This edition of the E-sentinel was edited by Norm Payne due to the time constraints, please excuse the obvious errors and unpolished tone.

The latest word on the budget is that a 5% reduction has been imposed on our campus for the remainder of this fiscal year (2.5% for the next 6 months) The Administration has been looking for ways to come up with roughly $315,000 in reduced spending. The plan is to realize savings from vacant positions, retirements, and OTPS (utilities).

During early talks, between UUP and the Governor's office the Governor responded favorably to UUP's insistence to avoid layoffs.  He is still committed to a no layoff policy. The Chancellor's office has reiterated this commitment to no layoffs. President Donovan stated that while there is a commitment to the Governors wishes that no layoffs will be made, we will have to wait and see what the budget cuts look like this spring.

Our strength lies in enrollment management -retention of students and FTE's.  It was mentioned that more revenue is gained by upper division classes, and graduate students.  This is why is is much harder for the two-year institutions to meet budget shortfalls.

This article is from the next link down that does not work.

We agree that SUNY doesn't always provide enough classes in

To the Editor:

We agree that SUNY doesn't always provide enough classes in required courses, a factor
 that affects how long it takes University students to graduate from four-year colleges 
("'Four-year college' doesn't add up for most students," Dec. 2). That fact begs the question 
why these classes aren't offered, and the answer is simple: SUNY lacks the full-time faculty 
needed to teach the courses.

The SUNY system has lost more than 1,000 full-time faculty lines since the mid-1990s. 
While some progress has been made toward replacing the positions, the movement, like the 
graduation rates, is slow going.

 United University Professions has continually called for the restoration of full-time faculty 
lines as a legislative priority. We are seeking a level of at least 70 percent full-time academic 
faculty at each state-operated campus. The declining number of full-timers has led -- as you 
reported -- to the shrinking of course offerings to the point where it has now become 
impossible for many SUNY students to graduate in four years. 

Recent enrollments have swelled and state support for the SUNY system has dwindled, 
further exacerbating this disservice to University students. 

It's time for the state to stop short-changing SUNY students and their families. 
The University must operate with a budget sufficient to staff its campuses with the faculty 
required to meet students' basic educational needs.

Sincerely, 

William E. Scheuerman
President, United University Professions
P.O. Box 15143
Albany, NY  12212-5143
(518) 640-6600