Chancellor Goldstein Stepping Down
Matthew Goldstein, chancellor of CUNY since 1999, has announced he plans to step down this summer. Dr. Goldstein has led efforts to rebuild the ranks of full-time faculty at CUNY and agreed to meaningful contractual improvements to pay and working conditions for full- and part-time faculty and staff. Two thousand new full-time faculty lines were added during his tenure; and PSC initiatives such as 80% pay for sabbaticals, paid parental leave, and professional development grants for adjuncts HEOs and CLTs were negotiated.
But controversies central to mission of CUNY have bookended Dr. Goldstein’s time as chancellor, and faculty governance has been shredded. At the start of his chancellorship, Dr. Goldstein implemented the end of remediation at the senior colleges, a change that created a more tiered university with open access only in the associate-degree granting colleges. At the end, he has barreled ahead with Pathways, a curriculum established without the involvement of elected faculty representatives and over the intense objections of thousands of faculty, which puts the quality of a CUNY education at risk. For faculty and staff, Chancellor Goldstein will have a complicated legacy.
Questions for the Next Mayor—at PSC’s Mayoral Forum Tues., Apr. 23
How do the leading candidates for Mayor of New York City plan to support CUNY? How will they approach negotiations for the City’s many expired labor contracts? What qualities do they see as critical for appointees to the CUNY Board of Trustees and for the next CUNY chancellor? Questions like these aren’t being asked by the media, or addressed at other mayoral forums. That’s why PSC is hosting a Mayoral Forum on Tues., Apr. 23 from 7-9 PM. Bill de Blasio, Adolfo Carrion, John Liu, Christine Quinn, and Bill Thompson have agreed to appear. Other candidates’ confirmations are pending. Journalist Tom Robbins will moderate. You can RSVP for the forum at this link and download a flyer to share with colleagues at this link. It will be in room 201 of the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College (2180 3rd Ave., at 119th St.). For more information, contact Amanda Magalhaes.
PSC’s CUNY at The Council Advocacy Day—Next Wed., Apr. 24
PSC members we will lobby for greater investment in community colleges and financial aid at our CUNY at the Council advocacy day next Tues. Apr. 24. The event is cosponsored by NYPIRG and CUNYUSS. Click here to sign up to lobby alongside CUNY students and meet with City Council members in their offices at 250 Broadway. To review PSC’s city budget platform and learn about trends in City funding for CUNY, click here to download the PSC booklet Invest in Opportunity, Invest in CUNY Community Colleges. Contact Amanda Magalhaes for further details.
Celebrate Women’s Activism at a Screening of Passionate Politics—Fri., Apr. 19
The PSC Women’s Committee invites you to a screening of Passionate Politics, a documentary about lesbian feminist trailblazer Charlotte Bunch. The film will be shown Fri., Apr. 19 in the PSC Union Hall (61 Broadway, 16th floor). Doors open at 6:30 PM. A discussion with filmmaker Tami Gold will follow the film. Refreshments provided. RSVP with Marcia Newfield at [email protected]. Learn more at passionatepoliticsfilm.com.
Adjunct Health Insurance Extended Through April 30
The current adjunct health insurance through the PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund is extended through April 30. (Read the message here.) The union continues to work closely with University management to gain final approvals.
