UUP president urges ‘caution’ in SUNYIT, CNSE merger process

The head of the union representing faculty at the State University of New York (SUNY) on Wednesday “raised concerns” about the merger between the SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT) and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) in Albany.

That’s according to a Wednesday news release from United University Professions (UUP).

Frederick Kowal, president of UUP, called on the SUNY board of trustees to consult with the union as plans for the merger progress.

The trustees approved the merger on Wednesday.

He provided testimony during a public hearing before the SUNY board of trustees.

“We urge the board of trustees to proceed with caution regarding the merger,” Kowal said in the UUP news release. “We are concerned about making sure these institutions do not lose their academic focus or academic missions.”

Kowal doesn’t believe CNSE should absorb SUNYIT “and subsequently cease to exist,” according to the news release.

“For this merger to work, SUNYIT must continue as a degree-bearing entity that provides a comprehensive range of high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs, as stated in the college’s mission statement,” Kowal said.

SUNY “must” consult with UUP and involve the union in the decision-making process since the merger will affect the faculty and students at both institutions, Kowal added.

UUP represents 35,000 academic and professional faculty on 29 state-operated SUNY campuses, according to its news release.

It is an affiliate of New York State United Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, and the AFL-CIO, the organization added.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com