Seven of us attended the NYSUT Community College Conference in Saratoga Springs on Nov. 7-9, 2025: Thomas Bruckner, Ziaullah Khan Durrani, Secretary Suzanne Kaebnick, Vice President of Non-Classroom Faculty Virginia Sanchioli, Alex Sanchioli, PAC Co-Chair Caitlin Thurber, and NCCFT President David Stern. Caitlin was among presenters on VOTE-COPE and political engagement, Tom on credit and contact hours, and David on the challenges of dual credit (high school and college credit) programs.
NYSUT President Melinda Person gave an invigorating opening speech Friday night. She encouraged locals to engage in coalition building in their communities, presented current challenges, and noted achievements of the past year. Among challenges are federal policies hurting our students and enrollment such as the rescinding of TRIO grant money, cuts to the New York state budget in July’s Congressional Big Beautiful Bill Act and a climate stifling free speech and student learning through threats such as those in Compact for Excellence in Higher Education.
Among NYSUT achievements are: success in persuading SUNY Chancellor John King not to sign on to the Compact for Excellence in Higher Education as, sadly, some elite universities have done; the election of 31 NYSUT members to state and local offices where they can champion support for public education; passing legislation to add a faculty trustee to New York state community college boards of trustees as non-voting members; a bill before Albany regarding artificial intelligence in education that would restrict replacement of a human workforce; an increase in New York state operating funds for community colleges to the effect of 14 M of operating aid for SUNY community colleges and 130 M for capital funding at SUNY community colleges; free community college for adults ages 25-55 without college degrees to pursue associate degrees in high-demand fields; and improvements to Tier 5 and 6 of the New York state pension system such that members’ pension is now based on the last 3, not the last 5 years of their salary. Another rally is scheduled for March 8, 2026 as NYSUT continues to push for further Tier 5 and 6 improvements, including the ability to retire after 30 years of service at age 55 and bringing member contributions down to the 3% level of Tier 4 members.
Among other interesting sessions were a presentation by NYSUT specialist on research and education services, Jacob Crawford, on community college finances; a session on member mobilization; NYSUT retirement resources; labor laws, contracts, and grievances; and Taylor Law and Weingarten Rights.
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Thank you all. Ncc for educating