Dear PSC member,
Having already demanded $128 million in savings from the colleges in Fiscal Year 2024, CUNY central is now clawing back millions in additional operational funds from eight campuses. Please tell the Board of Trustees to reverse this new round of austerity cuts. Sign up to testify, in-person, at the hastily announced Public Hearing tomorrow, December 15, starting at 11 am. Register by 5 pm today to testify – email [email protected] and indicate that you plan to testify about the CUNY Budget Request.
These new cuts will inflict harm that will radiate through this year and beyond. Enrollment is rebounding throughout CUNY and applications are up 386% for Fall 2024 over this Fall, yet colleges’ budget plans are being rejected by the central office, their authorized searches frozen, and OTPS and adjunct budgets slashed. Brooklyn College, for example, has been directed to deliver $3.5 million more in savings this fiscal year after having already saved CUNY $9.3 million, and to find $4.5 million in new savings next fiscal year. York College, where $3.7 million was extracted this fiscal year, has been directed to find $1.9 million more in both this fiscal year and the next. And there are at least six others. This cannot go on! CUNY management must secure and direct the resources our colleges need to serve our students and run our programs. The hearing will be held in City College’s Aaron Davis Hall Theater. The deadline to register to testify is 5 pm today, December 14. Email [email protected]. Testimony is limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Written statements of any length may be submitted here.
Please tell the Board and the Chancellor about the adverse impact of the current and prospective cuts to the college budgets.
In solidarity,
James Davis, President
Published: December 14, 2023
