NYSUT's new executive vice president, Andy Pallotta, struck a steadfast tone in the face of unprecedented cuts to public higher education as he met for the first time with the union's higher education leaders.
"I understand the issues, and they are many, and they are very deep," Pallotta said as he addressed NYSUT's Higher Education Council at a meeting in New York City two weeks ago.
"We have certain needs for higher education, and we're going to let our members know that engaging in the political process is critical," he said.
Pallotta took over NYSUT's political action and legislative efforts earlier this month following the retirement of Alan Lubin. Pallotta was an elected leader of the United Federation of Teachers in the Bronx prior to his new post at NYSUT.
His remarks struck a note of solidarity with council members, who represent the NYSUT higher education locals from the public and private sectors.
Ellen Schuler Mauk, a NYSUT Board member who also chairs the Higher Education Council, said she was pleased "Andy connected with all of us — he understands what we face."
Andrew Sako, president of the Faculty Association of Erie Community College and a NYSUT at-large director representing community colleges, said Pallotta's remarks send an appropriate message for the upcoming higher education legislative campaign, when NYSUT leaders will meet with state lawmakers.
"He has an approachable style, and he clearly knows higher education topics," Sako said.
That knowledge will stand Pallotta in good stead, because Gov. David Paterson's deficit reduction plan last month hit both public- and private-sector colleges and universities hard.
Private colleges and universities saw a $4.2 million cut in the state-funded general aid program known as Bundy Aid.
The deficit reduction plan also delivered a $90 million cut to the State University of New York; a $53 million cut to the City University of New York, and a $15.7 million cut to the SUNY and CUNY community colleges ($130 per full-time equivalent student).
With the enactment of the governor's deficit reduction plan, SUNY, CUNY and the community colleges have sustained a staggering state aid cut totaling $591 million.
"Our issues are complex, and they take a different form than the K-12 funding does," Schuler Mauk said. "We are looking forward to working with Andy on these very urgent challenges."
She also reported to the full council about changing enrollment patterns at community colleges.
Students are enrolling earlier, which Schuler Mauk interprets as a desire to make sure they have a slot in a college at a time when the recession has increased overall community college enrollment.
And, reversing a longtime trend, more students are enrolling full-time than part-time in New York's community colleges, she said.
Also on the agenda
Higher education leaders at the full council meeting also received a legislative briefing and a primer on the state's new lobbying act. The act prohibits gifts to public officials and requires both lobbyists and clients to report certain expenditures or receipts.
Larry Gold, director of higher education for the American Federation of Teachers, one of NYSUT's national affiliates, gave the council an update on federal higher education policy.
As the House and Senate begin to reconcile their respective versions of a health care reform act, several issues are still undecided concerning coverage of higher education employees.
The question of coverage for part-time employees is particularly difficult when it comes to higher education, Gold pointed out, because part-time faculty at colleges and universities sometimes work as few as six hours a week, while other fields traditionally require part-time work to cover at least 15 hours a week.
"It looks like there will be some requirement for coverage for [all] part-time employees, but the trick will be in the definition," Gold told the group.