Budget Proposal - Asset Leveraging

SUNY is advancing the Land Use Flexibility legislation to improve efficiency and expand opportunities in the campuses ability to effectively utilize their land.

The 2008 report of the New York State Commission on Higher Education re-examined higher education in the state and opined that, for SUNY and CUNY, “statutory change should be sought to lessen regulation”, noting, “SUNY’s Board of Trustees should have authority to lease SUNY property for purposes that support SUNY’s mission without prior legislative approval”.

The SUNY Board of Trustees would establish appropriate guidelines for campuses to follow that would include state government, legislative and public input.

The City University of New York (CUNY) has such statutory authorization based upon their enabling statute. The City University has used their authority to effectively plan and maximize opportunities to better serve their students, and save and generated substantial funds for the system in support of their campuses.