Budget Update
August 1, 2022
Dear Colleagues,
I’d like to follow up on my note of July 11 with some additional context for the budget details of which you may already be aware
or will soon be hearing.
As a result of our new strategic multiyear all-funds budget planning process, we are making thoughtful investments in the future strength of Stony Brook University. As responsible financial stewards, our decisions are designed to ensure a thriving institution prepared to meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff, and the communities we serve.
As you know, the budgeting environment remains challenging as a result of not receiving new direct base operating funds from the state, a third year of flat tuition, and a compounding $10 million-a-year shortfall for faculty and staff salary increases that were negotiated in Albany but not funded. Nevertheless, we are making real progress in identifying the totality of resources available to us and deploying them in ways that position Stony Brook for a bright future. Additionally, the state budget provides new funding for the Tuition Assistance Program, which allows us to reallocate some of our existing money, and we have received $12 million from Governor Hochul‘s new SUNY program that supports faculty salary and benefits.
Accordingly, new faculty hires in the coming year will provide outstanding learning opportunities for our students and bolster Stony Brook’s reputation as a SUNY flagship and as one of the nation’s leading research universities. Details of which schools and colleges will see new faculty hires will be shared with deans in the coming weeks. We are complementing faculty hiring with staff hires, which we recognize is a critical need. As a result of budget constraints over the past few years, attrition and hiring holds have reduced staffing in many critical areas that provide essential services in support of our students, faculty, and staff. This is not a viable strategy for a flagship institution determined to deliver the highest-quality education and produce cutting-edge research while being an employer of choice. Included in these staff positions will be hires in high-impact areas such as academic units, student affairs, and various areas that report to the vice president for research. While we have freed up some funding by moving to an all-funds budget and will receive the infusion of new resources described above, we must also cut back on some contractual services in the maintenance and groundskeeping areas in order to fully support the strategic faculty and staff hires that we have planned.
With a renewed commitment from New York State to support its flagship institutions, a leadership team driven to make the most of every possible funding opportunity, and — as always — our talented and productive faculty and staff, there are no limits to what we can accomplish. Thank you for your hard work and commitment. This is a great time to be at Stony Brook University.
Regards,
Maurie McInnis
President