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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Time for another state budget update …


As the dust is settling in the discussions in Albany, the financial results for higher education are so far considerably better than we hoped for going into the session.  Here is where it stands today:

- Community College Base Aid: restoration of $150 per FTE

- Community College Child Care: restoration of $653,000

We are very grateful for the $150 restoration and see it as essential support for community colleges and our key role in improving the state’s quality of life and economic prosperity.  We also appreciate the messaging that this may be the first in a series of restorations aimed at bringing the state level of support across all 30 community colleges to an average of 33%.  But, even as we celebrate this positive news, we need to be cautious in approaching our own college budget for 2012-2013.  MCC saw this level of state funding in 2000-2001— more than a decade ago.  So, while state aid is most definitely moving in the right direction, there’s still some road to cover (or, rather, recover).

The discussions on higher education also resulted in the creation of two new joint SUNY/CUNY studies with very quick turnaround times.  Their outcomes could have an impact on funding and programs at MCC. 

Task Force on Community College Chargebacks (due September 1, 2012):  Your initial question might be, “What are chargebacks?” Students who attend a SUNY community college outside of their home county and who have been legal New York state residents for at least one year qualify for in-state tuition rates if they provide a Certificate of Residence from their home counties. The community college can then “chargeback” a portion of its operating and capital costs to the nonresidents’ home counties.  The increasing costs associated with the “chargebacks” have become a hot topic in several downstate counties.

Task Force on Remediation (due November 1, 2012):  As noted in my March 14th message, this group would be asked to examine the growing need for high school graduates to take remedial courses at the college level.  Membership was initially proposed as the Commissioner of SED, Chancellors of SUNY and CUNY, President of CICU, and one representative each from a SUNY and CUNY community college chosen by their respective Chancellors.  

As of Tuesday’s announcement on approval of the budget, the Governor, Senate, and Assembly have clearly met their publicly stated goal of delivering this budget early (before the March 31 deadline), so now, as they say, the devil’s in the details.


Post your thoughts and reactions to the President's Wednesday Message Blog.

Anne Kress
President's Office
03/28/2012