SUNY CHANCELLOR JOHN KING HAS A VISION FOR THE UNIVERSITY CENTERED AROUND FOUR PIVOTAL PILLARS.

WE RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH THE CHANCELLOR TO UNPACK WHAT THOSE ARE AND HIS GOALS FOR THE UNIVERSITY MOVING FORWARD.

HERE'S THAT CONVERSATION.

[ THEME MUSIC ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, CHANCELLOR.

THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

OF COURSE.

NATURALLY, I WANTED TO GET INTO YOUR STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS.

THIS YEAR, YOUR SPEECH FOCUSED LARGELY ON FOUR PILLARS.

ONE OF THEM BEING STUDENT SUCCESS AND THEN RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP, DEI, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND UPWARD MOBILITY.

SO WHY WERE THESE SPECIFIC PILLARS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND YOUR OVERALL VISION FOR SUNY?

YOU KNOW, WHEN I JOINED IN JANUARY '23, I LAID OUT THOSE PILLARS WITH OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES AS THE PATH TO ENSURING THAT SUNY IS THE BEST HIGHER PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY, AND I REALLY WANTED THE SPEECH TO EXPLAIN ALL THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING.

WE HAVE ENROLLMENT UP FROM THE FIRST TIME THIS PAST SEPTEMBER IN A DECADE.

THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

WE ARE REPLICATING THE ASAP PROGRAM WHICH HELPS STUDENTS TO NOT JUST START BUT FINISH COLLEGE ON 25 OF OUR CAMPUSES.

WE'VE GOT HUGE MOMENTUM IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY, AROUND AI RESEARCH.

WE CONTINUE TO DIVERSIFY OUR STUDENT POPULATION AND OUR FACULTY AND WE KNOW THAT OUR DIVERSITY MAKES US STRONGER AND SUNY'S PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN EVERY REGION OF THE STATE.

I WANT TO TELL THAT STORY SO FOLKS WOULD UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH MOMENTUM WE HAVE AND ALSO HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE OF GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE LEGISLATURE REALLY INVESTING IN SUNY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING WAS YOU REALLY UNDERSCORED GETTING STUDENTS TO FILL OUT THAT FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID BEING ONE OF THE MAIN CHALLENGES THAT SUNY FACED OVER THE PAST YEAR.

SO WHAT WOULD BE YOUR STRATEGY TO CONTINUE TO EMPOWER AND EDUCATE STUDENTS TO FILL OUT THAT APPLICATION?

YEAH.

THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

YOU KNOW, THAT APPLICATION IS THE GATEWAY TO FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID, STATE FINANCIAL AID, AND BECAUSE OF CHANGES THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS MAKING TO THE FORM, THE FORM IS DELAYED THIS YEAR.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL GLITCHES AND SO AS A COUNTRY, WE'RE ACTUALLY BEHIND ON FAFSA COMPLETION.

ABOUT 16, 15% BEHIND IN NEW YORK.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN NEW YORK TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT KNOWS ABOUT IT.

FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH K-12, WITH OTHER HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS, AND WE'RE DOING A LOT TO GET THE WORD OUT, OFFERING INFORMATION SESSIONS.

WE'VE GOT A FAFSA COMPLETION CORPS, WHICH IS PART OF THE AMERICORPS PROGRAM WHERE OUR SUNY STUDENTS ARE TRAINED TO HELP FAMILIES COMPLETE THAT FAFSA.

WE ARE DOING EVENTS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO HELP STUDENTS GET THROUGH THE FAFSA AND WE'RE DOING TONS OF REMINDING BECAUSE FOLKS NEED TO REMEMBER, THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS FORM.

YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR IN NEW YORK BECAUSE OF STUDENTS NOT COMPLETING THE FORM, WE LEFT MORE THAN $220 MILLION ON THE TABLE IN FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID THAT STUDENTS COULD HAVE USED TO GO TO COLLEGE.

IT'S A HUGE AND IMPORTANT ISSUE.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO COMPLETE THIS FINANCIAL AID CYCLE AND THEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE ADOPTED A REALLY IMPORTANT CHANGE THAT STARTED NEXT YEAR FAFSA COMPLETION IN NEW YORK WILL BE UNIVERSAL.

K-12 WILL WORK WITH HIGHER ED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT COMPLETES THE FAFSA FORM.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE STATE BUDGET THIS YEAR HAD TO DEAL WITH, OF COURSE, FUNDING FOR SUNY DOWNSTATE.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT FUND WILLING BE INCLUDED TO SAVE THE HOSPITAL.

SO WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO HOW THINGS EVENTUALLY OR YOU KNOW, ARE NETTED OUT?

WE'RE REALLY PLEASED THAT THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ARE TAKING THIS CHALLENGE ON ALONG WITH US.

WE LAID OUT THE CHALLENGES OF DOWNSTATE.

$100 MILLION A YEAR DEFICIT, OPERATING DEFICIT, THE RISK OF CLOSURE THIS SUMMER IF WE DIDN'T GET ADDITIONAL HELP FROM THE STATE.

