<p>What are you reading ATL? I did not imply that Buffalo hadn’t been hit hard…the quoted text from President Simpson clearly states that their budget was cut was by $60M! I was only commenting that they had been hiring and remain determined to go forward with the UB2020 plan! UB has taken HUGE funding cuts over the past few years…I don’t know how they’ve managed to expand programs at the same time but, as a UB parent, I’ve followed this quite closely. As you will recall, they originated the push to allow SUNYs to set separate tuition rates and schedule for fair and predictable increases, among other things, and actually keep tuition, instead of having it swept into the General Fund…a plan that all of the SUNYs pushed for, and that student groups, many legislators, and even the governor agreed with! While that proposal narrowly missed being approved last summer, the 2020 plan involves new public-private partnerships that should have a great economic impact for Western NY. All of the SUNYs have a great untapped potential to benefit their regions and I do think that UB should be commended for remaining committed to this plan, despite the lack of state financial support. As far as their new hiring goes, this may only indicate that they had more profs take advantage of early retirement incentives that were offered last year than Albany did.</p>
<p>Btw, I have since read of program cuts at many of the SUNYs - Plattsburgh, Geneseo, etc. - and they have cited the funding cuts, not lack of interest, as the cause.</p>