CUNY
Digital transformations mean even more competition for digital talent–A Linkedin Report
Caribbean Life, JAN. 28-FEB. 3, 2022 17
BY ISABEL SONG BEER
The Professional Staff
Congress/CUNY (PSC/
CUNY), the union that represents
the 30,000 professional
staff and faculty at the City
University of New York, released
a digital ad Jan. 24
urging New Yorkers to contact
their lawmakers to support
the New Deal for CUNY
(ND4C) legislation.
The bill (S4461/A5843) proposes
a return to tuition-free
instruction at CUNY schools,
as well as setting minimum
staff-to-student ratios among
other benefi ts.
The ND4C legislation was introduced
by state Sen. Andrew
Gounardes and Assemblymember
Karines Reyes, is currently
supported by some of New
York’s most prominent labor
leaders and the Black, Puerto
Rican, Hispanic, and Asian
Legislative Caucus. The bill intends
to reverse the decades of
decreased investment into the
CUNY system by implementing
a $1.7 billion fi ve year plan.
“Free, well-funded high
quality public higher education
for the public college
students of New York City
is within our reach,” said
Professional Staff Congress
President James Davis. “Our
union members are excited
to mobilize around the vision
for the New Deal for CUNY
and eager to work with our
coalition partners and elected
offi cials to make it a reality.”
The release of the ad follows
Governor Kathy Hochul’s
Executive Budget for
the state of New York, where
she announced plans to scale
up SUNY and CUNY funding.
Hochul’s budget proposal allocates
$170 million in funding
to CUNY senior colleges
without increasing tuition,
and also an additional $53
million to hire new full-time
staff and faculty.
However, some say the proposal
doesn’t fully satisfy the
needs of CUNY institutions.
“CUNY needs all the investments
provided in the
Governor’s budget – and
much more!” read the press
release issued by PSC/CUNY.
“Hochul’s Executive Budget
is a decisive rejection of the
state’s pattern of austerity
funding for CUNY. CUNY,
however, identifi ed $313 million
in needed state investments
in the University Budget
Request. The PSC and
their CUNY Rising Alliance
partners are calling on the
Legislature and the Governor
to build on the Executive
Budget by funding the full
$313 million and passing the
New Deal for CUNY.”
PSC/CUNY also argued
that since CUNY students
make strong economic and
social contributions to New
York, investing in CUNY
growth and accessibility
will increase enrollment and
therefore bolster the state
and city’s economic standing
– especially following the hit
caused by the pandemic.
An analysis conducted by
the NYC Comptroller’s offi ce
in 2021 showed that in the
2019 fi scal year, nearly 80%
of CUNY graduates remained
in New York State and contributed
$4 billion in taxes.
Additionally, a report by the
Brooking Institute confi rmed
that CUNY is one of the top
drivers of economic growth
and mobility in the nation.
The ad, which will run on
social media platforms for
several weeks highlights the
benefi ts of supporting the
CUNY system and how it will
improve communities.
Education
CUNY Union launches
ad advocating for New
Deal legislation
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