(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - United University Professions (UUP), the Nation’s largest Higher Education Union, rallied Tuesday (December 6th) to highlight massive projected operating deficits at the State University of New York’s (SUNY) Buffalo State College and at SUNY Fredonia, which threaten the viability of Public Higher Education and the economic future of the surrounding communities in Western New York.    

UUP President Frederick E. Kowal (Pictured Above) joined Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, New York State Senator Tim Kennedy, State Assembly Members Monica Wallace and Jon Rivera at Buffalo State to reiterate the critical and immediate need to reverse projected multimillion-dollar deficits plaguing SUNY Campuses in the Western New York Region.

For the current fiscal year, Buffalo State faces a $16 million deficit and SUNY Fredonia faces a $16.8 million deficit, they said.  

“The future of SUNY and the affordable education it delivers to students is in jeopardy.  We are urging lawmakers to take the initiative to alleviate the financial burden that continues to loom over the very students who benefit from this institution,” Kowal said.

“SUNY campuses are under massive financial pressure and this is not an issue we can resolve on our own.  State officials must take action to deliver funding that will safeguard access to high-quality higher education in New York,” he said. 

Senator Kennedy said: "We know that when we invest in higher education, we're not just investing short-term in our students - we're investing in their futures and a sustainable, vibrant local economy.  New York State must prioritize the institutions that have provided access to high quality education for decades and step up to fully fund SUNY Colleges in Western New York." 

Assembly Member Wallace said: "Our State University Schools provide a pathway to the Middle Class for millions of first generation college students in New York State, like me.  They also serve as economic drivers, providing investments and jobs in the communities where they are located.  As we negotiate the budget in the coming months, we must commit to funding levels that maintain the quality and affordability of our excellent public university system." 

Assembly Member Rivera said: "Higher education is the bedrock of our community and our SUNY System has provided evidence of that for generations by producing countless graduating classes of Educators and Community Leaders for the future.  The operating deficits now being encountered by some of our SUNY Schools threaten the progress and affordability of higher education in Western New York.  Our State Government must work to reverse these severe deficits and ensure that our region’s affordable collegiate system has a healthy, sustained future." 

SUNY campuses in Western New York are a key driver of economic growth in surrounding communities, supporting local businesses and helping to generate a positive economic impact, the speakers said.

Buffalo State and Fredonia contribute significantly to the region’s supply of Educators, as well as the greater industry workforce and population.   

They said Buffalo State contributes $680 million to the local economy, helping more than 14,000 businesses invest more than $131 million by creating or saving 8,000 jobs.  

SUNY Fredonia has supported various local small businesses, including hotels, restaurants, and transportation services, by organizing 150 events per year and drawing 43,000 people to the area annually, it was emphasized.

SUNY Fredonia also has a significant impact on the local economy as students spend nearly $50 million off-campus and campus visitors spend an additional $4 million.  

Boosting operating aid for State-operated campuses is a pivotal and essential first step to protecting affordable public education jobs and reversing the State’s decades-long disinvestment in SUNY, whose campuses across the State face structural or projected deficits totaling more than $155 million, the speakers said.

UUP represents more than 42,000 academic and Professional Faculty and Retirees.  

The Union’s Membership works at 29 New York State-operated campuses, including SUNY’s Public Teaching Hospitals and Health Science Centers in Brooklyn, Long Island and Syracuse.

UUP is an affiliate of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and the AFL-CIO.    

Photos Courtesy Of New York State Assembly Member Monica Wallace’s Twitter Feed.