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President's message, cont'd...
If that were not enough, debate is beginning in Maryland following a proposal by a new member of its board of trustees to double the tuition from an average of $4,400 at all campuses to $9,000 over the next five to six years. After an 18 percent increase in Maryland this year, this will not be a popular proposal. Why these startling increases after years and, in SUNY's case, almost a decade of no increases in tuition? The revenue picture in the states changed, and a sea of red has encapsulated budgets throughout the country. The easiest way to reduce government costs is to increase individual tolls for use, a basic economic principle on user fees. I think there is a more clear approach to accomplish this end and maintain the excellence we need in our University. We alumni have a long-term investment in Binghamton. The value of our degrees is enhanced more and more each year as the excellence of the institution is continuously recognized. We have an obligation to support the University and its initiatives to continue on this path of excellence. This support should be financial and also extend to recruiting excellent students, providing career networks for alumni and speaking on behalf of the University where we can and where we have influence. In addition, our obligation extends to ensuring that the University continue to be accessible financially to future generations. Simply, tuition must be fair and state support solid. State support is simply an economic investment in the future of the state itself, given that more than 42,000 graduates from Binghamton alone live and work in New York. Most private, as well as public, universities have annual tuition increases to avoid the sticker shock and protest that occur with large increases every five or more years. The SUNY Board of Trustees has recently approved a similar approach to tuition to address this in a modest and predictable way. This is a public policy that requires open discussion and thought. The best way to public acceptance and understanding of the value of the annual tuition increase approach depends on an interchange and debate to inform students, parents and the public of why this should be done. If each university campus received a share of each increase directly, this might further persuade people of the value of addressing tuition annually. But, importantly, modest annual tuition increases cannot take the place of continued and improved public support of institutions of excellence in SUNY. Public higher education is an important asset to ensure the future growth of this state and the country in the global economy in which we live. But we as alumni also have to understand that public support and tuition alone cannot ensure the survival and excellence of our University. Our recent capital campaign, "Believe in Binghamton," was a recognition of this. As alumni, we must carry out our role in the future viability and excellence of this University. We should participate in the alumni networks in our regions; we should encourage students to attend Binghamton; and we should financially support the institution that has served us so well. -- Joe Bress '66
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