SUNY news - Enrollment, tuition, administrators' salaries up; faculty down

Parents Forum
1

<p>Guess who’s getting theirs?</p>

<p>SUNY enrollment soars,
Concurrent drop in supply of professors strains system
<a href=“http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270368/1002/NEWS[/url]”>http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270368/1002/NEWS&lt;/a&gt;
Cara Matthews
Albany bureau</p>

<p><a href=“September%2027,%202006”>quote</a> — ALBANY — Enrollment at the State University of New York has increased more than 15 percent since fall 1996 and 2.4 percent since last year, to 424,113, according to preliminary numbers released Tuesday by the 64-campus system…</p>

<p>But United University Professions President William Scheuerman said the 2.4 percent increase since last year “dramatically illustrates the pressing need for more full-time faculty.” He noted that SUNY has lost 1,000 full-time professors at its four-year schools and gained 56,000 students in the past decade. The use of part-time adjunct professors has increased…</p>

<p>This year’s spending plan includes about $34 million for about 370 new full-time professors and 19 part-time adjuncts, according to SUNY…

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<p>Trustees raise administrators’ pay
<a href=“http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270367/1002/NEWS[/url]”>http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060927/NEWS01/609270367/1002/NEWS&lt;/a&gt;
MICHAEL GORMLEY
The Associated Press</p>

<p><a href=“September%2027,%202006”>quote</a> — ALBANY — The State University of New York hired a new provost Tuesday at an annual salary of $300,000 plus $5,000 a month in living expenses, then increased the salary ranges for many top administrators and raised tuition at most community colleges.</p>

<p>The salary range set by the SUNY board of trustees for senior officers, including the provost, is $197,548 to $319,564. Vice chancellors would be paid $133,635 to $197,548. Senior university staff members would be paid between $104,548 and $162,686. The increases are the first since September 2000 and mirror annual increases for unionized workers of 2.5 to 3 percent…</p>

<p>All raises still must be approved by Chancellor John Ryan, who makes $340,000 a year and lives rent-free in a downtown apartment in the SUNY complex.</p>

<p>In addition, the board on Tuesday approved “transition allowances” for acting and interim presidents. The relocation allowance would be $3,000 per month for up to 12 months.</p>

<p>“I cannot support this proposal because there has been no supporting data offered for such increases,” said Trustee Candace de Russy. “In addition, during a time of increasing tuition and taxpayer support, this board should be bending every effort to effect decreases in expenses by achieving economies of scale, reduction in staff when possible, and consolidation of programs and facilities when feasible…” </p>

<p>The board, with the agreement of county governments, also approved tuition increases for 27 community colleges amounting to an average of $108 per student…

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2

<p>I don’t see a problem with generously rewarding principal college administrators, but 300 grand goes a long way in the state anywhere north of metropolitan New York City.</p>

3

<p>The title of the first article is misleading. There has been no drop in the “supply” of faculty members. The drop and cuts have been in the budget and approved positions. SUNY did not lose 1000 faculty members. The faculty members did not just vanish and there was no one else available. SUNY eliminated these positions. The system also relies more on part time faculty - - they cost less.</p>