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New Paltz, NY – It's not clear what the future holds for one Hudson Valley university, which is trying to balance a presidential search, a multi-million dollar funding loss, and an uncertain funding stream for future years. WAMC's Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Greg Fry reports...
State University of New York at New Paltz Interim President Donald Christian has unveiled a plan to balance an estimated 6.3 million dollar state-funding cut with the need to sustain academic programs and student support services. The plan, according to the university, will reduce the school's part-time personnel budget by 29 percent, or just over 900-thousand dollars. Christian says reaction has been mixed. He says the money reflects cuts for the current year, and the best estimate of cuts that may come after July 1.
Christian adds that most recognize that cutting that amount of money out of a budget can't be done without some pain. Richard Kelder is the New Paltz Chapter President of United University Professions, or UUP, the union that represents faculty on the SUNY campus. He calls the budget plan the best of a bad situation, and says it could have been a lot worse. Kelder says all programs and departments have been maintained, and full-time and professional teaching faculty have not been affected.
Kelder reiterates that it is not an easy thing to lose a large population of adjunct faculty, who he says have contributed greatly to the college over the years. Christian says right now, university officials are holding their breath over the decisions they may have to make next year. He says there are mixed signals, and it's not even clear how long it would take new tax revenues to wind up in SUNY campus budgets.
In Albany this week, Governor Andrew Cuomo and SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher unveiled a 140-million dollar challenge grant program, designed to spark job development, and expand SUNY campuses in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, and Stony Brook. Christian holds out hope that this may mean good news down the road for other SUNY campuses. He says the school looks forward to this perhaps paving the way for similar opportunities for growth and investment beyond the four research centers.
Kelder also remains optimistic that this may be a sign of things to come for other SUNY campuses. Right now, the New Paltz campus is operating with an interim president in Christian. However, on Tuesday, it was announced that Christian, who had never publicly stated interest in the position, would be interviewed for the permanent position as President. Three of the four finalists chosen for the position this spring removed their names from consideration. Kelder says he can't speak directly to why the candidates backed away from consideration, but says ongoing budget concerns may have something to do with it.
Speaking last month on the New Paltz campus, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher would not set a timeline for the search, and said it's not uncommon for finalists to step away from consideration. Kelder says he can only speculate that coming to SUNY in any capacity, but especially as a president, may bring some anxiety. He adds that they simply want the best candidates.
SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, speaking on the New Paltz campus last month, said that a search is not done until it's done, and that she gives full confidence to the search committee, and lets them do their work.