In a first-of-its kind state of SUNY address, Chancellor Nancy Zimpher laid out her plans for the country's largest higher education system, including an initiative that will have state-operated campuses competing for funding. Ryan Peterson has the story.

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- It's never been done before in recent memory. Chancellor Nancy Zimpher took the opportunity to present her vision for a revitalized SUNY system.

"To make these reforms a reality, in partnership with the governor and the New York State Legislature, together we will find creative ways to grow SUNY and give New York a clear return on its educational investment," she said during her state of SUNY address on Wednesday.

A massive multi-billion dollar state budget deficit also translates into a severe lack of funding for the country's largest higher education system. In order to stay competitive and not pass along an increased tuition burden to students, Zimpher has proposed five key steps - one of which will have the 29 state-operated campuses competing for state money.

Zimpher said, "Beginning with our fiscal year 2012, SUNY will distribute state support among campuses based on performance in critical areas like research expenditures and awards, student course completion, retention and degree completion."

But it was Zimpher's renewed call to the Legislature to revisit the books and rewrite a few things that would allow the schools to seek out those public/private partnerships that received the most applause.

Zimpher said, "SUNY must have regulatory relief from the state to allow our 64 campuses to enter into public/private partnerships that advance our core mission."

SUNY Institute of Technology President Wolf Yeigh said, "What the chancellor has articulated, prepares our students for the jobs that we don't know about yet, but will be appearing very shortly. All SUNY students are in a great position as these public/private partnerships are taking shape here in the state."

The chancellor is also calling for the implementation of a "fair and equitable" tuition policy with the assurance that the money is actually being used to provide courses and programs that students need.