BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — A few more positions will be cut at SUNY Potsdam this spring, according to the university’s interim provost.

A recent public statement by SUNY Potsdam professor David Curry at the last town board meeting regarding the college’s current financial status, $9 million deficit and plan to deal with it, cited more cuts to programs or positions in April and August of this year.

In a statement to North Country This Week, Interim Provost Dr. Alan Hersker confirmed that a few positions will probably be phased out, but no additional program changes are on the table at this point.

"Under our financial stability plan, SUNY Potsdam will continue to evaluate staffing needs across campus, as we adjust our workforce to serve our existing enrollment,” Hersker told North Country This Week.  

“We cannot comment on individual personnel matters, but can confirm that a small number of positions will likely not be renewed this spring. Please note that no program changes are being proposed at this time,” Hersker said.

SUNY Potsdam officials announced last year that the college is facing a $9 million deficit. The college has responded with a fiscal restructuring plan. Fourteen degree programs have been cut and several buildings closed under the strategy. College employees, and the United University Professions (UUP), the union which represents them, have warned of more cuts on the way.

At a recent town board meeting Dr. Curry, who was there to urge the town board to back Assembly bill A.6430 (Wallace) which reduces the number of trustees appointed by the governor to the SUNY board, argued that the cuts the college has already made to programs and staff has had little, if any, effect on the college’s deficit problem.

The UUP says SUNY mismanagement of budget funds to bail out debt drowning campuses is at the heart of the problem and that the deficits facing SUNY Potsdam and other state schools could have been avoided.

SUNY and the state point to chronic low enrollment as contributing to the problem.

Read a report from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on the enrollment issues and other problems facing SUNY schools at https://tinyurl.com/2s3utp5m .