New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer's $124.3 billion executive budget proposal provides strong, renewed support to higher education throughout the state by employing such wide-ranging initiatives as the proposal to create a $4 billion endowment for state higher education, according Ronald Seeber, Cornell vice provost for land grant affairs

"Gov. Spitzer has demonstrated a commitment to quality higher education in the state of New York today and into the foreseeable future," Seeber said. "The idea for a permanent, $4 billion endowment for higher education will ensure $200 million in additional, annual operating funds for SUNY and CUNY colleges and universities. Unfortunately, the economic reality of the state budget situation prevents the governor from implementing many of the far-reaching proposals made by the Commission on Higher Education. Nonetheless, the budget represents a starting point in the process, and it is our hope that the Legislature will see fit to supplement the spending on higher education proposed by the governor."

Seeber noted other positive features of the governor's budget of interest to Cornell, including the Healthy Schools Initiative and a stem cell innovation fund. The schools initiative would bring more nutritious, fresh produce into school cafeterias and thus support New York agriculture and university efforts toward sustainability. Increased funding for the stem cell research would ensure continued research at the Weill Cornell Medical College and the Ithaca campus. Cornell, said Seeber, is enthusiastic about these ideas.