They’re also a natural extension of our K-12 public school system. With a New Deal for Higher Education, the statewide union advocates for a system that helps students seamlessly transition from public K-12 classrooms to the lecture halls of New York state’s world-class network of public colleges and universities.

But years of underfunding have led to a steady decline in critical support for students’ academic progress and success. Although the last state budget cycle made meaningful investments in public higher education, the need is still great due to years of underfunding.

Public higher education institutions in New York state provide a world-class education to students. Our faculty conduct innovative research and SUNY's three teaching hospitals — Stonybrook, Downstate and Upstate — train the next generation of health care workers, many of whom stay and practice in New York state.

For too long these institutions have operated under an austerity budget.

To enhance the quality of students’ experience and increase student retention and graduation rates, we must substantially increase the number of full-time faculty and better compensate adjunct faculty.

NYSUT seeks a $1.44 billion state investment in operating support:

• $320M SUNY four-year campuses
• $175M SUNY hospitals
• $439.3M SUNY community colleges
• $261.4M CUNY four-year campuses
• $250M CUNY community colleges

From having healthy food to eat, to being able to access mental health and counseling services, our public higher education campuses must nurture students physically, mentally and academically. As in our P-12 schools, wraparound services that nurture and educate the whole student are vital to helping college and university students thrive.

NYSUT seeks a $267.2 million investment in student supports:

• $30.5M SUNY four-year campuses
• $100M SUNY community colleges
• $91.2M CUNY four-year campuses
• $45.5 M CUNY community colleges

Students attend New York state's public colleges and universities to receive a high-quality, accessible education. Every dollar invested in SUNY, CUNY and community colleges yields even greater returns for New York's tax base. But, reaching into students' pockets to fund public higher education instead of investing public dollars, is setting them up for years of student loan payments – not success.

Accordingly, we are asking for an investment of $3 billion to provide students with greater access to world-class public higher education at SUNY, CUNY and community college.