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Welcome to Support CUNY, which assists members and friends of The City University of New York community in communicating their views to city, state and federal legislators and officials. We invite participation by students, faculty, alumni, parents, civic and business leaders, and others who care about the quality and affordability of public higher education.
On November 23, 2009 the Board of Trustees of The City University of New York approved the 2010-11 budget request. The University is experiencing record enrollments this year with the number of students taking credit bearing courses raising to more than 260,000 students. In particular, CUNY's community college enrollment grew by nine percent in the Fall 2009 semester and the six community colleges are facing serious space and faculty demands. This enrollment reflects both the challenging economic times and New Yorkers' increased confidence in CUNY where students can obtain an education of the highest quality.
Since 2006, the University has advanced the CUNY COMPACT. The CUNY COMPACT is a business plan to create a predictable funding stream to finance public higher education. The COMPACT avoids large tuition increases in difficult economic times. The COMPACT calls for state and city funding, philanthropy, university efficiencies and small predictable tuition increases. In keeping with the COMPACT plan, the University is requesting $38.7 million in programmatic increases at the senior colleges. For the community colleges the University is requesting a $24.6 million for programmatic increases including a $50 per FTE increase in community college base aid. The University is requesting a higher percentage increase for the community colleges based on record enrollment at the community colleges. The University has also included plans for a new community college in its budget request to accomodate the increasingly crowded conditions at the community colleges.
The Governor's annual State of the State message was held on January 6, 2010 and his Executive budget was released on January 19, 2010. The Executive budget recommends an $84.4 million cut to the senior colleges of which $20.8 million is related to proposed workforce action to reduce salary and fringe benefit costs, including salary deferral to be negotiated with the unions. For the community colleges a base aid reduction of $285 per FTE is recommended. This reduction takes community college base aid funding levels back to the level of fiscal year 2005. There is also a $256 million dollar reduction in CUNY capital disbursements over the next five years, limiting the University's ability to fit new projects into its plans.
The Tuition Assistance Program has also been cut. The Executive budget proposes a $75 reduction to TAP awards, increases academic and minimum credit requirements and would eliminate TAP for graduate students. CUNY students receive approximately twenty percent of the total TAP awards in New York State. Many students are supporting families and working in addition to attending school. Our students are some of the poorest in the State. In many instances, these changes may prohibit students from continuing to pursue their degree.
On the positve side, the Executive budget proposed the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act which recommends a number of adjustments related to tuition and regulatory provisions. The act would allow CUNY and SUNY to receive and disburse revenues from tuition and self supporting program activities without legislative approval. It would also authorize the Board of Trustees of CUNY to raise tuition incrementally up to an annual cap of two and half times the five year rolling average of the Higher Education Price Index. The act also permits differential tuition by program. The bill also allows for greater flexibility in procurement procedures, and we fully support this effort to improve the efficiency of our purchasing.
Late in the month of June the Legislature passed the education budget which restored cuts to community college base aid and the Tuition Assistance Program. However, the Governor vetoed those restorations and many others added by the New York State Legislature. Currently, the Legislature is still negotiating the status of the New York State Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act. If an agreement is reached on the issue, it is anticipated to be passed by the Legislature on August 3rd and 4th. We will keep you apprised as negotiations continue.
Thank you so much for your support in this year's campaign. Facing a very grim fiscal picture in the City of New York, CUNY was able with your advocacy to positively change the operating and capital budgets for The City University of New York. The City Council restored $21.4 million to community colleges and key initiatives such as the Vallone Scholarships and the Black Male Initiative. On the capital side the adoped budget includes $23.3 million in mayoral funds for community college critical maintenance projects.
President Obama's belief in the importance of higher education and its connection to a healthy economy is shown in the 2011 federal budget. We ask your support in advocating for the following proposals.
Highlights of President Obama's proposed 2011 federal budget:
- President Obama's American Graduation Initiative proposed back in July was funded at $10.6 billion for community colleges over the next ten years. The proposal aims to graduate five million more students by 2010. In his State of the Union Address, the president encouraged the Senate to pass the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility legislation. The House of Representatives passed legislation (HR 3221) back in September of 2009.
- Proposed American Opportunity Tax Credit of $10,000 for the first four years of post-secondary education.
- Income Based Repayment Program of Student Loans would be changed. Percentage of total income a borrower would have to pay while paying loan back would be lowered from 15 percent to ten percent. Also if the loan is still unpaid after 20 years the loan would be forgiven. In the past the requirement was 25 years.
- Increases PELL grant maximum award by $160 to $5,710 in 2011. After that, the maximum award would increase annually by the rate of inflation plus 1 percent, bringing it to an estimated $6,900 by 2019.
- $1.2 billion for "graduation promise grants" over the next three years
- Expands College Access and Completion Fund by one billion dollars.
- $4 million increase to Title III-A Strengthening Institutions Program.
- $6 million increase for Hispanic-Serving Institutions.
- Department of Education's Adult education programs increased by $14 million.
- Adult Basic and Literacy Education State Grants are increased by $30 million.
- Increase of $100 million for a College Pathways and Accelerated Learning Program to increase high school graduation rates and college preparation. It would support early college, dual enrollment program such as College Now currently run by CUNY.
Please join this historic effort!! Your participation matters!! Please ask 5 friends to join the campaign. An educated citizenry provides a strong tax base, a well-trained workforce, and creative human capital to enhance the quality of life in New York. That is why it is so important to invest in CUNY.
Sign up with Support CUNY today! 
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