With many families across the state already struggling through the recession, state budget cuts to higher education could add yet another unexpected cost.

An ad by United University Professions (Download poster ad here. 500k pdf) depicts a mother's shocked reaction to her daughter's news that she won't be able to graduate in four years — state budget cuts have limited the courses she needs.

"This ad sends a strong message to the thousands of households of SUNY students that $410 million in state budget cuts to SUNY could have a severe impact on them," said UUP President Phil Smith.

UUP represents academic and professional faculty at the State University of New York.

The half-page ad will run during the week of Thanksgiving in 129 weekly newspapers reaching more than 1.5 million readers in New York's major metropolitan areas.

"We want parents of SUNY students to take time during the Thanksgiving recess to find out what's going on at their child's campus and to take action if the news is bad," Smith said.

Parents are also encouraged to reach out to lawmakers.

Sally Frank, a graduate student from the University at Albany portrays the student in the ad. Her "mom" is UUP Secretary Eileen Landy.