2024-2025 Federal & State Budgets

• Approximately $70 million in state tax support for the University at Albany, similar to last year's level.

• Continued support for the hiring of additional full-time faculty at State-operated campuses and community colleges.

• $1.5 million for the State Weather Risk Communication Center at the University at Albany to provide rapid, tailored, real-time weather information to help state agencies, emergency managers, and other critical stakeholders, prepare for and respond to severe weather events. This is a partnership between UAlbany and the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services.

• $904,000 for the NYSTAR Center for Advanced Technology in Nanomaterials and Nanoelectronics (CATN2) at UAlbany’s College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering – a reduction of $96,000 from last year’s Enacted Budget for which we are seeking restored and additional funding.

• $895,455 for the NYSTAR Center of Excellence (COE) in Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology at UAlbany’s College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering – a reduction of $104,545 from last year’s Enacted Budget for which we are seeking restored and additional funding.

• $800,000 for the NYSTAR Center of Excellence (COE) in Weather and Climate Analytics at the University at Albany – a reduction of $200,000 from last year's Enacted Budget for which we are seeking restored and additional funding.

• $1.74 million for the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at the University at Albany (CARD Albany), which brings research and practice together in community settings – a reduction of $500,000 from last year’s Enacted Budget for which we are seeking restored funding.

• Level funding of $235,000 for Just for the Kids (NYKids) within the School of Education, the only New York-focused, evidenced-based school improvement program in the state that compares the performance of equally resourced and similarly challenged schools.

• Level funding of $261,600 for the Public Health Management Leaders of Tomorrow program (PHLOT), established in 2006, which strengthens the public health infrastructure across New York State.

• Level funding of $32,000 for Public Health Live, a webcast series designed to provide continuing education opportunities on public health issues.

• Level funding of $487,000 for Physician Workforce Studies which the Center for Health Workforce Studies, under contract with the NYS Department of Health, monitors the state's health workforce and identifies areas around the state with shortages of primary care, oral health and behavioral health providers.

• Level funding of $100,000 for the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society for the Immigrant Integration Index.

• $218,400 for the evaluation of the Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Veterans Program, which provides veterans at risk of social isolation with a chance to engage with other veterans in low demand settings that do not carry the stigma of receiving traditional mental health service – an increase of $8,400 from last year’s Enacted Budget.

• $18 million in continued support for the SUNY Investment Fund.

• Continued support for “TAP Gap” costs and maintaining Excelsior recipient tuition at ongoing levels.

Each year, the University at Albany requests additional operating and capital support from the New York State Legislature.

Below are the requests created in consultation with the President's Executive Council.

Health Innovation & Technology Research Building - $175 Million

We are proposing to have a 150,000 gross square foot Health Innovation & Technology Research (Health Tech) Building for cutting-edge academic and research programs at the intersection of artificial intelligence and social, health and environmental equity.

Inside, researchers and students in the natural, social and data sciences will explore the ways in which AI can further our understanding of the complexly interrelated challenges posed by health disparities, climate change and economic inequity.

The Health Tech Building will be a model for interdisciplinary work as the home for some of our newest initiatives, including the Institute for Social and Health Equity and the Global Center for AI in Mental Health.

Deeply informed by the lessons of COVID-19, the teaching and research it houses will focus on technological and scientific innovations and policy interventions aimed at reversing the persistent racial and economic outcome disparities exposed by the pandemic.

There is significant opportunity for federal funding in these fields, and this work advances not just UAlbany’s mission as one of the most diverse public R1 universities in the nation but Gov. Hochul’s commitment to make SUNY a leader in both equity and scientific discovery.   

NYSTAR Center of Excellence in Atmospheric and Environmental Predication and Innovation – restore $200,000 and increase by $250,000 to $1.25 Million

Hurricane Ida’s devastation of the New York City region provided yet another shocking reminder of our economy’s vulnerability to severe weather – some $142 billion worth of damage in New York State alone. UAlbany’s Center of Excellence (COE) has advanced the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-resolution forecasting models to improve risk management for extreme weather and climate change.

The COE has forged partnerships throughout the emergency management, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence sectors to deliver smart weather solutions for companies who manage our severe weather risk. With full funding of $1.25 million, UAlbany’s COE will make greater inroads into highly vulnerable industries, including energy, AI, agriculture, logistics, retail, construction, insurance, and emergency management.

Establishing a NYSTAR Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics

New York State is home to two leaders in RNA research, UAlbany’s RNA Institute and the University of Rochester’s Center for RNA Biology: From Genome to Therapeutics.

Creation of a NYSTAR Center of Excellence in RNA Research and Therapeutics (CERRT) will leverage this existing reservoir of knowledge, expertise, and resources to spur economic development and train the next generation of high-tech workers with RNA science expertise.

CERRT will be well-positioned to provide cutting-edge solutions to critical scientific problems that include developing therapeutics for devastating genetic diseases and emerging public health pathogens that threaten the well-being of NYS residents.

CERRT also will use RNA science as a workforce development platform to provide trained workers needed for the growth of healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries across the state, and provide career opportunities for underrepresented minorities that can help address systemic inequities and gender disparity in both academia and industry.

Creating Financial Flexibility to Invest in STEM Programs - $4 Million

ETEC is a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient facility that houses some of UAlbany’s fastest-growing programs and signature research strengths including weather, climate change and emergency management.

The University is in a unique situation of borrowing an estimated $73 million for the remaining cost of its signature NYSUNY 2020 project. To manage this debt, UAlbany is now burdened with paying $4 million annually to support debt service which is typically financed by New York State on state buildings.

