Agency Mission

The mission of the City University of New York (CUNY) is to provide affordable higher education with a focus on the urban community of New York City. The City University has 11 senior colleges, a Graduate School and University Center, a law school and six community colleges. Every year CUNY educates over 200,000 students in degree-granting programs.

Year-to-Year Change

The Executive recommends a total of $974,000,000 to the City University of New York's operating budget in Fiscal Year 1999-2000, which represents a decrease of $18,000,000 to its operating budget over the prior year level to reflect transfer of the Collaborative programs out of the University to the New York City Board of Education and reduced appropriation authority related to last year's vetoes. The proposed budget includes no support for other mandatory contractual obligations or critical program need. The University's operations continue to suffer from drastic cuts to its budget over a four year inflation period from 1995-96 to 1998-99.

Legislative Changes

The Assembly adds $3,900,000 in aid to localities funding for the purposes of maintaining the City University of New York (CUNY)/New York City Board of Education Collaborative Programs at the University. The highly successful programs include the following:

Affiliated High Schools

-- Brooklyn College Academy (Brooklyn College)

-- Hostos Lincoln Academy (Hosto CC)

-- Kingsborough High School (Kingsborough CC)

-- Middle College High School (Medgar Evers, LaGuardia CC)

-- International High School (LaGuardia CC)

-- University Heights High School (Bronx CC)

Special Projects

-- American Social History Project (Graduate School)

-- Virtual Enterprise (Baruch College)

-- Project CARE (NYC Tech)

-- College NOW (Kingsborough CC)

-- CUNY/Board of Ed Writing Project (Lehman College)

-- Gateway to Higher Education (City College)

Legislative Proposals

The Assembly recognizes the importance of maintaining New York's higher education system. The City University has suffered massive reductions to its operating budget over the past four years. These reductions have culminated in staffing problems, lack of adequate childcare for students, and lack of opportunity for students at the University. In recognition of these needs the Assembly proposes a total of $52,100,000 in additional support for vital university programs.

The Assembly proposes an additional $34,500,000 in operational support for inflation and other contractual, and mandatory cost increases and for maintenance of critical programs university-wide.

The Assembly adds $8,500,000 in academic year support to increase community college base aid by $150 per full-time equivalent student for a total of $2,200 per full-time equivalent student. This increase will provide community colleges with increased financial stability during the upcoming school year and eliminate the need for any tuition increases.

The Assembly recognizes that the University's science, engineering, and technology teaching professionals are vital to the continued success of the institution at educating students and advancing research. The Assembly therefore includes a science, engineering, and technology faculty line enhancement of $7,500,000 in academic year support that provides for approximately 150 additional professional lines university-wide to promote full-time faculty maintenance in these academic areas throughout the system.

The Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) and College Discover (CD) provides valuable academic assistance to economically and academically disadvantaged students in their pursuit of college degrees. The Assembly proposes an additional $3,100,000 for these programs which represents a restoration to their 1994-95 level of funding. All State funding for SEEK shall be allocated for those services currently being provided through the program.

The current level of child care provision in our City University is not enough to meet with the present demands of students with children. The Assembly therefore proposes an additional $2,000,000 to enhance and expand current child care operations at the City University.

The Assembly proposes that the City University be exempted from providing mandatory capital matching funds for Medgar Evers Capital Projects for the purposes of allocating $5,000,000 in capital project monies included in the 1998-99 State Budget.

The Assembly proposes that community college operational aid increases be allocated at appropriated levels for the 1999-2000 State Fiscal Year.

The Assembly proposes a maintenance of effort mandate that the local sponsor contribute its legal one-third share of the operating cost for community colleges at the University.