Re why SUNY enrollment is declining.

Minor edit: see text below regarding ‘multi-faceted’ problem for SUNY.

The problem for SUNY is multi-faceted. Fewer students are going to community colleges because of a robust economy that makes it easier to enter the workforce than to take classes.

Enrollment at New York’s 30 community colleges fell a whopping 19% between 2009 and this fall, SUNY records show, a drop of more than 45,000 students.

Population decline in upstate New York, meanwhile, has resulted in fewer high school students for campuses to recruit. Also, fewer college students are going into teaching careers, which was once a top draw to SUNY.

The para “Enrollment at . . . 45,000 students” is out of place and should be moved.  Then text would read … multifaceted. 1) fewer students at community colleges. 2) Population decline.  3) fewer students entering teaching.  Easier to read and understand.

 

Another fix: missing word inserted: “State officials countered aid to SUNY and CUNY is up 30% to $7.2 billion [since] Cuomo took office in 2011, and 55% of full-time students now attend SUNY and CUNY tuition free.”

Let’s review ”  News of no state aid fuels blame and financial stress in debt-ridden North Rockland” (Published 6:00 a.m. ET Oct. 8, 2019 | Updated 7:47 a.m. ET Oct. 8, 2019)

My comments in bold

“A state Supreme Court judge ruled that two power plants owned by Mirant Corp., one in Haverstraw, one in Stony Point, had been drastically over-assessed. The community was enraged  at Mirant’s cut-throat tactics, spurred by deregulation in the energy industry. [were the tactics spurred by deregulation in energy industry, or was the enragement spurred by deregulation?] But the school district and local municipalities eventually agreed to a $275 million settlement to refund taxes.”

“The school district borrowed to pay its majority share and wound up owing $365 million in principle [principal] and interest. ”

“But in 2018, many [journalism shorthand for ‘this writer and his friends’] believed the time had come for a major state bailout. ”

“They say taxpayers are already overburdened, as the residential share of the tax levy rose from 40% in 2007 to 68% in 2017 [what is ‘residential share of the tax levy’?  How can reader decide or determine if this is too much or not enough?] “.

Taking break from campaign, at least for a while.