CANTON – The presidents of both SUNY Canton and SUNY Potsdam are urging state lawmakers to invest in the state university system.

SUNY Canton Pres. Zvi Szafran and Jefferson Community College Pres. Carole A. McCoy Wednesday called on elected officials to create a new investment fund and investing more in the SUNY educational system.

They urged lawmakers to continue supporting New York's public higher education sector by extending NYSUNY 2020 -- including what they described as a “rational tuition policy” -- in the 2015-16 state budget.

During a press briefing at JCC, the two presidents said they were advocating for all 64 SUNY campuses.

"The State University of New York has been creating unparalleled opportunities for personal success and sustained economic growth for generations,” said Szafran. “With increased investment from the state, we can do even more. SUNY is committed to tripling the number of college graduates by 2020, and at SUNY Canton, more students will graduate from our career-based majors and enter the workforce ready to hit the ground running, adding value to their companies from day one.”

He continued, “Our ability to continue to grow and give our students the very best education depends on additional state investment. We will offer new, innovative, hands-on programs that build on the strengths of our region. We will provide students from all backgrounds the tools they need to progress from the first day of class to graduation, careers and beyond."

SUNY Potsdam Pres. Kristin G. Esterberg did not attend the event, but also voiced support for SUNY's endeavors in a prepared statement.

"I can't think of a more critical investment than in the future leaders of New York State. SUNY Potsdam is proud to offer the Potsdam Promise, our guarantee that students can 'finish in four' - but we can't stop there," she said. "We are embarking on a new program that will ensure that every single SUNY Potsdam graduate has the opportunity to complete one or more high-impact learning experiences, like internships, research, service learning or study abroad.”

She continued, “We have to make sure that students from all backgrounds can benefit from an affordable SUNY education, through EOP and student support services. An investment in SUNY can ensure that both our programs and our facilities are state-of-the-art, and that our campuses remain economic drivers for the North Country and beyond."

At Wednesday’s press confererence, McCoy said, "Community colleges are integral to Chancellor Zimpher's goal to increase the number of SUNY graduates from 93,000 to 150,000 annually. Thirty of SUNY's 64 campuses are community colleges and together we enroll nearly 250,000 students statewide, providing job training and a pathway to baccalaureate degrees."

She added, "Our ability to provide access to quality higher education and services to help our students complete their degrees is dependent upon a strong partnership between SUNY and New York State. An investment in SUNY is an investment in Jefferson Community College and every community college within the system and an investment in the vitality of New York State. Support of the rational funding plan, capital funding and SUNY's investment fund will allow community colleges like Jefferson to invest more resources into programs, facilities and services that help our students be successful."

Since NYSUNY 2020 was first enacted, SUNY campuses have used additional revenue generated by rational tuition to grow and expand student services, including the hiring of 520 new instructional staff, 270 of whom are full-time faculty, and the implementation of 100 new degree programs reflecting high-demand areas in New York's workforce. Additionally, SUNY continues to be a huge economic driver for the state, serving 3 million New Yorkers every year - including students, faculty and staff, and more - and an economic powerhouse that generates $21 billion annually for New York.

The key component of SUNY's budget request is an Investment Fund that will enable SUNY to graduate 150,000 students annually by 2020 through the system-wide scale up of evidence-based programs known to support student success, including Finish in Four completion promises, applied learning, Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP), and expanded advisement services. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher outlined this objective in her recent State of the University Address.

David J. Zembiec, deputy CEO of the Jefferson County Economic Development Agency, also attended the news conference.

"Workforce development is one of our greatest challenges in economic development, and JCC and SUNY Canton - because of their flexibility and responsiveness - are key partners in addressing workforce needs," Zembiec said. "We can also utilize college programs to create the workforce pipeline necessary to attract new business or grow our existing businesses through Start-Up NY."