University President Karen R. Hitchcock joined State University Chancellor John Ryan and a coalition of public and independent higher education leaders in support of the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and management flexibility initiatives for State University campuses.

As New York's colleges and universities are integrally linked to future economic, cultural, and social health, the coalition of leaders stressed the importance of a state increase in its investment in higher education. These are investments in intellectual capital that will pay for themselves in increased economic activity, greater tax receipts, technological and cultural innovation, and a well-educated and responsible citizenry.

Chancellor Ryan stressed the coalition's support for TAP, which provides undergraduate and graduate student financial aid to New York residents. It currently reaches 270,000 students from middle- and lower-income families. "TAP ensures student access to post-secondary education, it permits student choice among institutions of widely different tuition levels, and can enhance student retention in their programs until achievement of their education goals," said Ryan.

President Hitchcock reenforced this message, stating, "Continued support for the Tuition Assistance Program will help provide access to higher education for all qualified New York residents and giving State University campus administrators flexibility in tuition and management policies will help enable us to meet the changing demands of the academic and economic marketplace."

Ryan also endorsed a coalition call for management and tuition flexibility. "Just as the businesses and industries we support must be flexible to meet the constantly changing demands of the economic and academic marketplace, so must our own institutions be given the managerial and financial flexibility to operate effectively and efficiently," the joint statement said. Other programs and policies discussed were Direct Institutional Aid, Opportunity Programs, and support for the Centers for Advanced technology.

The Chancellor and university presidents have established an important partnership with State leaders on which to build a bright future higher education assistance in New York State.

The State University of New York Career Development Organization (CDO) has constructed a new site on the World Wide Web, CDO-NET, with over 300 links to job and career resources worldwide for SUNY students and graduates. CDO members and officials of the System Administration Office of Student Affairs previewed the Website recently at State University Plaza in Albany.

"The Website includes comprehensive information on the 64 State University campus Career Development Offices, an online job and internship listing service, University- wide job and career fair information, and a comprehensive listing of services offered to employers who are seeking qualified graduates of State University campuses," said Vice Chancellor Scott W. Steffey in addressing the group.

A Federal appeals court in Manhattan has ruled that an administrator at the State University College at Oneonta acted within his official capacity during an emergency situation in 1992 when he complied with a police request for a list of black male students. At the time, police were investigating the assault of a 77-year old Oneonta woman.

Students whose names were on the list filed the lawsuit, but the three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling in dismissing the case against the administrator, Leif Hartmark, a former director of planning at Albany in the 1980s, and others. The appeals court also dismissed two claims against police, but sent another back to the U.S. District Court.

A recent report by the State Education Department, covered by the Gannett newspaper chain showed that State University graduates do a better job of passing New York's new, tougher teacher examinations than students from independent colleges or the City University.

The report showed that 95 percent of the State University Students passed the liberal arts test and 97 percent passed the teaching skills test. For private colleges 87 percent passed liberal arts and 91 percent passed teaching skills. For City University only 62 percent passed liberal arts and 71 percent passed teaching skills.