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SUNY Fredonia has eyes on politics

“The next month is crucial in terms of our conversations with state officials.” SUNY Fredonia President Virginia Horvath

Whether it’s the state budget or federal immigration policy, each has local implications.

At the State University of New York at Fredonia, officials are keeping their eyes open on these issues.

The state budget directly affects the college’s finances, but is not expected to be finalized until April 1.

“The next month is crucial in terms of our conversations with state officials,” President Virginia Horvath said during Wednesday’s College Council meeting.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive budget includes capital funding that would assist Fredonia with its Houghton Hall project, “Rational Tuition” which would increase tuition $250 annually and the infamous Excelsior Plan.

Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration Kevin Seitz explained there are still many unknowns about the plan that promises free tuition, as well as opposition and talk of underfunding in the executive budget.

However, Horvath reiterated free tuition does not mean free college.

“It’s a last-dollar initiative. So, it’s really to close the gap students have between the state aid students would already have, their (tuition assistance program funds), any institutional aid and then whatever is left between our tuition — $6,470 — it would close that gap. So even though it was touted as free tuition, we still have fees and it’s doesn’t cover room and board.

“I think if it helps students get to college who wouldn’t otherwise, that’s good, especially for commuter students because … if someone lives in Ripley and wants to go to college and is within that area, that person may be able to have to pay only fees for the year and be able to come here. I really do think it’s consistent with our interest in serving more of the students from Northern Chautauqua County, that it might be an opportunity for people to have their tuition at least covered. But, we’ll see what happens,” she added.

She also noted the college would not be deprived of tuition funds under the program. It also would not remove other state aid from students attending private colleges, but provide a recruitment incentive for SUNY and CUNY schools.

Between now and April 1, Horvath has two initiatives she plans to lobby for. The first is the proposed law allowing four select colleges to employ a differential out-of-state tuition rate.

The rate for students living within a certain radius would be one and a half times of the rate for in-state students. Right now the out-of-state rate is almost three times more.

“That’s going to be something I’m going to be working on pretty aggressively over the next couple weeks. The bill was introduced and approved in the Senate, but then died in committee in the Assembly,” she explained. “We think for border campuses like ours, where a lot of our attachment area is lake and other states, it might make us more competitive with what states like Pennsylvania and Ohio are already doing to draw New York students out. We’ll see how it goes. That’s a priority for me in the next weeks.”

Horvath has also approached State Sen. Catharine Young about funding for a new admissions center. This money would differ from traditional capital funding because it would be a new build. Young secured some funds for the project before and Horvath hopes she can come through with more.

College Council Chair Frank Pagano also asked about the new federal immigration policy and how it affects the college’s international students.

Horvath explained the ban on immigration from certain countries only affects one student, who is being supported through this time of many unknowns.

She added the campus has become a place for many political discussions to take place, but in “Fredonia fashion” it is done with an open mind, not divisive arguments.

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