Senator Toby Ann Stavisky Co-Chairs Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Higher Education

ALBANY- On Monday, February 7^th, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, participated in a joint legislative budget hearing on higher education for the 2022-23 fiscal year. Joined by members of the Senate and Assembly Higher Education and Finance Committees, Senator Stavisky heard testimony from nearly thirty administrators and advocates, including the SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah Stanley, CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez and State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa. During the nearly eight hours of testimony, committee members were presented with many of the obstacles facing students and administrators across the state in a post pandemic world, as well as record increases in funding.

“The $1.5 billion increase in operating aid for CUNY and SUNY is an investment in our students’ future,” says Senator Stavisky. “After years of budget cut proposals, it is refreshing to talk about operating support, investing in opportunity programs, eliminating the TAP Gap and so many other programs.”

If you would like to watch video of the full seven and a half hour hearing, it can be found here.