In the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Upstate Medical University in Syracuse kept on growing last year — adding 420 jobs to the payroll of what was already Central New York’s largest employer. It now has more than 7,900 employees. As the university set in motion plans to become a regional presence by collaborating with partners across...
Dr. John Fortune (FAR RIGHT) guides a group of Upstate Medical University students in a lesson of surgery techniques at the new Surgical Research and Training Center at University during an open house last year.
In the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, Upstate Medical University in Syracuse kept on growing last year — adding 420 jobs to the payroll of what was already Central New York’s largest employer. It now has more than 7,900 employees.
As the university set in motion plans to become a regional presence by collaborating with partners across Upstate New York, the jobs followed, according to Upstate President Dr. David R. Smith, who came to Washington on Tuesday to share some of his insight with other New York college presidents.
Almost 80 college and university leaders from across the state gathered at the U.S. Capitol at the request of U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who hosted the first Washington summit of New York college presidents.
Gillibrand, D-N.Y., asked the academic leaders to share their ideas and interact with some of the top education policymakers in the nation — including U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and top White House education officials.
The senator’s goal is to help rebuild the state’s economy through its colleges and universities. She wants college leaders to help foster innovation by collaborating with private industry and other partners. She said it’s a recipe for economic growth that could produce thousands of high-paying jobs across the state.
Gillibrand, whose staff analyzed new Census data, said it’s clear that colleges and universities have to be the engines that create good jobs in New York state. She noted that the median income of Central New Yorkers with a bachelor’s, graduate or professional degree is about $20,000 per year more than a resident with a high school diploma.
Among the speakers at the summit was U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who said he has not seen such a gathering of New York’s academic leaders in his nearly 12 years in the Senate.
“This is historic, because I don’t think I’ve ever seen more top brass from our colleges together in one place, “ Schumer said, crediting Gillibrand for the idea.
Smith, of Upstate Medical University, said he envisions his teaching hospital and research institution expanding statewide to offer its services, using a model similar to that of Cornell Cooperative Extension.
“We’re really looking to set up a regional expansion,” he said in an interview during a break in the summit. “What’s in it for Syracuse is that we have to have a larger platform to grow on a regional basis.”
One of Upstate Medical University’s proposals would set up an expansion to serve the North Country through a site at Jefferson Community College in Jefferson County, Smith said.
The university is seeking federal aid for the northern expansion. Smith said the idea is supported by Gillibrand, Schumer, and Reps. Dan Maffei, D-DeWitt and Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh.
Among the other Central New York college leaders in attendance were Le Moyne College President Fred Pestello, Colgate University interim President Lyle Roelofs and Cayuga Community College President Daniel Larson.
Syracuse University Chancellor Nancy Cantor could not attend the summit because of a previous commitment in New York City, her spokesman said. Cantor has worked with Gillibrand on her higher education initiative and serves on her steering committee.
Contact Mark Weiner at mweiner@syracuse.com or 571-970-3751.