The New York State Commission on Higher Education’s proposal to let large research SUNY schools, such as Stony Brook University, charge higher tuition faces a daunting uphill struggle for acceptance from a legislature that has been long skeptical about reforming higher education.

The State of the State Address that was delivered by Governor Elliot Spitzer last month was filled with abundant changes that would benefit New York’s SUNY and CUNY school systems. The many proposals for change, which included designating SUNY Stony Brook and the University of Buffalo as flagship campuses, made no mention of the commission’s proposal, known as differential tuition, for SUNY and CUNY schools.

The idea behind differential tuition is a simple one. A handful of designated campuses are permitted to set their own tuitions, typically higher than state averages, to finance construction of a top-flight program, which includes state-of-the-art research facilities, dormitories, recreation centers and classroom settings. Such facilities help attract top-notch students from around the world and that, in turn, helps build the reputation of a school.

Many Democratic and Republican legislators representing the key committees that will consider the proposal of differentiated tuition have already voiced their opposition. “No student who attends the state university should have a feeling that their degree is worth less than those who are paying more money,” State Sen. Kenneth P. LaValle, the Republican chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, said.

Many students dislike a differential tuition plan.

Nicholas Ginnuzi, 19, a sophomore at Stony Brook. is among the students who do not approve of the plan. "My studies don't involve research," he said. But he added he would still attend Stony Brook if such a plan were introduced,

Schools such as UC Berkeley and UCLA have displayed the type of academic excellence that can result from differentiated tuition, say advocates. Right now, SUNY ranks far behind state systems that permit differentiated tuition. Similar school systems in North Carolina and California both rank higher in terms of quality, according to the College Board, a nonprofit group that studies higher education.

Although differential tuition has proven to be beneficial in top universities in California and North Carolina, it is not going to be included in this year’s budget. That does not mean, however, that this years budget will not include changes in funding and programs that will benefit SUNY and CUNY schools.

“Excellence in higher education is a key to our state’s future and the commission’s recommendations will go a long way toward achieving that goal,” said Spitzer.