ($8.3 million deficit) and Potsdam ($6.5 million) were financially devastated by Great Recession-era state aid cuts that were never restored. Those reductions were compounded by more than a decade of austerity budget cuts during the Cuomo administration. ESF also absorbed a 2012 state operating aid cut that was never restored.

Allocating an additional $41.8 million directly to these campuses would wipe out their deficits and allow them to grow enrollment, solidify student retention and enhance student academic programs and services—and avoid further reductions to program, faculty and staff.

The governor and Legislature increased direct state aid funding to SUNY campuses over past three years and enrollments at those campuses have risen as a result. At Buffalo State, for example, enrollment increases for Fall 2025 were significant and important: a 3.7% increase in first-time and freshman enrollment. The campus’ first-year retention rate was 65.5%, up nearly 8% from the year before.

While that funding has certainly helped, it was not allocated by SUNY based on campus need. Direct state allocations to individual campuses in the state budget have not increased in 15 years. That’s why it’s important that this funding goes directly to the four campuses in need—ESF, Buffalo State, Fredonia and Potsdam. It’s the only way to ensure that those campuses get the resources they require.

Thank you for your support!