LaValle Named Chair of Senate Higher Education Committee.

New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle (R, C, I – Port Jefferson) was today named Chairman of the New York State Senate’s Committee on Higher Education, a post he previously held for nearly 30 years.

“As the former Chairman of the Senate’s Committee on Higher Education, Senator LaValle has earned a reputation as an expert on issues related to higher education here in New York.  In this capacity, he’ll be responsible for ensuring that our SUNY and CUNY systems continue to be outstanding institutions of learning which prepare our students for the future.  I am pleased to name Senator LaValle to chair this prestigious committee and know he’ll do a fine job,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said.

“I am honored and pleased to be re-appointed as chair of the Senate’s Higher Education Committee whose work is of vital importance to students and to our State and Long Island’s economic future,” Senator LaValle said, and added “I have been and will continue to be a champion of the State and City University system and a fierce advocate for all higher education."

“The Higher Education Committee’s work will be an important component of Long Island’s and New York State’s economic development and recovery,” LaValle explained,  “I have said and strongly believe that higher education is an important component of the engine that will drive us out of the recession toward recovery and prosperity.”

“I look forward to working closely with my colleagues, SUNY, CUNY, our college presidents, and community and government leaders to further higher education and economic development in our state,” LaValle said.

LaValle said the establishment of partnerships between the state’s colleges and universities and the private sector is a priority. He said he plans to introduce legislation that will enable SUNY, CUNY and the private sector to more easily form strategic, job producing alliances and said his plan will eliminate the old rules and red tape that have derailed such public/private partnerships in the past.

LaValle will continue, he said, to work on many initiatives he spoke about during his recent campaign including:

• ensuring that the Stony Brook Southampton campus is restored and can play a significant role in the educational and economic vitality of the region
• strengthening our public education system and ensuring access to a quality education
• continuing to support incubators that help establish small businesses and create job
• fostering collaboration between Brookhaven National Lab (BNL), Stony Brook University and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) and the establishment of an Innovation Highway – a job producing high tech corridor -- between BNL and CSHL.

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