This page will allow faculty and staff members of The City University of New York to advocate for restorations of funds from New York State to the CUNY budget.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to seek your assistance in securing funding for The City University of New York. CUNY is facing a budget reduction of $84.4 million. This is in addition to large cuts over the past two years. Restoring these funds will allow the University to enhance the student academic experience by hiring more full-time faculty and increasing student support services. CUNY's enrollment is at its highest point ever and increased demand coupled with severe cuts will only serve to threaten the academic quality that the University has worked so hard to preserve.

In recent years, CUNY has made strides to increase the number of full-time faculty in our classrooms. The CUNY cuts proposed in the Executive budget would cause the University's full-time faculty numbers to stagnate or, even worse, seriously decline. Restoration of funds will allow CUNY to hire more full-time faculty and continue to foster an environment of national prominence. Increased full-time faculty will assist the University by increasing retention rates and graduation rates.

CUNY also needs restoration of funds for its capital budget which was cut by $256 million over five years. The average age of a CUNY building is approximately 50 years old. Enrollment increases, especially at the community colleges, have resulted in serious space deficits across campus and strain our aging facilities. We need funds for updated equipment and facilities. This is especially true in the science buildings. Please do not cut capital needs in CUNY's budget at this critical time. It will hamper progress we are just beginning to make.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
January 28, 2010