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Questions & Answers
Megan Toohey is director of government relations.
What is UB Believers?
UB Believers is a broad-based advocacy group that has been created to help support the University at Buffalo and its plans to grow by 40 percent between now and the year 2020. The group is composed of community members, alumni, students and parents, faculty and staff. Each member will have an important role to play in helping UB achieve greater prominence among the nation's leading public research universities.
What is the group's history?
The need for such an advocacy group was recognized with the implementation of UB 2020 and formulation of plans to grow the university by 40 percent between now and 2020. UB Believers was launched on Aug. 7 by a coalition of more than 100 business and community leaders who share a belief that a larger, stronger UB will translate into a brighter future for all of Buffalo Niagara. UB Believers now numbers more than 2,500 individuals. It's particularly heartening that membership has increased by more than 500 individuals since an email appeal was sent to faculty, staff and students earlier this week by President John B. Simpson; Robert G. Hoenig, chair of the Faculty Senate; Janiece Kiedrowski, chair of the Professional Staff Senate; and Peter A. Grollitsch, president of the Student Association.
Why was it created?
To realize its growth agenda, the university is going to require significant state funding, as well as changes in some state policies. For example, SUNY's university centers and four-year colleges currently have the same tuition, although there are unique costs related to UB's role as a major public research university that are not recovered in that tuition. There is a need for a differential tuition policy that would allow UB to charge an appropriate higher tuition than a four-year college. As President Simpson noted at this week's UB Council meeting, UB Believers will be instrumental in helping the university deliver its messages about increased funding and policy changes to elected officials. They will be more likely to take notice and support UB's requests if they are hearing from thousands of individuals who are unified in their message and support of the university. Groups like UB Believers have been created in recent years at other leading public universities, including the University of Michigan, the University of Minnesota and Rutgers University. They have proven to be valuable advocates, helping to make the case to elected government officials for funding those institutions. At these schools, faculty, staff and students have been the backbone of the membership of the advocacy groups.
How will UB's growth impact the community?
There will be a direct correlation between the growth of UB and its impact on the economy of Buffalo Niagara and the quality of life of its residents. As President Simpson noted in his community address a year ago, there will be hundreds of new jobs, thousands of additional students and millions of dollars in annual economic impact. In fact, a new report by UB's Regional Institute projects that plans to grow UB by 40 percent will increase its annual economic impact—currently at $1.5 billion—to a projected $2.6 billion by the year 2020. With the projected growth, the number of jobs created outside the university will approach 20,000 and UB-generated income and sales tax returned to New York State will increase to $97 million a year. A larger UB will enhance the region's quality of life by offering more educational, cultural and recreational resources and programs to the public. These kinds of facts rallied the community leaders who launched UB Believers in August and will help fuel its growth.
Who can join UB Believers? What's the "job description" for members?
Membership in UB Believers is free and open to all who want to support UB's growth. As a UB Believer, you will receive regular email updates from the university on its plans, progress and legislative issues. You also will receive email communications asking you to become an active advocate on specific legislative and budgetary issues important to UB and its future that will be under consideration by Gov. Eliot Spitzer and the New York State Legislature. When you are called to action, you will be referred to a Web site where you will be able to direct email to elected officials, using a prepared message or developing your own. You also will be able to encourage others to show they believe in UB by using the site to send them information about UB Believers and to encourage them to join.
How do I join?
Our goal is to recruit thousands more members. If you have not already done so, please join UB Believers today by clicking here. UB needs your active participation. Thank you.