Dear Editor:

While the media appears to be more interested in President Obama’s treatment of Governor Paterson and the political implications, we cannot overlook the fact that President Obama came to Hudson Valley Community College SUNY- in Troy, on September 21st for a major address on education, research and the economy.

I was proud to be invited to this special occasion. This was significant recognition for the State University of New York (SUNY) and its pre-eminence in higher education. HVCC is training students in many disciplines, including green technologies.

For example, the college has a training program in solar panel installation. The entire area is becoming known as Tech Valley, New York’s answer to Silicon Valley.

The partnership between colleges and industry, according to President Obama, must be encouraged and nurtured. He spoke about the relationship between innovation and the global economy and how investing in education and research will result in sustainable growth, benefitting everyone.

As I sat listening to the President in a large windowless building which the day before had been a classroom for training automobile technology students, the President concluded by saying, “I understand, as all of you do, the power of these institutions to prepare students for twenty-first century jobs, and to prepare America for a twenty-first century global economy. And that’s what’s happening right here at Hudson Valley Community College”.

I left proud of the wonderful colleges and universities we have in our state.



Sincerely,

Toby Ann Stavisky

Chairwoman, Committee on Higher Education

NYS Senate