(FREDONIA, NEW YORK) - United University Professions (UUP), America’s largest Higher Education Union, rallied with State University of New York (SUNY) Fredonia students, Faculty and Staff, and community leaders to loudly call for fair funding for the college and 18 other SUNY campuses with multi-million-dollar deficits.

More than 200 people attended the noon-time event, held at Dods Grove on the SUNY Fredonia Campus.  Speakers included UUP President Fred Kowal, Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson, Chautauqua County Executive Paul Wendel, Jr., Chautauqua County Legislator Susan Parker, and Students for Fredonia Leader Rebekah Gerace.

Kowal and UUP Statewide Vice President for Academics Alissa Karl joined students and community leaders in urging the SUNY Board of Trustees to distribute more than $277 million in direct State Aid in the enacted 2024-2025 State Budget to campuses based on need - and steer away from a plan by SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. to cut programs and Faculty at financially distressed campuses, such as Fredonia and SUNY Potsdam.

Said Kowal (Pictured Above/UUP Video Screenshot): “We thank the Governor (Kathy Hochul) and the Legislature for setting aside nearly ($300 million) in the newly-approved State Budget for SUNY campuses.  Let’s use these funds to erase deficits at Fredonia and our other cash-strapped campuses, which were caused by nearly two decades of severe State funding cuts and flat budget for SUNY.  Let’s use these dollars to build up our financially stressed campuses instead of following the Chancellor's destructive plan to shrink them by cutting majors and putting people out of work - which at Fredonia will weaken the campus, negatively affect students and severely impact a local economy that depends on SUNY Fredonia as an economic engine.”

Allocating aid based on campus need would eradicate Fredonia's $17 million deficit and a combined $146 million deficit at Fredonia and the other cash-strapped campuses, UUP said.

At Fredonia, 13 majors - including Spanish, French, Philosophy and Art History, will be deactivated on June 5th.

Nearly 100 students will be impacted by the cuts.

SUNY Fredonia’s economic impact on Fredonia and the nearby Towns of Dunkirk and Sheridan is formidable - the campus, which is the largest employer in Chautauqua County, generated more than $157 million in spending and revenue, according to a 2015 economic study by the University at Buffalo's Regional Institute.

“Every day, our Members at Potsdam, Fredonia and campuses across New York State, provide our students with a world-class educational experience that will serve them throughout their lives,” Kowal said. “The work our Members do positively impacts our students, our communities and our State - both educationally and economically.”

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

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

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Press Release | UUP, students, community rally for fair funding for SUNY Fredonia, 18 other SUNY campuses (uupinfo.org)

Click Here To Download Video From The UUP Rally At Fredonia.