Tripathi praises Cuomo’s call for NYSUNY 2020 extension

President Satish K. Tripathi yesterday applauded Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal to extend the NYSUNY 2020 predictable tuition program, saying that extending it an additional five years will enable UB to build even further on the strong momentum created by the first five years of the NYSUNY 2020 program.

Over the past few years, Tripathi said, the NYSUNY 2020 program has allowed UB to make vital investments in its research enterprise, students’ educational experience, need-based financial aid and in the broader communities served by the university.

The governor yesterday called for a five-year extension of NYSUNY 2020 during his annual State of the State address in Albany. The program was first signed into law in 2011.

“We are very grateful for Gov. Cuomo’s support for SUNY with the five-year extension of the vital NYSUNY 2020 legislation,” Tripathi said. “Over the past five years, the governor’s historic NYSUNY 2020 program has helped transform public higher education in New York State by keeping SUNY education affordable and predictable while providing additional resources that enable universities like UB to invest even further in our students and ensure greater access to a world-class education.

“Here at UB, we have been able to make transformational investments in our students with the support of NYSUNY 2020. As just some key examples, we have implemented the Finish in 4 program enabling on-time graduation for all students; we have been able to hire more of the best and brightest faculty in high-demand areas; we have expanded experiential education programs; and we have dramatically increased financial aid for TAP-eligible students. As we continue to build even further on these efforts, extending this critical program will help ensure our great public research university can continue to thrive for the benefit of our students and all the communities we serve.”

Under NYSUNY 2020, UB and other SUNY institutions will be able to raise tuition up to $300 annually. This rational tuition program benefits both the university and students by enabling students and their families to better plan for the costs of higher education while providing UB with budget stability and revenue to invest in students’ education.

Extension of NYSUNY 2020 is supported by members of the Western New York legislative delegation, the SUNY Board of Trustees and by the SUNY Student Assembly.  A 2015 editorial in The Buffalo News also called for extending NYSUNY 2020 and noted “NYSUNY 2020 made sense a few years ago and it will make sense going forward.”

Over the past five years, the NYSUNY 2020 program has provided UB with funding to make vital investments in student education and hire faculty to teach new course sections and perform research that advances the regional economy. These investments include:

• The Finish in 4 program, an initiative to help all students graduate in four years by providing additional resources and guidance needed to achieve this goal. Participants in Finish in 4 have higher GPAs, class standings and first-to-second year retention rates.
• More than 300 new course sections, 10,000 new course seats and 30,000 more contact hours.
• 291 top faculty hired in high-demand areas.
• $3 million to revamp UB’s general education program to focus on experiential learning opportunities, including internships, research experience and study abroad.
• $35.4 million in aid to nearly 29,000 Tuition Assistance Program-eligible students over the past four academic years. UB’s student debt ranks among the lowest in the nation — approximately 40 percent of UB’s students graduate without any debt.
• $6 million investment in interdisciplinary communities of scholars engaged in high-impact research.
• Improvements to UB’s four- and six-year graduation rates, which far exceed the national average, by 20 and 15 percentage points respectively.