14 THE QUEENS COURIER • DECEMBER 16, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Queens lawmakers and CUNY chancellor celebrate
completion of seven capital projects at York College
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Queens elected offi cials 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 ribboncutting
ceremony on Friday, Dec. 3.
Th e 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 offi cials,
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 aft er 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 offi ce,
including those no longer in those offi ces,
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.”
Th e 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 audio-visual and lighting
systems; two chemistry and biology labs
in the Academic Core building that were
completely renovated;
the faculty
dining room
that was
compl e tely
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 long-term goals
through to the end no matter the obstacles.
“Th ese projects also illustrate that the
investments of public dollars in CUNY that
benefi t 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 offi cials
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
offi cials, 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 benefi t current
students and generations to come, but also
communities.
“Th ere are high schools and middle
schools that will have an opportunity to
benefi t from the labs and the brick-andmortars
and capital projects we are investing
in,” Miller said. “Th e 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 offi ce 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. “Th ese
completed capital projects will enable
York’s students to have an even richer, more
rewarding higher education experience.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards
believes the capital projects “will enable York’s
students to have an even richer, more rewarding
higher education experience.”
Photos courtesy of CUNY
(From r. to l.) CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Offi cer 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.
(From l. to r.) CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodriguez with York College President York College
President Berenecea Johnson-Eanes and Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Offi cer
Hector Batista.
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