SUNY Showcase

The State University of New York system has been holding regional showcases and SUNYIT was the fifth stop on Thursday. Area schools like m-v-c-c and h triple c brought students and faculty to set up displays and demonstrations touting the value of the SUNY system. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher says, "We ought to be really concerned and make a priority of graduating job ready graduates and actually creating jobs. So I think Governor Cuomo has recognized this, has complimented us, has invested in us." And the investment can have a huge impact on this area. According to the SUNY website the system has an economic impact of nearly 700 million dollars. SUNYIT President Wolf Yeigh adds, "We are part of the economic vitality, the economic growth for this region. And we link the industries, the not for profits, the government and we're really the glue that holds everybody together." The schools displayed some of the innovative programs it has and some feel SUNY is an essential part of this area. "We bring innovations and jobs, we brought Nano to the Mohawk Valley from the University at Albany because of our partnership there. So we are probably the variable that absolutely has to be present to make this Valley hum and we love that leadership role."