It is disheartening that I feel compelled to write about the challenging economic crisis that we face rather than sharing with you all of the wonderful happenings on our campus, as I am most accustomed to doing. Sadly, we have an urgent need to respond to further developments in the state’s financial crisis and I want to share with you my perspective on the tough choices New York has been forced to make, and how these choices are self-defeating for the economic recovery of the State.

First, let me outline for you the current challenges. SUNY has suffered $215 million in current year cuts and will face an additional $236 million in cuts if the Governor’s 2009-2010 budget is adopted. As you are most likely aware, the Governor's office also proposes to continue the ‘tax’ on tuition paid by students that was adopted by the Legislature this Spring to help close the state’s budget gap.

The governor cannot continue to close a projected deficit of this magnitude by cutting state services and the state workforce. Instead, the state must optimize its core strengths and strategic assets, be bold and innovative, willing to take some risks to propel the state forward. Higher education is absolutely the right industry for these depressing times and SUNY is one of the state’s greatest strategic assets that can help restore our economic health and prosperity.

We entrust our elected officials to act responsibly with the best interest of constituents in mind. As public higher education leaders we are entrusted in much the same way—to act responsibly with the best interest of our students and their futures foremost in mind. But we need the tools to be effective. We strive to make the State University of New York the best public higher education system in the U.S., but this is not possible without the ability to attract and retain the best professors, maintain the best labs and learning facilities, and create the best opportunities for our bright, talented students.

You can help us regain and maintain our strength as a public asset—one that serves all New Yorkers. In less than a minute, you can help save SUNY and directly support our students. Please visit our contact your legislator from here and let your voice be heard! You can customize the message if you would like, and when you insert your address, the system will identify and contact your individual legislator. It is clearly worth a minute or two of your time to keep SUNY Oswego strong and support the aspirations of our students for a more vibrant and prosperous New York.

As the budget process continues, I will post more updates here to keep you informed and -- I hope -- involved. Please join me as a SUNY Oswego advocate to help make unlimited horizons possible for our students and for New York State.