President David Skorton spoke about the State of New York’s academic budget cuts yesterday, saying the University will play its role to help the state regain its financial footing.
“We are prepared to do our part for the good of our state,” said Skorton in a press release. “The cuts necessitated by the budget proposal will have a real and adverse impact on independent and public higher education.”
Cornell, the only partially state-owned Ivy League school, will see a further decrease in the state funding it receives over the next year. Governor Cuomo plans to lower the state’s expenditures on higher education as part of an effort to reduce the state’s deficit to $58.1 billion by the end of the year. The proposed budget would lower Cornell’s funding by 10 percent, or $13 million, resulting in an overall 28 percent – or $46 million – decrease over the past four years.
“Cornellians are prepared to do our part in putting New York’s financial situation back on track, but such sacrifices will put significant pressure on the university’s responsibilities to educate our students, and on our research and land grant activities throughout the state,” Skorton added.
