How SUNY is responding to the Trump administration

SUNY Chancellor John King is fresh off of his State of the University address where he updated New Yorkers on SUNY’s plans and progress. The sprawling public education system is looking to the future with enrollment schemes that would get New Yorkers interested in high demand fields, an affordable education and a continued focus on research and artificial intelligence.

When students return to class this fall, it will be at a time when the federal government is attempting to exert influence over higher education while simultaneously attempting to dismantle its own education department. The economic outlook is equally worrisome as some seniors could end up graduating smack dab into a recession if some forecasts are to be believed. 

King’s view is that a college degree is one of the best personal economic drivers someone can make and SUNY is one of the best places to get one. Furthermore, the state needs SUNY to continue to pump out job candidates and keep industries humming. With that in mind, King has issued directives to struggling campuses meant to get their financial picture in order and avoid the fates of recent high profile school closures like the College of Saint Rose.

King caught up with City & State for a brief interview where he discussed the importance of a college education, what’s next for SUNY and his outlook on the federal government’s policies. This interview was edited for length and clarity. 

What are your biggest concerns with how the Trump administration is approaching higher education?

I’m most concerned and distressed that they seem to be walking away from the idea that education is a national imperative. And I think that’s a huge mistake for our economy and our national security. The two areas that are most potentially harmful to SUNY are their approach to research and their approach to the federal financial aid system. In terms of research, there’s been a 75-year partnership between the federal government and higher education that has driven tremendous innovation in our economy – and that is now under threat. They are arbitrarily canceling grants, as well as attempting to make major cuts in research funding. This will undermine work at SUNY on research for better treatments and cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s (disease), research on the treatment of 9/11 first responders and research that could drive economic development around battery technology in the Southern Tier. The other area that I’m very concerned about, the second area, is the federal financial aid system. Nearly half of entering students at SUNY are Pell-eligible students, and more than half of SUNY students go tuition-free because of federal and state financial aid. So if the federal financial aid system is disrupted by the huge number of layoffs at the department, that would be a disaster if Pell Grants and federal student loans are cut. That will make college less affordable for New Yorkers and all Americans, and that would be awful. So I’m very worried about both of these areas. I’m hopeful that members of Congress on both sides of the aisle will step up to protect their constituents.

Where would you like to see SUNY boost recruitment?

We are very clear that there is a place for every New Yorker at SUNY, and so I would love to see more students of every kind making the choice to come to SUNY. I’m particularly excited about the governor’s new SUNY Reconnect initiative, which will provide free tuition, fees, books and supplies for adults 25 to 55 pursuing degrees in high-demand workforce areas, in particular advanced manufacturing, like the semiconductor industry, health care, like nursing, where we expect to have a substantial shortage as a state and country, cybersecurity, where there are tons of open jobs but not enough qualified folks, and renewable energy and green jobs, as well as a shortage in teaching areas. So that initiative presents a great opportunity for New Yorkers who either never attended college or have some credits and no degree to come back to school to get a degree that will unlock economic opportunity for them.

What’s your sales pitch to someone who might have left school during the pandemic or is a nontraditional student unsure of the time commitment? 

SUNY offers an incredible value proposition, affordable excellence. And if you are someone who, whether you’re in your 20s or 30s or 40s, is struggling to figure out the path forward, maybe you're driving for Uber, you can barely make enough to pay your rent and cover your essential needs, you have the opportunity to come to SUNY at an affordable price and get a degree that will unlock a career that will provide you with economic mobility. For example, that person driving an Uber, they could come to one of our community colleges, get a degree in nursing, and have a starting salary between $70,000 and $80,000 a year.

With the precarious state of the economy, do you still think college is a worthwhile investment for most New Yorkers?