If NYS assumed this debt, as with other university buildings, UAlbany would invest this $4 million in programs to support more inclusive approaches to teaching STEM, in student retention initiatives including advising, and to support the professional development of women faculty and staff.

As one of the most diverse public research universities in the nation (about 40 percent of UAlbany undergrads identify as Black or Latina/o), UAlbany takes pride in ensuring that all students are provided with opportunities to succeed, and this debt relief would greatly advance that cause.

The following items related to SUNY State-operated campuses were included in this year’s Executive budget:

Highlights (as provided by SUNY)

• $54 million in direct state tax support increases for State-operated campuses.

• $53 million in continued support for the hiring of additional full-time faculty at State-operated campuses and community colleges.

• Re-appropriation of the remaining value of the 2023/24 University Center Endowment Match.

• Continued support for “TAP Gap” costs and maintaining Excelsior recipient tuition at ongoing levels.

• A continuation of $18 million for the SUNY Investment Fund.

• $103 million in advanced funding to cover the retroactive collective bargaining costs in 2022 and 2023.

• $2.8 million for the SUNY Empire State Service Corps, offering students community service work opportunities.

• $2.5 million for the operating costs for SUNY’s participation in the Empire AI consortium.

• $2 million for SUNY’s role in the larger Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative.

• $1 million for micro-credentialing programs related to the science of reading.

SUNY Capital

The Executive Budget recommends $550 million in critical maintenance funding. Of the $550 million, $153.4 million is allocated for State-operated/statutory campuses (UAlbany’s share is $9.92 million, a decrease of $1.74 million from last year’s Enacted budget) and $396.6 million in a lump sum for priority critical maintenance projects. While its allocation is yet to be determined, priority will be given to projects that address life and safety concerns, core infrastructure in need of replacement and upgrading buildings and infrastructure to meet current codes and regulations, such as ADA.

The capital budget also provides $100 million in new, flexible funding that can be used for new construction, programmatic, or critical maintenance projects, as well as $100 million for campus supported projects.

• The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is funded at $764 million, a decrease of approximately $133 million from last year’s Enacted Budget.

• The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is funded at $42.5 million, a decrease of approximately $1.3 million from last year’s Enacted Budget.

• The Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) is funded at $21 million, a decrease of approximately $500,000 from last year’s Enacted Budget.

• The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (C-STEP) is funded at $15.8 million, a decrease of approximately $500,000 from last year’s Enacted Budget.

• The Liberty Partnership Program (LPP) is funded at $24.2 million, a decrease of approximately $800,000 from last year’s Enacted Budget.

Highlights (as provided by SUNY)

The Executive proposes the following legislative changes:

Requiring the Completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by High School Students: Would require that high school seniors, or their parents/guardians, certify that they have completed and submitted the FAFSA or DREAM Act application, or have completed a waiver form that they willingly did not do so. Also includes a reporting requirement for school districts, as well as a need to inform high school seniors of the availability of financial aid opportunities.

Ensuring Instructional Best Practices in the Teaching of Reading: Would require the Commissioner of the State Education Department (SED) to issue statewide best practices in the teaching of reading from Pre-K through Grade 3. Such best practices would need to be implemented by 2025/26.

Ensuring Informational Coordination between the State Education Department (SED), the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), the State University of New York (SUNY), and the City University of New York (CUNY): Would provide for a more efficient sharing of information amongst public education entities within New York State Government. Additionally, would provide for the President of HESC to provide assistance and data, as they deem necessary, to support financial aid program evaluation.

Permanently Extending the SUNY Tuition Credit and Other Provisions of the NY-SUNY 2020 Legislation: Would make permanent the requirements of the SUNY and CUNY Tuition Credit, as well as the requirements for establishment of conflict-of-interest policies and other pertinent portions of the revised NY-SUNY 2020 bill, excluding review of TAP Program

Establishing an Interest Charge on Unpaid New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) Debts and Providing the New York State Budget Director the Authority to Garnish Other State Monies to Repay Said Debt: Would allow for both the charging of an interest rate on unpaid NYSHIP bills and potentially redirect any State Aid provided to said entities not paying their NYSHIP bills to satisfy the outstanding balance.

Eliminating the Lag Payroll and Salary Withholding Program for New State Workers: For newly hired State workers, effective 7/1/24, would eliminate both the one-month lag on receiving an initial paycheck, as well as the 10 percent pay reduction over the first ten-weeks of employment.

Requiring Paid Breaks for Nursing Employees: Would provide paid breaks of up to 20 minutes for the expression of breast milk.

Repealing the State’s COVID-19 Sick Leave Provisions: Would allow a 2020 law requiring employers to provide sick leave and other benefits for employees with COVID-19 to sunset July 31, 2024.

Regional Economic Development Councils: The Executive Budget includes $150 million for investment in innovation plans for regional job creation and community development.

Downtown Revitalization and NY Forward: The Executive Budget provides $200 million total for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and the second round of the NY Forward program, which have been transforming downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities where the next generation of New Yorkers will want to live, work and raise families, as well as to invigorate downtowns of the State’s smaller and rural communities.

High Technology Programs: The Executive Budget maintains funding of $5 million for the Innovative Hot Spots. Additionally, total funding for the Centers of Excellence (COEs) and Centers for Advanced Technology (CATs) were reduced from $14 million to approximately $12 million, and $15 million to approximately $13.6 million, respectively.

Empire AI Consortium: Gov. Hochul provides $275 million in economic development capital for the launch of the Empire AI initiative. Funding is appropriated for the acquisition of real property, preparation of plans, design, construction, renovation, administration, and other costs.