AS WELL AS SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL CHALLENGES AND BUILDING THAT'S REALLY IN DISREPAIR AND THAT RISK OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

WE LAID THAT OUT.

THE GOVERNOR STEPPED UP WITH A PLAN ON HOW TO ADDRESS IT IN WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

ADOPTED ESSENTIALLY THE PLAN THAT THE GOVERNOR INITIALLY LAID OUT.

$100 MILLION TO COVER THIS YEAR'S DEFICIT.

$100 MILLION TO COVER NEXT YEAR'S DEFICIT.

$300 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND STAKEHOLDERS, THE GOVERNOR ALSO AND THE LEGISLATURE SET UP AN ADVISORY BOARD, COMMUNITY FOLKS WHO WILL WORK WITH US AT THE STATE LEVEL TO THINK THROUGH THE FUTURE OF DOWNSTATE, TO THINK ABOUT THE BEST INVESTMENT OF THAT $300 MILLION IN CAPITAL FUNDS AND IMPORTANTLY, THE BUDGET ALLOWS FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD TO CONSIDER UP TO $750 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT, SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND GET SOME ADDITIONAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

THAT'S HELPFUL AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW DO WE ENSURE THE STRENGTH OF THE HEALTH SCIENCES UNIVERSITY AND CONTINUED IMPROVED HEALTH CARE IN THE COMMUNITY.

IN THIS PAST YEAR, THERE WAS A LOT OF UNREST ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS NEW YORK STATE, INCLUDING SUNY BROOK UNIVERSITY AND SUNY NEW POLL REGARDING THE ONGOING WAR IN GAZA.

WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE WAYS THESE INDIVIDUALS SCHOOLS RESPONDED TO THE UNREST?

AND WHAT WILL BE SUNY'S POSITION ON STUDENT PROTESTS HEADING INTO THE NEXT YEAR?

LOOK, THE TOP PRIORITY FOR US IS STUDENT SAFETY, RIGHT?

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

WE, OF COURSE, VALUE FREE SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE ROBUST EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

BUT THAT'S NOT LIMITLESS.

THAT CAN NEVER TURN INTO DISCRIMINATION OR HARASSMENT.

IT CAN NEVER TURN INTO VIOLENCE OR VANDALISM AND CAN NEVER TURNED INTO DISRUPTING THE EDUCATION OF ONE'S CLASSMATES, AND SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY CLEAR.

WE HAVE CONTENT-NEUTRAL TIME, PLACE AND MANNER RESTRICTIONS.

YOU CAN'T BLOCK THE ENTRANCE TO A BUILDING, FOR EXAMPLE TO PREVENT YOUR CLASSMATES FROM GOING TO CLASS, AND SO THERE ARE RULES AROUND HOW FREE EXPRESSION IS EXERCISED AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CAMPUSES ARE SAFE ENVIRONMENTS IF THEN THE HARD THING IN THIS MOMENT IS AND WE CONTINUE TO CONDEMN THE HORRIFIC TERRORIST ATTACK ON OCTOBER 7TH.

WE CONTINUE TO STAND WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL AGAINST TERRORISM, AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALL HEARTBROKEN SEEING THE LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIVES IN GAZA.

PART OF WHAT'S HARD IN THIS MOMENT IS PEOPLE HAVE TO HOLD BOTH THINGS IN MIND THAT WE CAN CONDEMN HAMAS.

WE CAN WISH FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF THE HOSTAGES AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE CAN HAVE TREMENDOUS SYMPATHY FOR THE INNOCENT LIVES LOST IN GAZA AND I HOPE THAT AS WE GO INTO THE FALL, WE CAN HAVE A THOUGHTFUL, ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PATH FORWARD, THE RIGHT POLICY SOLUTIONS, BUT DO SO IN A WAY THAT IS RESPECTFUL AND THEN AS I FOCUS ON THE UNIVERSITY SPEECH WAS ON THE NEED FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIL DISCOURSE, FOR TO US PRACTICE IN OUR CLASSES AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND IN OUR DORMS, HOW DO WE DISAGREE AGREEABLY?

HOW DO WE HAVE A QUESTION WHERE WE QUESTION NOT JUST THE ASSUMPTIONS OF THE PERSON WE DISAGREE WITH, BUT OUR OWN ASSUMPTIONS?

HOW DO WE HAVE A SPIRIT OF LEARNING ABOUT OUR CIVIL DISCOURSE, AND I HOPE THAT'S WHAT WE'LL SEE GOING FORWARD.

GOING BACK TO YOUR STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESS, THIS WAS, OF COURSE, YOUR SECOND TIME GIVING THAT ADDRESS.

WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR BIGGEST LEARNINGS FROM YOUR FIRST YEAR COMPARED TO YOUR SECOND YEAR?

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SORT OF SURPRISED YOU?

HMM, HMM.

ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID WHEN I STARTED WAS I VISITED ALL 64 CAMPUSES.

RIGHT.

AND HAD THE CHANCE TO TALK WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT EACH OF OUR CAMPUSES.

TWO THINGS STRUCK ME.

ONE IS THERE'S SUCH EXTRAORDINARY DIVERSITY OF OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS SUNY.

SUNY MARITIME, IF YOU WANT TO TRAIN FOR THE COMMERCIAL SHIPPING INDUSTRY AND MAKE SIX FIGURES, COULD MANY TO SUNY MARITIME.

IF YOU ARE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, WE'VE GOT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE COLLEGE IN SYRACUSE, AMAZING PROGRAMS.

WE'VE GOT TREMENDOUS ARTS PROGRAM AT PURCHASE AND FREDONIA AND TREMENDOUS MUSIC PROGRAM, WHATEVER YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

YOU WANT TO BE AN ENGINEER, WE HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS AT BINGHAMTON, STONEYBROOK, UB, AT SUNY POLY.

SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES.

IF YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AI, SO MANY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AT UB, U ALBANY.

THE RANGE OF OPTIONS, I THINK IS REALLY EXCITING AND I HOPE WE CAN HELP EVERY NEW YORKER UNDERSTAND WHAT GREAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE AT SUNY.

THE SECOND THING THAT STRUCK ME IS SO MANY CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT STUDENT SUCCESS.

THE NEED FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ON CAMPUS.

STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH FOOD INSECURITY AND HOUSING INSECURITY.

STUDENTS, PARTICULARLY IN OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH TRANSPORTATION, JUST GETTING TO CAMPUS.

STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOW TO NAVIGATE HAVING A DISABILITY AND MAKING IT THROUGH SCHOOL.

THE GOOD THING IS BECAUSE OF THE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM GOVERNOR HOCHUL AND THE LEGISLATURE, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DEDICATE RESOURCES TO EACH OF THOSE AREAS, $10 MILLION TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, $10 MILLION TO EXPAND SUPPORTS WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LAUNCH AN EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN OUR FOOD PANTRIES ACROSS OUR CAMPUSES AND ALSO TO WORK WITH STUDENTS TO COMPLETE THE SNAP APPLICATION SO THEY CAN GET FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY.

WE'RE WORKING HARD TO GET RID OF THOSE OBSTACLES FOR STUDENTS BECAUSE WE WANT STUDENTS NOT JUST TO COME TO COLLEGE, BUT TO GRADUATE AND HAVE ACCESS TO SUCCESS IN OUR ECONOMY.

AND AS YOU HEAD INTO THE SUMMER AND INTO YOUR THIRD SCHOOL YEAR LEADING THE UNIVERSITY, WHAT WOULD A SUCCESSFUL SEMESTER OR SCHOOL YEAR LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS IN STUDENT SUCCESS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW AS A SYSTEM AND THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GRADUATING AT EVEN HIGHER RATES.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE LEADING THE WAY ON RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP.

THE GOVERNOR LAUNCHED A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WOULD BRING $400 MILLION TO NEW YORK TO INVEST IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, INVEST IN OUR LEADERSHIP, IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, FUNDING FROM THE STATE AS WELL AS PHILANTHROPY AND PRIVATE DOLLARS.

THAT IS GOING TO LEAD TO A SUPER COMPUTING SITE AT UB, WHICH WILL MAKE US A NATIONAL LEADER IN THAT SECTOR WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW OUR WORK AND OUR LEADERSHIP AND RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP.

WE WANT TO BE A VOICE NATIONALLY FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION.

PUSH BACK ON THESE STATES THAT ARE BANNING THE TEACHING OF THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR HISTORY AND THINGS LIKE DENYING THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

WE WANT TO PUSH BACK ON THAT AND SAY, NO, NO, AT SUNY, IN NEW YORK STATE, WE'RE GOING TO TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO LIVE IN A DIVERSE SOCIETY AND WORK IN DIVERSE EMPLOYMENT SETTINGS.

AND THEN ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAD, TO LEAD IN THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE WE NEED, ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF THE GROWTH OF THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK AS MICRON COMES TO CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THEY WILL NEED LOTS OF FOLKS TO WORK THERE.

WE WANT TO PREPARE THEM.

GLOBAL FOUNDRIES AND THERE'S LOTS OF FOLKS WHO WORK THERE.

WE WANT TO PREPARE THEM.

THE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN CUTTING-EDGE AREAS LIKE QUANTUM PHYSICS WHERE REALLY GREAT WORK IS HAPPENING AT STONYBROOK OR BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, WHERE REALLY GREAT WORK IS HAPPENING AT BINGHAMTON.

KEEPING THAT MOMENTUM GOING IN THE NEXT YEAR IS CRITICAL.

ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, CERTAINLY A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL HAVE TO LEAVE IT HERE FOR NOW.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANKS SO MUCH.

WE WERE SPEAKING WITH THE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, JOHN KING.

[ THEME MUSIC ] AND FOR MORE ON THE CHANCELLOR'S VISION FOR SUNY, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.