Thirteen years ago, only 16 Stony Brook University students trekked to the state capital to court legislators and voice concerns about their school, the year Shirley Strum Kenny became president of the university.

This Tuesday, more than 1,000 students and faculty will travel five hours via bus to spend a day advocating for the university’s interests. “Stony Brook Day in Albany this year will be more about “giving the university visibility,” said Janice Rohlf, the university’s assistant vice president of governmental relations.

Albany Day, as it’s often called on campus, was begun by the United University Professions, the union that represents SUNY’s academic and professional faculty.. But Kenny has embraced the day of advocacy during her tenure, recruiting students to help the UUP expand Stony Brook University’s visibility in the state legislature. Says Rohlf, “Students get to see their government in action.”

Once they arrive in Albany around 10 a.m., students representing many different academic departments will break into groups of 8-to-10 to meet with legislators to talk about issues affecting Stony Brook, such as the proposed cut in SUNY’s overall budget this fiscal year, staffing at teaching hospitals and tuition.

Participation in Albany Day has grown slowly but steadily through the years. In 1999, for example, only 300 people rode north to the state capitol. That number grew to 800 by last year.

State government doesn’t fund Albany Day. It’s financed by Stony Brook itself.

“It is a grass-roots effort and successful because of the students and faculty who are willing to make the effort,” Rohlf said.