Tuesday is SUNY Day in Albany. Representatives from the state's public education system, including UB, will lobby the state government for funding allotments in next year's budget. With its recent advances, especially the Center for Excellence in Bioinformatics, in critical stages of development, UB has the most to offer - and the most at stake.
UB deserves to receive more funding from Albany. Look at the facts: In terms of its size, student attendance, and breadth of research and majors offered, UB is the largest public school in the state. The university attracts more research and development funding than any other SUNY school, and is fourth among all higher education institutions in New York State. UB is the premier example of what New York's public education system has to offer.
Currently, the state budget proposal offers no increase in the amount of funding SUNY receives. But no gain actually translates to a loss. Due to inflation and contractual employment agreements, this means UB is about $9.8 million short of what it needs to break even.
That makes the tasks of our lobbyists this week all the more important. For obvious reasons, the 2003 state budget is extremely constrained. But this does not mean that Albany should write off any plans to include additional funding for the state's public colleges. A higher education system is a long-term investment, which ought to be reflected in the state's financial priorities. Every shortfall SUNY is dealt corrodes not only the operations of the current year, but compounds the damage by forcing the system to play catch-up in subsequent years. It's an opportunity cost that could leave the schools in the hole for years to come.
The university has proven its ability to remain a dynamic member of the SUNY system despite budgetary constraints, but if state funding levels continue to decline as they have in the past, UB may one day find itself a state university that does not receive state support. The bioinformatics center has attracted $150 million of non-state funds, and Tops Friendly Markets hires our supercomputer services to process its market research. Currently, 21percent of all private funds donated to SUNY colleges are given to UB, while the other three university centers combined account for only 23 percent. Even if Albany fails to listen to the pitches from our lobbyists at SUNY Day, it is clear private groups are not deaf to our pitches.
What the state needs to do is recognize UB as one of the most valuable components of its public education system, as well as an institution that flatters the government's image with a host of economic developments. By allocating UB the $9.8 million it needs to maintain its current level of service, state legislators will allow the university to continue on its path to scientific and technological distinction - and be able to claim that they made it all possible. Who could refuse such a small investment with such great returns?
