Page 8 - Annual Report 2012-2013

8 ❘ 2012-2013 Review of Accomplishments
Operating and Capital Budget Submissions. Last year, i was able to report that
through the efforts of the State Legislature, New York’s community colleges received a
$150 increase to State base aid per full-Time equivalent (fTe) student. is action
had an enormous positive impact on the College. in fact, it was the driving force be-
hind our ability to maintain annual tuition at $3,990 for a second consecutive year.
is year, working with the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the
New York Community College Association of Presidents (NYCCAP), we successfully
advocated for a Year Two increase of another $150 per fTe to State base aid. is
action raised the community college base aid to $2,422 per fTe. e final State
budget also provided maintenance of effort provisions through the NYSUNY 2020
Challenge Grant Program legislation, continues to provide eligible students with
financial assistance in the form of a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) credit, and
restores more than $1.5 million for SUNY and CUNY child care centers which
provide vital assistance to parents who attend college.
while State funding was increased for the coming year, Suffolk County is facing a
looming deficit. As we developed our 2013-2014 operating budget, College campuses
and departments were directed to submit no-growth budget requests. is year, our
budget planning projections assume a continued leveling off of enrollment by another
2%. As a result, we have increased our targeted enrollment marketing efforts and
continue to closely monitor the number of sections being offered each semester. for
example, in spring 2012 we ran 3,508 sections; in spring 2013 we ran 3,388 sections,
a decrease of 120 sections college-wide. e Suffolk County Legislature complimented
the College for its fiscal restraint and expressed its appreciation to our Board for its
decision not to request any additional operating support from the County next year.
in light of enrollment projections and increases to our contractual obligations for
retirement costs, healthcare benefits and salaries, a modest increase of $150 to our
2013-2014 annual tuition was necessary. our budgeting goals are to remain affordable
and accessible, to maintain our ability to respond to emerging workforce needs and
changing demographics, to retain qualified faculty and staff, and to offer programs
that meet state and local priorities.
we are grateful to our county elected officials for their leadership on our capital
budget request. e Legislators advanced funding by one year for the new Health
and wellness facility at the eastern Campus and added our new project for the
construction of a renewable energy/STeM Center at the Michael J. Grant Campus.
e Legislature also approved the appropriation of $50,000 in planning for the
Traffic Circle at the Ammerman Campus and the third installment of $10.3 million
for collegewide infrastructure projects.
e leadership at the College continues to work collaboratively
with County elected officials in order to provide valuable programs
and services for Suffolk County residents.
e College provides frequent updates to the County Legislature’s
Education and Information Technology Committee.