New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele recently revealed that the State Budget approved by the State Assembly contains $5 million in re-programmed capital funds that will support the SUNY Stony Brook Southampton campus with the development of academic and student program space.
“The academic programming at the Southampton campus continues to grow,” shared New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. “I am pleased with the commitment that Stony Brook University has given to the campus in recent years.”
The funding, which has already been backed by State Senator Ken LaValle in the State Senate, still must be included in the final budget.
“The Marine Sciences Program with its new facility is thriving, as is the Fine Arts program,” Assemblyman Thiele noted. “We are seeing a continued growth in the graduate health sciences curriculum. Further, with the merger of Southampton Hospital and Stony Brook University Hospital the future of the campus is bright. Nearly 500 students are now studying on the campus with continued growth expected.”
In 2016, the budget contained $7.5 million of capital funds that was allotted to the Southampton campus. The additional funding was requested by Stony Brook University.
Assemblyman Thiele believes the funds show a positive step forward for the Southampton campus. “These capital funds will insure that the academic space on the campus can continue to be rehabilitated to provide increased quality education opportunities,” added Assemblyman Thiele. “Stony Brook and the Legislature have created a critical partnership for the future of the Southampton campus.”