Published: November 25, 2008 07:24 am      

SUCO looks to save

School is freezing some hiring as tuition set to rise

By Denise Richardson
Staff Writer

The State University College at Oneonta has tightened its belt for this academic year and is preparing for tighter notches next year.

``We are extending the selective freeze of vacant positions and encouraging the vice presidents to identify additional budgetary savings,’’ SUCO President Nancy Kleniewski said in an e-mail Friday to update the campus community in the wake of meetings held by state leaders.

Meanwhile, students across the state face higher tuition bills this spring and next year under a plan approved by SUNY trustees.

The board adopted a ``rational tuition’’ policy that would implement modest, annual and predictable increases based on the Higher Education Price Index, according to a SUNY media release. The board adopted a tuition increase for in-state undergraduate students at two “units” of HEPI, or $310, effective in the spring 2009 semester, which annualized will be $620.

Annual tuition as of fall 2009 will be $4,970 under the SUNY board plan, and tuition increases in later years would be based on HEPI. Tuition has been $4,350 since 2003-04. SUNY trustees also approved budget re- quests for state funding in 2009-10 at its meeting Tuesday.

The state Legislature met for a one-day special session last week but took no action on the governor’s proposed midyear budget cuts.

Also last week, the SUNY Student Assembly of the State University of New York this month reaffirmed its opposition to any budget cuts to the SUNY system.

Decreases in state funds undermine increases to tuition, a media release said, essentially taxing students through tuition revenue for state services not related to their education.

In this fiscal year, SUCO’s budget has been cut by $2.4 million, Kleniewski said, and the reduction will grow to $2.7 million next year, representing a 14.3 percent decrease in state support.

``To date, these budget reductions have been accommodated through a combination of holding positions vacant and related savings,’’ Kleniewski wrote. ``While the proposed tuition increase will provide additional revenues for the spring 2009 semester, the financial benefit of the tuition proposal for next year is still uncertain pending executive and legislative action on the 2009-10 budget.’’

Kleniewski extended a selective hiring freeze, requested vice presidents to find other savings to total $800,000 and imposed limits on travel expenses, among other measures.

``These measures are both necessary and prudent at this time to conserve financial resources now and prepare the campus for any further possible budgetary reductions or unfunded costs next year,’’ Kleniewski wrote. ``Working together, we can meet these budgetary challenges.’’

Recently, State University College of Technology at Delhi officials said the campus was holding open positions, limiting travel and overtime expenses, using reserve funds and turning down thermostats to meet budget challenges.

The SUNY budget request also is based on expanding entrepreneurial activity and public-private partnerships, plus management and operational reforms, SUNY officials said.

“The university’s budget request reflects the current fiscal crisis, ensures access for current and future students, maintains academic quality, and supports research and economic development,” SUNY Board Chairman Carl Hayden said in a media release last week.

“SUNY’s rational tuition plan will help students and their families better plan for future college costs, and provide them and the campuses the ability to invest in academic quality initiatives,’’ Hayden said.

The release continued, ``All of this assumes, of course, that there are no additional reductions to SUNY operating support.”

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Denise Richardson can be reached at 432-1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 213, or at. drichardson@thedailystar. com.