The negotiations by Governor Cuomo and legislators follow proposals by the SUNY board for what they’re calling a “rational tuition” policy that would regularly increase tuition to avoid larger, irregular spikes.

Kennedy said SUNY has had enormous cuts in state tax support and that it’s getting harder for students to get the courses they need. If they have to go to school longer, Kennedy said, it costs them more. 

Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver says any deal would have to ensure that all the revenue stays with SUNY rather than going into the state’s general fund, as Kennedy said has happened in the past.

If the deal is reached in the final ten days of the legislative session, most of the 64 campuses could see an increase as early as the fall semester.