At a time when our nation is facing an economic downturn, New York state, like many states, has had to make tough decisions to address its fiscal challenges, including tough decisions on funding higher education. Recent funding reductions to SUNY, the largest public university system in the nation, are a cause for concern as we look to the future of higher education in New York.

SUNY institutions around the state have become economic development engines providing quality jobs in our local communities. They also rate competitively with other outstanding public universities to provide the highest-quality student life, and maintain and attract quality faculty. It provides an excellent economic return on the state's investment and deserves a greater investment of tax dollars than it has received over the years.

Just one month ago, the New York State Commission on Higher Education submitted its final report to Gov. David A. Paterson and stressed the importance of making investments in New York state's higher education systems, the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY). The commission recognized that while SUNY has made great strides in research, the state should be investing more funds in research and innovation to ensure SUNY's competitiveness with the nation's leading public research universities.

However, instead of receiving increased state funds, SUNY had to absorb a $107 million decrease in response to the state's current fiscal difficulties. The cuts were supposed to be shared equally; however, this cut to SUNY went deeper than one absorbed by the CUNY system that serves New York City.

The continued divestments in SUNY not only threaten the system's ability to maintain a high-quality education, but could have a profound impact on the current search for a chancellor to lead the system and for campuses currently conducting presidential searches. If we continue to take important funding away from SUNY, how can we expect to attract the best and brightest minds to our institutions? How do we assure future SUNY presidents that they will be provided the resources needed to help students reach their fullest potential?

We must make the necessary investments to keep SUNY competitive so we can not only maintain, but improve the crown jewel in our public higher education system. That is why the Senate majority has fought for more investments in SUNY, as well as for TAP and other student aid programs to help families afford the cost of higher education.

We should see SUNY as an opportunity for additional investments that would strengthen higher education. A stronger state investment in SUNY sends the right message that we recognize the critically important role it plays in the lives of the students and the economy of our state and we must be prepared to make that investment in good, as well as in difficult, fiscal times.

Sen. Ken LaValle

Port Jefferson

State Sen. LaValle, a Republican, is chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee.