The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry has been hit hard by the statewide budget cuts, and ESF officials and students have been left to decide how to combat the cuts.

Gov. David Paterson announced in October that $500 million would be cut from the New York state budget, including $90 million from the SUNY system. The cuts are a result of the state’s projected $3.2 billion budget deficit for the 2010 fiscal year. A mid-year budget cut of $993,000 was announced to ESF in November.

The proposed cuts come in the wake of the 2009 fiscal year cuts, which ESF has just finished adapting to, said ESF President Cornelius Murphy.

‘Because of the 2008-2009 budget cuts, ESF had a lower base going into the fiscal year. So any additional cuts this year will further aggravate the position we are in now,’ he said.

The cuts have the potential to raise tuition, increase class sizes, get rid of classes and programs altogether, and reduce financial aid, but Murphy said he doesn’t think that will be the case. He said students will not see drastic changes as a result of the cuts.

‘So far we haven’t cut any classes, and so far none of our programs have been cut,’ Murphy said.

John View, director of ESF’s financial aid, scholarships and educational opportunity program, remains optimistic, focusing on recent legislative successes that have happened.

The state legislature voted on Friday to not cut the Tuition Assistance Program, which helps New York residents pay to attend college in the state, and also voted against a mid-year tuition increase.

‘The net effect at the moment is minimal,’ View said. ‘There’s no cut to financial aid and no tuition increase.’

The college can also help save on costs through smaller actions, View said. Reduced activity on campus during winter break will cut down on heating, electricity and maintenance costs. Along with energy cutbacks, ESF is also likely to reduce travel expenses for faculty and staff, he said.

ESF will also try to balance reduced funding by increasing revenue through the college’s Alumni Association and the Annual Fund, a donation campaign that began this year. Both generate money for the college.

ESF is looking to model its adaptations to the budget cuts after the federal economic stimulus package, View said. He stressed the importance of proper funding for education not only to the college, but to the country’s economy as well.

‘The goal is to try to find ways to creatively speed our way out of it, like the president is trying to do with the economy,’ View said. ‘If you start cutting back on funds to education, students stop going to school. And then we don’t have people to fill jobs and benefit the economy.’

View said that while the cuts are manageable now, officials know the situation could change any day and send even greater cuts their way.

‘Basically, the executioner has put the ax aside at the moment and is trying to figure out if there’s anything else that can be done,’ he said.

ESF is trying to reduce expenses in areas that will have a less noticeable effect on normal campus life, Murphy said. The majority of the cuts will be absorbed through cutting energy and maintenance costs. ESF will continue to manage outside contracts to ensure the greatest efficiency, while keeping costs down, Murphy said.

ESF’s efforts to maintain a sustainable campus will not be affected by the cuts, Murphy said. The programs in place to reduce carbon outputs are funded largely by capital investments. ESF’s capital funding is sufficient enough to allow the programs to continue regardless of budget cuts, he said. Because the programs focus on reducing energy use, there is a return on investments through lower operational costs.

Students angry at the budget cuts have taken action. The New York Public Interest Research Group chapter at Syracuse University and ESF has held events protesting the cuts and plans to continue fighting next semester, said Alejandro Fernandez-Lovo, NYPIRG project coordinator for the Syracuse Chapter.

‘We are holding back on any rallies, for now, until next semester, because finals are already on everyone’s head, and we don’t want to stress people out,’ he said.

The group is planning to go to Albany in March to lobby against the budget cuts. NYPIRG will also continue to hold letter-writing and phone-calling campaigns to try to decrease budget cuts.

‘The ultimate goal will be for them to reduce the cuts,’ Fernandez-Lovo said. ‘We know they already came, but there’s a way to reduce them. We’re still fighting for this even though the budget has already gone through and the cuts are happening.’

jlsiart@syr.edu

Published on December 9, 2009 at 12:00 pm