Modifications to SU, ESF benefits should be phased in
As part of the new employee benefits package, Chancellor Cantor has proposed that children of State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry employees will no longer be able to attend Syracuse University for free.
The change, if implemented, will be enforced in the fall. The proposal makes sense given the difficult economic stresses the university is under; SU needs to look out for itself.
This may be the right decision for SU, but it needs to re-examine how quickly the new changes would be put into effect. The abruptness of the decision could be damaging to families that have made life plans for their children to attend SU with the understanding that they could attend for free.
SU should consider phasing in the new plan, starting in the fall of 2011, giving time for ESF employees to make other plans. Another option would be to consider a co-pay, allowing incoming ESF students to attend at a discounted tuition. The discount could be decreased overtime, cushioning the blow for ESF families.
