By Ryan Morden
Oswego, NY – State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher said there are two main obstacles for implementing her strategic vision for the university system.
Her plan is called "The Power of SUNY" and lays out six different aspects of how the SUNY system can help New York out of the recession.
However, the first obstacle is that the plan takes money to implement some of the new programs.
SUNY is facing cuts from the state legislature and campuses are trying to save money by way of hiring freezes and other belt-tightening measures.
Zimpher said on the one hand, SUNY cannot implement portions of this plan as quickly as she would like because of the cuts.
"On the other hand, we have within our power, to coalesce our resources and work more effectively together. And that's something the SUNY system ought to lead, so that we create efficiencies and we're more effective," said Zimpher.
The second obstacle Zimpher's plan faces is a bill that is held up in the state legislature known as the "Empowerment Act."
The measure would give each campus more independence. For example; each campus would have the power to set tuition instead of the state legislature.
Syracuse-area State Sen. Dave Valesky said the senate is working on incorporating most aspects of the Empowerment Act in the new state budget.
"The senate, in its response in our one-house budget included almost all of the components of that Empowerment Act. We're working now with the assembly to hopefully encourage them to move in that direction and have that be apart of the final budget," said Valesky.
Despite the obstacles to her plan, Chancellor Zimpher is continuing to travel the state to roll out her vision.
She is making stops downstate in Westchester County and Long Island this week, then heads to Western New York next week.