NCCC president supports SUNY budget request

Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, November 30, 2006
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 2, 2006

Niagara County Community College President Dr. James P. Klyczek expressed his support for the budget proposal adopted by the SUNY Board of Trustees at its meeting on Tuesday.

The budget requests the governor and the state legislature to increase state aid to community colleges. Specifically SUNY is requesting an increase in base operating support sufficient to cover one-third of a Higher Education Price Index-based increase in net operating costs. HEPI is estimated at 5 percent for 2007-08, which would equate to a $142 per student increase in base operating aid. The total requested base aid amount is $2,667 per student.

As an additional step toward the one-third and, ultimately the 40 percent “full opportunity” funding level presumed in Education Law, SUNY requests an additional $50 per student, which would increase the total requested base aid amount to $2,717 per student.

“This increase is funding is important in order for institutions like NCCC to remain affordable open access institutions providing the quality of instruction expected,” Klyczek said. “For a number of recent years students were asked to assume a larger share of the funding formula. We are appreciative of the steps the state took last year to meet its obligations and are hopeful that it will take additional steps in that direction this year.”

“I applaud the extraordinary visionary leadership of Chancellor Ryan, who obviously supports the mission of the community colleges as equal partners in the whole array of higher education offered by the SUNY system,” Klyczek said.