Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D, I-Utica/Rome) participated in a joint virtual legislative budget hearing on Higher Education on Monday. Buttenschon, who is a member of the Assembly committees on Education and Higher Education, focused her questions on the future of SUNY Polytechnic Institute.

“Over the last two years, SUNY Poly has increased its student population and has vibrant partnerships at the federal, industry and business levels,’’ said Buttenschon, mentioning the $1.5 billion investment from Wolfspeed as an example. “SUNY Poly should serve as a model within the SUNY system as one that affords students numerous opportunities.”

Buttenschon specifically asked SUNY Chancellor Deborah Stanley for assurances that certain criteria, including student enrollment and an assessment of existing strategic partnerships, would be considered before any changes are made. 

The Assemblywoman’s questions stem from comments made by Governor Kathy Hochul during her State of the State Address last month. In it, Hochul referred to a plan to merge SUNY Poly’s Institute College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering with UAlbany. However, details of that plan, or its impact on the SUNY Poly campus located in Marcy, N.Y., remain unclear. Chancellor Stanley did say that criteria like enrollment and strategic partnerships would be considered before any changes or mergers are made.