(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - More than 350 students, Faculty and Staff from the City University of New York (CUNY), the State University of New York (SUNY) System and independent colleges rallied with Legislators Wednesday (February 26th) inside the State Capitol to support a platform of increased funding for New York’s Public University Systems, broader access to free tuition and more financial aid.

While Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed small increases in funding for CUNY and SUNY, her Executive Budget falls short of the reinvestment needed to make up for a generation of underfunding, those who spoke at the rally said.

Historic disinvestment, paired with enrollment fluctuations, and other ongoing challenges, has left public colleges across the State in financial distress, they said.

Governor Hochul has also put forward the Opportunity Promise Scholarship, a program of free community college tuition for older students in certain high demand fields that the rally-goers are seeking to expand. 

The coalition of student organizations, Academic Unions and community groups took part in the rally to kick off their Higher Education Action Day before meeting with more than 100 Legislators.

Activists bused and carpooled from as far as Buffalo, Plattsburgh, New York City and Stony Brook to attend the event.

James Davis, President of the Professional Staff Congress/CUNY Students, said: “Faculty and Staff are united in our call for fully funded Public University Systems. We've made progress because this Governor and Legislature know the value of CUNY. But New York needs a New Deal for CUNY. That means full operating funding, the full-time Faculty and Staff and modern facilities that our students deserve, and ultimately - free tuition.”

United University Professions (UUP) President Fred Kowal said: “Now more than ever, we must fight to preserve the accessible, affordable, quality education that SUNY students receive, expect and deserve. With Higher Education seen as a large target by the new (Trump) Administration, we in New York must stand up and protect the incredible work being done at our campuses and at our life-saving Public Teaching Hospitals. Our communities, especially those that host or are nearby SUNY Campuses, depend on the economic boost our campuses provide. We are confident Lawmakers will do what’s right for SUNY and provide funding to wipe out multi-million-dollar deficits at our cash-strapped campuses, restore cuts to SUNY opportunity programs and approve vital capital improvements at our hospitals.”

The groups are calling for more than $600 million for CUNY and SUNY Senior Colleges and community colleges.

Funding to higher full-time Faculty, Advisors and Mental Health Counselors, and to fully fund mandatory operating costs are on the groups’ platform for senior colleges, along with funding to close budget deficits at the majority of State-operated SUNY Campuses.

For the community colleges, they want a higher minimum funding floor than what the Governor has proposed and increases of roughly $100 million each for CUNY and SUNY to bring Albany closer to meeting the State’s long-neglected statutory obligation to fund 40% of community college operating budgets.

The groups are also advocating for financial aid reforms and movement toward a tuition-free future.

As a step toward achieving universal free tuition, they are urging the Legislature to expand the Governor’s Opportunity Promise Scholarship to offer free tuition for students starting at age 18 at any SUNY or CUNY College offering degree programs in the designated high-demand fields.

They are also calling for infrastructure investments, increases for the State’s Opportunity Programs and for free MetroCards for CUNY students and other investments that promote student retention and success.

Photo & Graphic Courtesy Of UUP.