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By patricio robayo

LOCH SHELDRAKE — During the May 14 meeting of the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees (BOT), Chair Steven Drobysh announced he would step down temporarily from his position at the college.

“In some ways, it's with a very heavy heart ... there's just so much that has been happening in my world as a banker these days,” said Drobysh.

He said that Dr. Theresa Hamlin and Paul Guenther would step in and Co-chair the BOT, “until we get to the other side of this crisis and we get to where we need to be.”

Drobysh said he will continue to be on the board and still be part of the finance committee.

“I'll be here, and I'm going to do everything I can to help in any way I can,” added Drobysh.

Drobysh became chair last year when Hamlin stepped down after leading the board for three years.

Drobysh, who was appointed by the Sullivan County Legislature, has been a BOT member since 2006 and has previously served as the board's treasurer. He is the Vice President of Commercial Lending for Ulster Savings Bank in Goshen and also volunteers for other community organizations.

He has been a board member of The Arc Sullivan-Orange Counties, NY for many years and currently serves as President. He is also a Past President of the Sullivan Arc Foundation Board. He sits on The Arc New York's Board of Governors and as Assistant Treasurer on a state-wide level.

Hamlin is the Associate Executive Director for The Center for Discovery and author of Autism and the Stress Effect and was chair for the BOT from 2016 until 2019.

Guenther was appointed to the BOT in 2011 and is Former Chairman of the New York Philharmonic and Fordham University boards and current board member for Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Guenther also sits on the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency (IDA), Sullivan County Funding Corporation (SCFC), and Sullivan County Infrastructure Local Development Corporation (TSCILDC).

Tuition & Fees

On May 14, the BOT, considering the rising cost of healthcare and the potential loss of state aid to the college, voted to increase tuition for the 2020-21 year by four percent over last year.

During a May 12 meeting of the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees Finance Committee, SUNY Sullivan President Jay Quaintance said with the uncertainty of federal and state aid to the college, the only stream of income they have control is tuition.

Last year, for a full year in-state student the cost was $5,016, and now for the 20-21, the cost will be $5,217.

Those who live out of the state last year were paying $10,032, and for the upcoming year will now pay $10,433.

“In light of where we are with a financial situation and all of the unknown, most of our funding mechanism, we believe that a four percent increase is warranted this year,” said Quaintance.

As reported by the Democrat, the college could be facing a $2.7 million deficit if state aid is reduced by 25 percent. The state has indicated there will be budget cuts if the federal government does not assist the states during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The college also has consolidated its fee scheduled to make it less confusing for students. Instead of single line charges, the students will be charged one flat fee.

Some of the fees that have been consolidated include Tech Free, Learning Support, and Health Services.

Quaintance said, “We're pretty much in the middle of the road as community colleges go [and] we still keep it [tuition] below our nearest competitor colleges and in line what [SUNY] Orange did.

SUNY Orange, who is facing similar financial stress due to COVID-19, increased its tuition by 3.7 percent.