HS Alliance
The Professional Staff Congress/CUNY (PSC/CUNY), the union that represents the 30,000 professional staff and faculty at the City University of New York, has released a digital report a d January 24, urging New Yorkers to reach out to their lawmakers to support New Deal for CUNY (ND4C) legislation.
The law project (S4461/A5843) offers a tuition-free return to teaching at CUNY schools, as well as setting minimum staff-student ratios, among other benefits.
The ND4C legislation was introduced by Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Karines Reyes, is currently supported by some of the New York’s most prominent labor leaders and the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. Bill seeks to reverse decades of declining investment in CUNY system by implementing $1.7 billion budget five year plan.
“A high-quality, free, well-funded public higher education for students in New York City’s public colleges is within our reach,” said James Davis, president of the Professional Staff Congress. “Our union members are excited to rally around the New Deal vision for CUNY and eager to work with our coalition partners and elected officials to make it a reality.”
The release of the announcement follows Governor Kathy Hochul’s Executive Budget for New York State, where she announced plans to increase funding for SUNY and CUNY. Hochul’s budget proposal allocates $170 million in funding to CUNY’s senior colleges without raising tuition, as well as an additional $53 million to hire new full-time staff and faculty.
However, according to PSC/CUNY, this proposed budget does not fully meet the needs of CUNY institutions.
“CUNY needs every investment in the Governor’s budget – and more!” read the press release issued Monday by PSC/CUNY. “[Hochul’s] The executive budget is a decisive rejection of the state’s austerity funding model for CUNY. CUNY, however, identified $313 million in needed public investment in the university budget request. The PSC and its CUNY Rising Alliance partners are calling on the Legislature and the Governor to build on the Executive Budget by funding the full $313 million and passing the New Deal for CUNY.
PSC/CUNY also argued that since CUNY students make strong economic and social contributions to New York City, investing in CUNY’s growth and accessibility will increase enrollment and therefore strengthen the economic position of the state and the community. city - especially after the blow caused by the pandemic.
A To analyse conducted by the NYC Office of the Comptroller in 2021 showed that in fiscal year 2019, nearly 80% of CUNY graduates remained in New York State and contributed $4 billion in taxes. Additionally, a report by the Brooking Institute has confirmed that CUNY is a key driver of economic growth and mobility in the country.
The announcement, which will run on social media platforms for several weeks, highlights the benefits of CUNY system support and how it will improve communities.
“CUNY has been the foundation of the future for so many New Yorkers – for students of color, working families and immigrants,” the ad reads. “We demand quality education for all.