By Nelson A. King
Public Advocate, Jumaane D.
Williams on Wednesday, Nov. 11
toured York College in Jamaica,
Queens, City University of New
York (CUNY) to view how funding
cuts at CUNY have directly
impacted students and faculty.
Williams said the tour, held
alongside student and faculty
representatives, came after
CUNY recently proposed additional
tuition hikes for students,
as well as a new report
by the Public Advocate’s office,
which analyzes CUNY’s current
funding crisis while outlining
solutions the city and state
should implement to safeguard
the institution’s sustainability
and shift toward a universal
free college program.
“As a two-time graduate
of the CUNY system, I know
firsthand how beneficial this
university can be,” Williams
said. “But, as we saw on today’s
tour, we are on a precipice
where the quality of a CUNY
education may soon decline for
students and faculty alike.
“This is a systemic struggle
that we must combat throughout
the city, across all campuses,
to preserve CUNY’s standing
as a top university that
provides a world class education,”
he added. “The city and
state need to fully invest in this
critical educational institution
and in its students.”
During Wednesday’s tour,
the public advocate was joined
by representatives of the University
Student Senate and PSC
CUNY, the union representing
CUNY faculty and staff, in addition
to York College faculty.
Williams said he visited sites
across the campus, where a lack
of adequate funding “has had
a detrimental impact on students’
educational experience,
including a cafeteria which has
been shut down, a closed theatre,
and limitations on critical
programs including childcare
and citizenship services.”
“On multiple occasions, York
College’s student government
has supplemented the school’s
budget by paying for cleaning
supplies for faculty, furniture
for common areas and laptops
Caribbean L 6 ife, December 20-26, 2019
for students to use,” Williams
disclosed.
As underscored in the Public
Advocate’s recent report, CUNY
began as a free higher education
outlet before shifting to a
tuition model.
Williams said tuition has
continued to increase alongside
enrollment, “while investment
has stagnated and declined on
a city and state level.”
From 2008 to 2017, he said
per-student funding from the
state has decreased by 18 percent,
adjusted for inflation and
enrollment growth.
The public advocate’s report
calls for the city and state to
increase their combined contribution
to CUNY, “so the university
can reinstate full-time
faculty and counselor positions,
reduce class sizes and
provide students with more
resources.”
“Additional funding would
also permit CUNY to finance
yearly cost increases, continue
to expand course offerings, bolster
facility quality and establish
now programs to tackle
Public Advocate, Jumaane Williams (left) tours York College.
Offi ce of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
underserved communities,”
the report says.
Scott Sheidlower, PSC Chapter
Chair, York College, said,
“On behalf of the 30,000 faculty
and staff represent by the PSC,
I want to thank Public Advocate,
Jumaane Williams for
demanding increased city and
state investment in CUNY.
Williams tours York College,
highlights funding crisis at CUNY
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