February 26, 2025

UUP members always go into the union’s annual Advocacy Day meetings with state lawmakers ready to make impassioned arguments about fully funding SUNY, but their efforts on this year’s Feb. 25 Advocacy Day had a heightened sense of urgency.

These are tough times for higher education because of threats and actions by the federal government, UUP President Fred Kowal told more than 100 members from around the state as they prepared to head into meetings with state senators and Assembly members.

The administration has attacked higher education by freezing federal research grants, ordering the end of programs that enhance diversity, equity and inclusion on campuses and threatening to end student loan forgiveness programs.

Members make their case; lawmakers listen

Members made heartfelt cases to largely receptive lawmakers as they focused on three main requests: funding aid for campuses, and especially 17 financially stressed campuses; support for the public teaching hospitals; and support for and growth in the Educational Opportunity Program.

“I don’t see anything I wouldn’t support for you,” Assembly Member Phil Steck told a UUP delegation that consisted of statewide Membership Development Officer Patrick Romain, System Administration Chapter President Mike Walker; and John Schumacher, the officer for retirees and political action coordinator at System Administration.

In a meeting with the staff of the newly elected Sen. Pat Fahy—formerly chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee—statewide Executive Board member Bret Benjamin of the Albany Chapter said that “The attacks on higher education from the federal government are the most aggressive we have ever seen. We’re looking to the state to step in and say, ‘Higher education matters.’” Benjamin was joined by the Albany Chapter Vice President for Academics Marco Varisco and System Administration Chapter Vice President for Professionals Christian Speedling.

UUP is specifically seeking $102.1 million for 17 campuses that have been strained by severe underfunding during the Cuomo years, topped off by the coronavirus pandemic.

All of the public teaching hospitals need state coverage of debt service and at least partial coverage of employee fringe benefit costs; the hospitals are the only state entities required to cover these costs. UUP is asking for an additional $250 million in capital funding for SUNY Downstate and firm support for the hospital’s continued existence.

Defending Downstate

Downstate Chapter members met with Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest of the 57th District. The hospital is not in her district, but Souffrant Forrest is a strong supporter of the hospital and wants to see it upgraded and remain in Central Brooklyn.

She said she thinks the Downstate Community Advisory Committee, appointed by the governor, believes community members haven’t been loud enough in expressing why the hospital is so important to the community and why the state needs to invest in the future of the facility. Board members saw people leaving before the first public hearing, held Jan. 22, ended and they think the community is losing interest, she said.

“Let them know that’s not true,” Souffrant Forrest said. “Turn it up. Get loud.”

Chapter members Anthony Holder, Natalie Baker and Richard Whitney described poor conditions in parts of the hospital and said the steady loss of services – psychiatry, gynecology, dentistry – undermine their fight to keep the hospital going.

A lifelong resident of the 57th district and a maternal child field nurse, Souffrant Forrest ticked off the health care facilities in the area around University Hospital at Downstate and listed the reasons they would not be good replacements for Downstate.

“There is only one answer. Transformation. Turn it up,” she urged the members before posing with them for a picture holding a Brooklyn for Downstate hat, above. “Turn it up.”

Legislative reception draws big

“We are fortunate that in this work, we have friends in the Legislature,” said Kowal. “Members will have many opportunities to speak up for SUNY in this legislative session.”

To send a letter to your lawmakers on funding UUP’s legislative priorities, go HERE.