EDUCATION
Richards allocates $4.5M to four Queens CUNY campuses
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
Four City University of
New York (CUNY) colleges
in Queens received a significant
financial boost from
Queens Borough President
Donovan Richards’ office on
Monday, May 25.
At a press conference at
the Queens College Student
Union Diner, Richards announced
his commitment to
allocate $4.5 million, which
are included in the city’s fiscal
year 2022, to a series of
projects for Queens College,
LaGuardia Community College,
Queensborough Community
College (QCC) and
York College.
“We will allow CUNY to
continue to be a beacon of
educational excellence and
a transformative engine of
social mobility that enriches
every part of the fabric of our
city,” Richards said.
President of Queens College
Frank Wu was delighted
to welcome his colleagues,
students and elected officials
to the campus.
“I thank all of our dedicated,
elected officials for your
support for public higher education
as the engine of the
American Dream,” Wu said.
“It is critical for thousands
of students, not only here,
but all the CUNY campuses
throughout the borough.”
Félix V. Matos Rodríguez,
the chancellor of the nation’s
largest urban public university
system that was founded
in 1847, thanked the borough
president for his lobbying efforts
with the city council to
secure the funds for CUNY.
“There is no dollar that
you’re going to put in as
borough president that’s going
to last. It’s going to give
more,” Rodríguez said. “All
of those announcements
made today are going to create
jobs, many for residents
here in Queens where we
need them.”
The funds allocated to
Queens College will go towards
the renovation of the
Food Science and Management
laboratory. It supports
TIMESLEDGER | Q 28 NS.COM | MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2021
studies in food management
and sustainability, which
contribute to the health and
well being of the community.
Zaire Couloute, president
of the Queens College Student
Association, thanked
the borough president and
his team for their vision and
commitment to CUNY.
“What you’re doing here
today, Borough President
Richards is sending a clear
signal that CUNY colleges
are closely tied to the future
of our borough into highereducation
and their students
and families that deserve
modern facilities,” Couloute
said. “Your announcement
is truly tied to the economic
recovery of our students, our
city, and our borough.”
The financial capital for
LaGuardia College is dedicated
to the construction of
science, occupational and
physical therapy labs, which
will enable the college to provide
more students with the
training they need to succeed
in healthcare professions.
Sunil Gupta, vice president
of LaGuardia Community
College, thanked
Richards for the generous
contribution on behalf of La-
Guardia Community College
President Ken Adams, faculty,
and students.
“LaGuardia graduates
some of the highest numbers
of STEM science, technology,
engineering, and
mathematics disciplined
students,” Gupta said. “And
as we are building more equitable
jobs in our borough,
this lab you have supported
will help towards that goal.”
York College will finally
see the renovation of the
college’s outdoor track and
field, which had become unusable
due to subsurface soil
erosion. Once the renovation
is completed, the facility can
be fully utilized by both students
and residents and will
be able to host championship
level competitions.
Dr. Berenecea Johnson
Eanes, president of York
College, said that the investment
was the beginning of
the “One York” agenda and
that the renovation was long
overdue.
“We are excited about
what is going to happen with
that track and field,” Eanes
said. “And I was reminded
on my arrival that I needed
to have ribbon-cutting and
get some young people in our
community and our students
on the track and field.”
The funds for QCC will be
allocated for the construction
of a third chemistry lab.
Additionally, the restrooms
at QCC, which serves more
students with disabilities
than any other CUNY college,
will be renovated to meet the
Americans with Disabilities
Act requirements.
Christine Mangino, president
of QCC, thanked Richards
and City Councilman
Barry Grodenchik for their
support and said.
“Opening up an additional
chemistry lab will enable
additional students to participate
in undergraduate research,”
said Mangino.
Newly-elected City Councilman
James Gennaro
praised CUNY for its dedication
to its student body.
“It was a privilege to be
able to be part of the lives
of people who were not only
trying to move themselves
forward but were doing so
much for so many,” Gennaro,
who taught at CUNY in the
late 90s, said.
Grodenchik described
CUNY as “the portal to
greatness for so many New
Yorkers who have gone on
from this great school and
all the CUNY campuses to do
so many wonderful things.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards announces the allocation of $4.5 million to CUNY
campuses in Queens at a press conference at Queens College. Photos by Gabriele Holtermann
CUNY staff, students, and elected officials pose for a photo-op.
/NS.COM
