Statement from University at Buffalo President John B. Simpson
January 15, 2010
The reforms proposed today by Governor David Paterson with SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher are exactly what SUNY’s research universities need to compete with the nation’s best public universities, and thereby to help fuel the economic future of New York State.
These are common-sense reforms that will create no additional costs for taxpayers, while providing flexibility to the State University of New York.
As a result, SUNY will be in a much better position to strengthen its academic programs, provide additional opportunities for its students, generate more jobs and produce additional discoveries that will help our state move toward a new, robust economy—one based on innovation and knowledge.
The governor’s reforms will help UB rise among the nation’s top public research universities and fulfill the promise of UB 2020—our plan to achieve UB’s full potential, grow the university in both quality and size and significantly increase our economic impact on Western New York.
We are pleased that the governor’s reforms address the measures contained in the UB 2020 Flexibility and Economic Growth Act, proposed last year by Western New York’s legislative delegation and passed by the Senate, as well as the additional reforms approved by the SUNY Board of Trustees in November.
I am also very pleased the governor’s reforms contain provisions for extending the Tuition Assistance Program and keeping tuition increases modest and predictable. These provisions will help ensure that New York State students and families will continue to have access to an affordable, high-quality education.
John B. Simpson
President, University at Buffalo