06/02/09: UB 2020 Act Strives to Retain Talented Young WNYers

Original YNN Buffalo Air Date: 06/02/09
“I hear it cost a lot to go to UB, so I’m thankful to god for a full ride,” said Grover Cleveland High School senior Jabar Naser.
Eighteen year old Naser is ready to matriculate to the University of Buffalo on a full academic scholarship. The Buffalo student works an after school job to earn money to help his family out. But with tuition, room and board taken care of, the future pharmacy student says he’s looking forward to just paying attention to his studies.
“It’s going to make me more relaxed when I go to college and do all my studies and just focus on my school,” added Naser
As Jabar transitions to college, UB may also be embarking a major change stemming all the way from Albany.
The UB 2020 Flexibility and Economic Growth Act strives to enhance the university’s economic impact on Western New York.
If passed the act will bring 2,500 construction and infrastructure jobs and $650 million dollars in new academic research funding.
“It allows the university to lease land and have projects built on the university property and allows them to do public and private partnerships,” said New York State Senator William T. Stachowski.
The bill would also increase tuition rates for scientific courses like engineering and pre-medicine. This will not exceed one and a half times the percentage increase of the higher education price index.
Senator Stachowksi says the UB 2020 bill comes at a time when the state really can’t afford to pump additional money into the SUNY system. But, backers of the plan have found a creative solution.
“They’ve found a way by getting rid of costly procedures and entering into public/private partnerships. They can expand the university; make it better without costing the state money,” added Stachowski.
“The fact that we might have a thousand more professors buying homes. I mean nice homes. There would be well paying jobs throughout all the 25 towns in Erie County,” said Erie County Executive Chris Collins.
Many Erie County and Buffalo leaders say the UB 2020 plan will help recruit and retain top talent in Western New York, giving home grown students like Jabar better options in the Queen City.
“Our greatest exports unfortunately are our youth of our community. We need to reverse that. They do want to stay here, but they need a job,” added Collins.
Jabar Naser echoes the same sentiment.
“I think I’m going to stay in Buffalo. Because Buffalo is the greatest place to stay in,” smiled Naser.