As someone who’s never been shy about calling out what’s broken in Albany, I believe it’s just as important to recognize when we get something right. In this year’s state budget, we made a smart investment in the future by strengthening our SUNY system including a meaningful boost in support for SUNY Fredonia.

As a Fredonia native, I have a personal stake in the success of this campus. It’s more than just a local institution, it’s been a part of my life and the lives of so many friends and family who’ve studied, worked, and built careers through SUNY Fredonia.

I’ve seen firsthand how closely the health of the university is tied to the health of the Dunkirk-Fredonia community. When the campus thrives, so does the region around it.

SUNY Fredonia plays a vital role in our region — as an anchor institution, a job creator, and a pipeline for local talent. I was proud to work across the aisle to support a $1.26 million increase in operating aid for Fredonia this year, part of a nearly 50% increase in state support over the past three years.

As a business owner for more than three decades, I know firsthand how critical it is to have a steady supply of skilled, educated workers. That’s especially true in rural regions like ours.

But state dollars alone won’t solve the challenges our public colleges are facing. Institutions like Fredonia must continue taking a clear-eyed, responsible approach to long-term stability.

That’s why I support the difficult but necessary steps SUNY Fredonia is taking to address its structural deficit. The reality is that demographic shifts and declining college enrollments are hitting campuses across the country. Pretending those challenges don’t exist or relying on temporary fixes won’t work. We need leadership. I believe President Stephen Kolison and his team are rising to meet this moment, backed by the strong leadership of SUNY Chancellor Dr. John King, whose focus on accountability and results is helping guide the system through this period of transition.

By realigning academic offerings with student demand and workforce needs, Fredonia is positioning itself for sustainable growth.

One example is the new Master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, now the fastest-growing graduate program on campus. Another is the success of student retention initiatives like the Advancing Completion Through Engagement (ACE) program, which is helping more students stay on track toward graduation.

The college is seeing signs of progress in enrollment — most notably, a 7.2% increase in first-time undergraduate students last fall, reversing more than a decade of steady declines. And early numbers suggest that momentum is continuing into the upcoming academic year.

That’s good news not just for Fredonia, but for our entire county. Every student who earns a degree here is a potential member of our local workforce, a future homeowner, taxpayer, and community leader. The stronger Fredonia is, the stronger Chautauqua County becomes.

There’s still more work to do, but I remain optimistic. With continued state support, smart planning, and a shared commitment to accountability and excellence, SUNY Fredonia can thrive and help lead our region forward.

State Sen. George Borrello represents New York’s 57th State Senate District, which includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Genesee, Wyoming and part of Allegany County.