(From r. to l.) CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Hector Batista, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards,
York College President Berenecea Johnson-Eanes, CUNY Board of Trustee Una S. T-Clarke, Councilman I. Daneek Miller (l.) and York College student Nish-Hoa Mullings cut
the red ribbon at the unveiling of seven completed capital projects at York College in Jamaica. Photo courtesy of CUNY
Queens lawmakers and CUNY chancellor celebrate
completion of seven capital projects at York College
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 17 - DEC. 23, 2021 19
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Queens elected officials
joined City University of New
York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix
Matos Rodríguez, York College
President Berenecea Johnson-
Eanes and CUNY Board of
Trustee Una S. T-Clarke for
the completion of seven capital
projects at York College with
a ribbon-cutting ceremony on
Friday, Dec. 3.
The project, which represents
a $29.2 million total investment
at the Jamaica campus,
includes a new faculty
dining room, two new lecture
halls, two new science buildings
and new elevators and escalators.
Although it was years in the
making, the projects completed
during the pandemic were
made possible with over $20
million provided by New York
state and the remainder came
from city elected officials, both
past and present.
“I am delighted with the
outcome of the projects,” Johnson
Eanes said. “York College
opened its permanent campus
in 1986 and after three and a
half decades of constant use,
many features were in dire
need of replacement, upgrading
or rewiring. I thank our leaders
in elected office, including
those no longer in those offices,
for their support in allocating
the funds for these projects. I
also extend my sincere gratitude
to Chancellor Matos Rodríguez
for his leadership in
this and so much more. None of
this is possible without CUNY’s
and the chancellor’s support.”
The seven completed capital
projects at the Jamaica campus
includes two lecture hall classrooms
in the Academic Core
building that were renovated to
feature state-of-the-art audiovisual
and lighting systems;
two chemistry and biology labs
in the Academic Core building
that were completely renovated;
the faculty dining room
that was completely renovated
to create a multipurpose, stateof
the-art multimedia and dining
gathering space for faculty,
staff and community use; eight
elevators and 14 escalators
throughout the college were
upgraded; and a new building
management system to provide
automated temperature control
throughout the Academic Core
building.
Rodríguez said the completion
of the seven capital projects
at York College during the
pandemic epitomizes the determination
of CUNY to see longterm
goals through to the end
no matter the obstacles.
“These projects also illustrate
that the investments of
public dollars in CUNY that
benefit our students and mission
are investments that pay
dividends for our city, state and
nation for years to come,” Rodríguez
said. “I would like to
thank Governor Kathy Hochul
and the many other elected officials
who helped make this day
possible, as well as President
Eanes for her leadership.”
Of the $29.2 total funding for
the projects, $21.2 million was
provided by New York state
in the Critical Maintenance
Program, and $8 million from
city elected officials, including
Councilman I. Daneek
Miller, Senator Leroy Comrie
and Queens District Attorney
Melinda Katz, who supported
the projects during her time as
borough president, and various
members of the Queens delegation
of the City Council, past
and present.
Governor Kathy Hochul
said the critical projects will
bolster York College’s campus
and help deliver for students.
“Investing in CUNY means
investing in our future and creating
more pathways to success
for New Yorkers,” Hochul said.
According to Miller, the investment
at York College will
not only benefit current students
and generations to come,
but also communities.
“There are high schools and
middle schools that will have an
opportunity to benefit from the
labs and the brick-and-mortars
and capital projects we are investing
in,” Miller said. “The
York High School for Science
that is on this campus is the
No. 1 school in NYC, and I am
thankful that we are able to do
this and pour into generations
of young scholars and when
they walk through the halls and
see this they are truly excited.”
Richards said he is proud
the Queens borough president’s
office contributed to funding
the projects, which will make
York College an even better and
more modern place for its students
to learn.
“York’s students are attending
college to enrich their lives
and the lives of those around
them, and to grow as passionate,
engaged learners,” Richards
said. “These completed
capital projects will enable
York’s students to have an even
richer, more rewarding higher
education experience.”
/QNS.COM
