Regional Leaders Call on Gov. Hochul to Reaffirm SUNY Poly’s Future

In a letter to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, regional leaders called on the State to abandon a proposal from the State of the State address to reunify SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering with the University at Albany.

Established in 2014, SUNY Poly has become an essential academic, research and economic development asset that has been embraced by the region. In addition, SUNY Poly has emerged as a regional asset critical to the attraction and support of the semiconductor industry.

With multiple active semiconductor leads currently being considered at both Marcy and in White Pines in Syracuse, regional leaders believe the proposal could be perceived as a reduction in the state’s commitment to attracting the industry.

Since its inception, SUNY Poly has been embraced by the region. Wolfspeed, Rome Labs, the Innovare Advancement Center and the Griffiss Institute, among others, are investing heavily in joint research and workforce development programs to grow SUNY Poly to its current prominence, predicated on the combined campus model. Diminishing SUNY Poly in any way, could move efforts to advance the region backward.

The attached letter, signed by Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, New York State Senator Joseph Griffo and New York State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon was delivered to the Governor on Jan. 10.