The State University of New York Student Assembly, or SUNY SA, strongly supports the New York state Legislature’s one-house budget, which emphasizes funding for SUNY rather than admitting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed tuition hike of up to 3% for SUNY institutions. We believe that the budget maintains SUNY’s promise of high quality, affordable education, provides an opportunity to prioritize funding for SUNY schools and ensure that they have the resources they need to provide quality education and support to students.

While we understand that SUNY schools face financial challenges, we believe that increasing tuition is not the solution. Instead, the governor and New York state Legislature must prioritize funding for SUNY schools in the budget to maintain their commitment to offering high quality education at an affordable price. Access to affordable education is a fundamental right that should not be denied to any student based on their financial background.

The proposed additional 6% increase for SUNY university centers — Binghamton University, Stony Brook University, University at Albany and University at Buffalo — is particularly concerning. These centers serve as hubs for innovation and economic development in their respective regions, and it is essential that they have the resources they need to contribute to the growth and prosperity of New York.

SUNY provides a crucial role in educating the next generation of leaders and professionals who will contribute to the growth and development of New York. An investment in SUNY is an investment int he future of our state. We applaud the New York state Legislature’s one house budget for opposing the proposed tuition hikes and urge them to continue to prioritize funding for SUNY schools and explore alternative solutions to address the financial challenges they face. We firmly believe that access to affordable education is a right, not a privilege, and we will continue to advocate for policies that ensure all students have the opportunity to pursue higher education without financial barriers.

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Alexandria Chun is SUNY SA president and a SUNY trustee. Brennan Gorman is SUNY SA executive director of policy. Joshua Chan is SUNY SA senior director of government relations. Flynne Fasso is SUNY SA deputy director of government relations. Sophia Yazdi and Tyler Johnson are SUNY SA policy analysts. The State University of New York Student Assembly is the official student government organization representing SUNY’s 1.4 million students, by which students can participate in university-wide governance.