Absolutely. You know, the evidence is that folks with a college degree will earn more than a million dollars more over their lifetime than those without a college degree. So there’s no question that the economic returns are there from choosing college now which can look different for different folks, and it’s important to highlight that SUNY not only offers that bachelor’s degree path, but we also offer associate degrees and one-year credentials. We even offer short-term microcredentials and workforce development programs that can translate immediately into good jobs. So there’s a range of options for folks when they consider SUNY, but the return on investment is very clear.

Last year, with Gaza protests going on across the country, there were some high-profile SUNY campus encampments. How do you, as chancellor, balance a commitment to freedom of speech while also making sure people feel comfortable on campus?

Well, for us, we are 100% committed to campus environments that are safe and supportive, campus environments that are free from harassment and discrimination, and we are also committed to higher education being a place where there is robust debate about ideas. The way we accomplish both of those objectives is to have clear content-neutral time, place and manner restrictions, so you have the opportunity to protest, but you can’t yell through a megaphone in front of your classmate’s dorm window. You know you have the right to communicate your views, even if they are views with which I strongly disagree, but you don’t have the right to block your classmate’s path to the library. And you know, we have enforced those content-neutral time, place and manner restrictions. We’ve also done training for all SUNY faculty and staff on Title VI, the civil rights protection against discrimination and harassment. Our board recently adopted a policy to name a Title VI coordinator on every campus, and we will also require leaders of student organizations and students who work in residence life positions to do Title IV training starting this fall. So we’ve really leaned into civil rights enforcement, while continuing to protect the First Amendment and civil discourse. I’d also say we’ve been very clear that we condemn the horrific Hamas terrorist attack of Oct. 7, and we will have no tolerance for antisemitism on our campuses.

In your mind, what is the SUNY system going to look like in 10 years?

I think the SUNY system is foundational to the long-term health of the New York economy and to our civic life, and so, for us, we are certainly interested in continuing to grow enrollment. We’ve had enrollment growth across every sector within SUNY two years in a row, for the first time in years, we’ve seen tremendous investment from Gov. Hochul and the state Legislature that has made it possible for us to invest in supports for students with disabilities, more mental health supports, internship opportunities for students, expanding research. So 10 years out, I think you will see a SUNY that is thriving, where all 64 campuses are thriving, where enrollment is growing, where our research impact is even greater. Our goal is to double research across the SUNY system, and you will see a SUNY that is providing the workforce that is needed for growing industries, whether it’s artificial intelligence or battery technology or the semiconductor industry or health care.

Is the system on a whole stable enough where there’s not going to be any concerns of closures, reductions and changes to course offerings in the coming years?

We’re on a very stable financial footing today. What becomes clear is the significant investment from Gov. Hochul and the Legislature over the last three budget cycles, which is the largest infusion of resources in five decades, has really solidified the financial position of SUNY. Now, of course, we need that continued commitment from the governor and the Legislature to cover collectively bargained raises. But assuming that continues, and assuming we continue to see the kind of enrollment growth we’ve seen over the last two years, our financial position is very strong. Now there is variation amongst campuses, and we have some campuses that lost significant enrollment over the previous decade, Potsdam, Fredonia, Buffalo State, these are all campuses that lost about 40% of their enrollment and prior to January 2023 when I started as chancellor, those campuses had not taken steps to align their programming with their new enrollment reality. And over the last two and a half years, they’ve begun to do that. Potsdam and Fredonia have cut their structural deficit in half, or nearly in half, by taking responsible steps to sunset programs that have little to no enrollment and shifting resources to programs that are growing and where there is real student demand and community need. Buffalo State is a little bit further behind Potsdam and Fredonia, but they’ve announced a financial sustainability plan and are beginning to implement that plan. I’m confident that they will get to a similar position to Potsdam and Fredonia and be back on track for financial sustainability. And the reason this is so important, if you don’t do that, if you don’t align your programming and staffing with your enrollment, you risk being in the situation of Cazenovia (College) or College of Saint Rose. And you know, that’s a story of closure, but we’re taking the steps necessary to ensure that all 64 of our campuses not only stay open but are positioned to thrive.