Stachowski Calls Governor’s Higher Education Initiatives a Tremendous Boost for University of Buffalo’s 2020 Expansion Program

News from

Senator Stachowski

January 14, 2008

Senator Stachowski Calls Governor’s Higher Education Initiatives a Tremendous Boost for University of Buffalo’s 2020 Expansion Program

UB Expansion a Centerpiece of Governor’s Plan to Invigorate SUNY System & Revitalize Western New York’s Economy

State Senator William T. Stachowski (D-Buffalo) today praised the Governor’s recommendations in his State of the State address to profoundly improve New York’s Higher Education System, which include making the University of Buffalo’s “2020” expansion program a major component of the plan.

“I cannot emphasize enough the positive economic impact that the Governor’s initiatives to expand and improve the SUNY system would have on the Buffalo and Western New York economy,” said Senator Stachowski. “If implemented, these proposals would serve to make UB a powerful economic engine in Buffalo, and a flagship institution for a world class public university system.”

According to Senator Stachowski, the Governor cited recommendations of a preliminary report by the Commission on Higher Education ─ released in December ─ which urges the State to take critical steps to strengthen higher education in order to meet the challenges of rapidly changing demographic, scientific, technological and economic trends, and to help ensure New York’s standing as a global center of ideas in the 21^st century.

The recommendations include:

Hiring 2,000 full-time faculty members over the next 5 years, including 250 eminent scholars who are recognized leaders in their fields;
Investing in Research and Development: The Empire Innovation Fund grants to fund promising academic research throughout the State;
Eliminating obstacles that make transferring between community (two year) colleges and senior (four year) colleges seamless and more effective, and giving students full credit for the academic courses they have completed.

“The Governor’s vision for SUNY will greatly enhance the plans of UB to expand its total student population from 29,000 to over 40,000, including more than 7,000 students, faculty and staff working and studying in a new downtown campus for medicine and health sciences,” said Senator Stachowski. “The impact on the economy would be enormous, and would move our region significantly forward as a world class center of educational and economic excellence.”

“We must take the necessary steps to ensure a bright future for the people who live in this State by helping them prepare to participate in this new innovation economy. By finally committing enough resources to bring public higher education to the level that it should be in the 21^st century, we are helping to secure a future filled with hope and prosperity for all New Yorkers,” Senator Stachowski concluded.

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For Information:

Dennis Kozuch 826-3344
senstachowski@yahoo.com