News and Updates

We appreciate Governor Hochul for taking the initial steps towards investing in public higher education. In her recent executive budget, the following actions were taken: tuition will not increase for CUNY colleges, campus childcare will expand by $15.6 million, plus adding 540 CUNY full-time faculty members including support for CUNY's plan to convert adjuncts to full-time faculty, additional operating support by $2.8 million to CUNY senior colleges, as well as $2.1 million to community colleges that translates to various opportunity programs, and Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) will be reformed by $150 million increase for both SUNY and CUNY.

Yet, this executive budget falls short of the New Deal for CUNY bill. The New Deal for CUNY aims to make CUNY accessible for all by eliminating in-state tuition for undergraduate students and providing high-quality education to all regardless of race or income. Additionally, this executive budget lacks action and direction on addressing the ratios of mental health counselors and academic advisors for students in line with national standards, which would ensure students receive adequate support in order to graduate.

Members of the CUNY Rising Alliance coalition are ready to work with Governor Hochul’s administration and the Legislature to increase the State’s investment in CUNY and to adopt New Deal for CUNY legislation. This in turn would fully fund the people’s university, provide all people access to quality education and an opportunity to climb the ladder of success that is truly transformative for families and communities.

The CUNY Rising Alliance was formed in 2015 in response to the University’s crisis. A coalition of over 50 organizations brought together by students, workers, and communities under one banner to fight for a CUNY that gives communities and students what they deserve: access to quality higher education.

CUNY Rising Alliance

January 2022

CRA coalition’s statement on Governor Kathy Hochul State of the State Address

It is exciting that Governor Hochul sees great value in public higher education for New York state's economic recovery. Her vision for SUNY is clear. CRA partners look forward to seeing a detailed and well-funded approach to restoring investment in the CUNY system in the governor's executive budget.

Funding CUNY is an issue of racial justice. A recent study by the CUNY University Faculty Senate found that across the CUNY and SUNY systems, students of color are less likely to encounter full-time faculty in the classroom well wider campuses have higher full-time faculty to student ratios. This dynamic disproportionately affects CUNY which serves a diverse student population.

After decades of racialized austerity, CUNY rising Alliance groups are pushing for a broad vision, a New Deal for CUNY (S4461/A5843), which would enhance the ratios of full-time faculty, mental health counselors, and academic advisors to students and make CUNY free again.