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Support A.2020/S.2020
With the anticipated vote on S.2020—the Senate version of the UB Flexibility and Economic Growth Act—in the Senate Higher Education Committee on Wednesday, May 20, we need to keep the momentum going. Please send Governor Paterson a letter urging him to support the legislation by encouraging the legislature to pass A.2020/S.2020 and by committing to sign it when it reaches his desk.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , As an advocate for the University at Buffalo, I am writing to ask you to strongly support A.2020/S.2020, the UB Flexibility and Economic Growth Act. This legislation would give the University at Buffalo-the largest and most comprehensive university in the SUNY system-the flexibility to achieve the full academic and economic potential of UB 2020, UB's plan to grow by 40 percent and bring 13,000 people to live, work and study in downtown Buffalo. It would give UB the ability to control its own destiny and positively impact Western New York's economy in ways not possible under current law. This legislation, sponsored by the entire Western New York delegation, is not just about making the University at Buffalo a great university; it is about greatly improving the prospects of a city that is the third poorest in the country and has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. In these tough economic times, you asked for high-impact, low-cost solutions to help us out of our current situation. The UB Flexibility and Economic Growth Act is just that. UB has secured support for the bill from the local and state-wide building and construction trades and it is the no. 1 priority of the Buffalo Niagara business community. The legislation is expected to be voted on by the Senate Higher Education Committee next week. The university needs you to become a champion of this legislation because it is the answer to Western New York's economic woes. We hope that you will publicly announce your support for this legislation, encourage the legislature to pass it, and ultimately sign the bill when it reaches your desk.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
Why Introduce a Bill?
The purpose of this legislation is to provide regulatory relief to the University at Buffalo (UB) in the areas of tuition policy, capital project financing, construction delivery, land acquisition and disposition, public-private partnerships and procurement of goods and services. These changes would enhance the University at Buffalo’s academic standing and its capacity to serve as a catalyst to stimulate the Western New York economy.
While the legislation is specific to UB, the reforms are in accord with recommendations made by the Commission on Higher Education and SUNY’s own policy agenda. The reforms will enable implementation of UB 2020, the major economic development initiative for Western New York by addressing the chronic lack of economic growth in the Western New York region, made worse by the current economic downturn.
What Does the Bill Do?
It would be challenging under the present circumstances for the state to provide an appropriate level of funding for UB. However, the public policy reforms outlined in this legislation can be implemented quickly and achieved at no cost. They are a high-impact way to move UB 2020 forward.
1) Rational Tuition Strategy
Small, regular increases in tuition would provide the university with predictable funding and will allow parents and students to better plan and budget for expenses. A rational tuition policy will allow UB to invest in excellence, while at the same time expanding access to excellence. More resources would be applied by the university to need-based aid, opening the door to a UB education to thousands more low-income New York students.
2) Spending and Contracting Flexibility
Current policies hamper efficient business practices. Relief from burdensome rules like pre-audits would save taxpayers money, and create a level playing field with other state systems and public research universities. For example, if appropriate reforms were in place, the state could save $1.5 million on the construction of UB’s new Educational Opportunity Center in downtown Buffalo and build it thirteen months faster.
3) Access to Market Capital
Providing the university access to market capital will allow it to build critical research, commercial, and recreational facilities in accelerated time frames. UB’s success in attracting the best faculty and students absolutely depends on our ability to build these facilities much more quickly and with more ready access to capital sources than can be done through the political process that governs the flow of capital funds today. Providing the university the ability to leverage private sector markets also will permit it to leverage critical capital funds at no cost to the taxpayer.
4) Ability to Lease or Purchase Land and Facilities
UB must be able to make the wisest and best use of its land and facilities, and have the ability to create lease or trust agreements with private partners for their development and use. For example, to relocate its Academic Health Center to downtown Buffalo, UB needs the ability to purchase properties and enter into development projects with multiple partners. UB needs the authority to build and renovate housing, academic buildings, research complexes and other facilities entrepreneurially and through public-private partnerships, leveraging the taxpayers’ investment with private funds.