More Funding for CUNY in the Next City Budget
The New York City Budget for 2015-16 makes significant new investments in CUNY community colleges, including $2.4 million for the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP), part of a multi-year commitment to fund ASAP up to $42 million in 2019. With the $42 million investment, CUNY will have the resources to scale up ASAP to serve as many as 25,000 students. The budget funds the City’s share of CUNY’s mandatory cost increases and includes funds for other CUNY initiatives as well, including $17 million to continue funding for the City Council Merit Scholarship, $1.5 million more for CUNY Start, a college readiness program for CUNY-bound students with significant remedial needs, and $1 million to fund free Metro Cards for Guttman Community College students. PSC members who took part in the union’s electoral work and city budget campaign have much to be proud of this year.
Mayor de Blasio Proposes Increased Funding for CUNY
CUNY’s analysis of the City Executive Budget released by Mayor de Blasio is available here. The Mayor proposes a $14.8 million increase in City funding for CUNY community colleges. That new investment would expand the Accelerated Studies in Associate Programs (ASAP) initiative with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related fields and provide enhanced math instruction in CUNY Start, a summer program for first-year students with remedial needs. It would also fund free MetroCards for Guttman Community College students, expand CUNY’s Fatherhood Academy and cover costs increases related to CUNY’s current pension and fringe benefit programs. The Executive Budget also proposes increases for CUNY Prep, the Paycheck Plus/Food Bank, the Academic Preparation Program for Law Enforcement Corps, and other programs.The proposed budget plan would, however, count on the City Council to continue funding for the City Council Merit Scholarship, CUNY LEADS, the Murphy Center for Worker Education and other CUNY centers and initiatives.
The City Council and the Mayor will negotiate a final City budget over the next six weeks. PSC members will meet with members of the Council to urge improvements to the CUNY budget and support for the PSC-CUNY contract during that time. Click here for the union’s budget and contract proposals for the City Council and contact Amanda Magalhaes ([email protected]) if you’d like to take part in meetings with City Council members.
PSC Officers Urge More City Funding for CUNY
Steve London, PSC first vice president, and Mike Fabricant, PSC treasurer, testified Fri., Mar. 6 at a City Council hearing examining Mayor de Blasio’s Preliminary Budget for CUNY. London urged the Council to continue support for the centers and initiatives and made the case for greater investment in CUNY. Fabricant laid out the PSC’s city budget plan for 2015-2016.
