ALBANY - The State University New York's future includes moderate, but regular increases in tuition, more cost for taxpayers, and perhaps fewer but significantly better colleges and universities, according to the vision of two men nominated to lead system.

The state Senate heard Wednesday from Carl Hayden and H. Carl McCall, Gov. Eliot Spitzer's nominees to the SUNY Board of Trustees. Hayden, the former state Regent and schools chancellor who oversaw bolstered standards and testing in public schools, is nominated to be chairman of the 16-member board.

“I think what's been missing is an aspirational standard,” the Elmira attorney told the Senate Higher Education Committee. “I believe in uniform, high expectations.”

Spitzer picked Hayden to lead a board with a majority chosen by former Republican Gov. George Pataki. But Hayden said he foresees no conflict.

“This is not a place where I sense an ideological divide exists,” Hayden said. “This is not a hostile takeover.”

McCall, the former state comptroller and Pataki's 2002 Democratic opponent, emphasized that SUNY must remain “accessible, affordable and inclusive” for lower income families. He said local college councils could also help make sure campuses offer programs that are needed by industry and drop or reduce programs without immediate demand.

Sen. Kenneth LaValle, a Suffolk County Republican who chairs the committee, also discussed some of his priorities at what he called a “critical juncture” for SUNY with a Legislature and new administration ready to focus and spend on the system.

LaValle said he's interested in better funding student aid or providing tax breaks for graduates who stay in New York. Both ideas would be aimed at middle class families earning from $55,000 a year in rural parts of upstate to around $120,000 on high-cost Long Island.

He said a New York student can face a $40,000 debt after four years in SUNY and more than $100,000 after graduate studies.

The committee took no action after more than two hours of cordial policy discussion. The committee could vote on Monday to support the nominations and refer them to a necessary vote in the Senate Finance Committee. That could lead to confirmation during Monday's special session.

Spitzer nominated Hayden and McCall on June. 5. The Senate Republicans blame the delay in confirming them - and choosing a new SUNY chancellor - on Spitzer making the appointments less than three weeks before the end of the legislative session. Spitzer has blamed the lag on political conflict that has gridlocked Albany for months.

Topics discussed in Wednesday's hearing included:

- “A rational tuition plan.” This idea of regular increases in tuition tied to a higher-education cost index has been around for a few years, but may get a vote in 2008. One option would guarantee students no increase for four years, followed by an increase. That would end a trend of politicians avoiding votes to increase tuition for several years, only to eventually face a double-digit increase.

Spitzer supports a rational tuition plan.

- No immediate closing of any of SUNY's 64 colleges or 30 community colleges, which are operated with local governments. But consolidation and other efficiencies may be necessary to pay for better colleges to create the nation's best public university system, McCall said. For example, Hayden said there may be too many degrees in criminal justice and cosmetology offered, while some employers are desperate for skilled workers in other fields.

“I think if we are really talking about moving forward, everything should be on the table,” said McCall, the former president of the New York City school board.

Hayden warned the issue is a “blood-in-the-water proposition” that would lead to a huge political battle, locally and in Albany, that could derail other changes. But he said if there is a compelling argument it could be considered “maybe down the road.”

- “Differential tuition.” Better colleges with productive research could charge different tuition in the future, instead of the current $4,350 a year base for state residents in all undergraduate programs.

- Possibly using two-year community colleges for students needing remedial work before they transfer to four-year SUNY colleges, similar to a practice at the City University of New York.

- Restricting increases in campus and SUNY fees that have driven up the cost of attending college even when tuition remains the same.

The nominees and senators agreed SUNY will need more state spending.

“I think everything we're going to do is going to cost more money,” McCall said. “But there also has to be accountability.”