BUFFALO, N.Y. -- University at Buffalo President Satish K. Tripathi, PhD, applauded Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signing of legislation to implement the NYSUNY 2020 Challenge Grant Program today, citing the bill's potential to transform public higher education in the state and enable UB and other SUNY institutions to increase their impact on the state's economy.

"We applaud the governor for signing this historic legislation, which will have a transformative impact on the University at Buffalo, on public higher education in New York State and on our region's economy and quality of life," Tripathi said.

"This legislation gives the University at Buffalo the tools to move forward in implementing the next phase of our long-range vision of excellence so that UB can have an even greater impact and more expansive reach in the communities we serve."

The NYSUNY 2020 bill was passed by the state legislature in June.

Background about how the bill will impact UB and Western New York is described in this UB news release from June 24.