Paterson proposes new legislature

Governor David Paterson intends to give CUNY and SUNY the power to set their own tuition for campuses with The Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act, part of the Executive Budget Proposal for 2010-2011.

"We must provide our institutions of public higher education with the freedom and flexibility they need to drive development both on campus and off, preparing our students for the New Economy jobs that will propel New York forward," Paterson stated in a recent press release.

"[Albany] micromanages everything from the chalk campuses purchase to the cost of tuition that students pay," said Paterson. "This burdensome overregulation threatens the ability of public higher education systems to promote economic development and "successfully adapt to changing educational and fiscal circumstances."

The Queens Courier reported that rational tuition policy, the end of overregulation, an increase in operational independence and ensuring accountability are other initiatives included in the reform.

According to The New York Times, Paterson's plans will allow the executive boards of SUNY and CUNY to set different tuition rates for academic programs, but no more than 2.5 times the rolling five-year average of the Higher Education Price Index, which is an inflation index that calculates the cost of salaries, maintenance, library books and other expenses.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein support Paterson's efforts to reform public higher education.

However, the Professional Staff Congress, a union that represents CUNY faculty, opposes Paterson's actions.

In response to the proposal, PSC President Barbara Bowen stated that the plan "essentially takes the public out of public higher education."

"Making some of the poorest college students in the country pay ever-escalating tuition is a false solution to the real problem," said Bowen in a statement.

The organization also believes that the tuition increases will prevent students from being able to afford a SUNY or CUNY education and that tuition rates will confine students to certain majors because they must make decisions based on cost.

"I don't think it's a good idea because it's not fair to decide which students should pay more or which programs should cost more and people can get excluded," said Rose Ding, a junior majoring in Operations Management.

Dr. Ben Corpus, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment stated that although he is appreciative of the governor's approach, there are details that have to be worked out.

"I am cautiously optimistic and there are elements that we are supportive of," said Corpus. "However, how much of this proposal can the governor get done with all the other issues going on?"