Page 19 - Annual Report 2012-2013

2012-2013 Review of Accomplishments ❘ 19
promises to shape the efforts of nearly 1,200 institutions serving over 13 million
students – almost half of all U.S. undergraduates. our work will provide the
framework for developing policies for education in the United States.
SUNY Day took place March 12th and 13th in washington, D.C. of the
approximately 50 participants, Suffolk County Community College was one of a
handful of SUNY community colleges represented. Participants were addressed by
United States Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Tim Bishop. Both took
the opportunity to speak about the budget and the political challenges facing higher
education in Congress. ey were not optimistic about additional funding or that
sequestration would be resolved anytime soon. SUNY four-year institutions have
been hit harder by sequestration because of the potential loss of research funding.
ey warned that while Pell Grants are safe for now, the program’s future is uncertain.
Locally, a key component of our advocacy efforts remains our direct conversations
and presentations before the Suffolk County Legislature and its education and
information Technology Committee. is past year, along with members of my
Cabinet, we delivered presentations on the College’s operating and capital budgets,
the Middle States warning and the College’s planning and assessment activities.
Trustees Hazlitt and Mangual spoke on the record regarding the value of the College
and thanked the Legislators for their ongoing support for the institution. in addition,
Chairwoman irizarry and Trustee Hazlitt met with the Chair of the Legislature’s
education Committee.
in June, i was invited to join Governor Andrew Cuomo and members of the Joint
Higher education-regional economic Development Council to unveil details of the
Governor’s Tax-free New York proposal. Tax-free New York has been launched in
order to encourage companies to invest in New York by offering businesses the
opportunity to operate completely tax-free, including no income tax for employees,
no sales, property, or business tax, for a decade. is was an exciting event, with
SUNY and its institutions playing a central role in the announcement. Most of the
SUNY Presidents were in attendance. At the request of SUNY Communications,
Stony Brook took the lead on developing an oped on behalf of the Long island-based
SUNY campuses in support of the Governor’s plan. e final piece was co-authored
by the Presidents of Stony Brook, farmingdale, old westbury and Suffolk.
Community Leadership. i remain actively involved with the Long island regional
Advisory Council on Higher education (LirACHe). e College was selected to
host LirACHe’s annual fall dinner at our Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center in
riverhead, where college presidents from across Long island gathered to celebrate the
group’s 2012 accomplishments. e retirement of Mona Goldstein, LirACHe’s
executive Director, was acknowledged as part of the program and a special video
tribute was produced by the College’s office of institutional Advancement to mark
that occasion. in January, the LirACHe Superintendent-College President
Partnership, which i co-chair along with Tom rogers from the superintendents,
hosted New York State education Department Commissioner John King, who spoke
to our group and responded to questions.
in october, the College hosted the Long island Latino Teachers Association’s
(LiLTA) fourth Annual women’s Conference: Women Leaders Paving Paths for Young
Women. i delivered welcoming remarks to over 500 high school students, encouraging
them to pursue a college degree. e following March, we hosted LiLTA’s Men’s
Conference. we congratulate and applaud the staff and officers at the Long island
Latino Teachers Association, as well as the volunteers including the members of each
panel that took part in this activity.
Welcoming remarks were delivered to more than
500 high school students at the Long Island Latino Teachers
Association’s (LILTA) Fourth Annual Women’s Conference.