Res. No. 1828

Resolution calling upon the City of New York to allocate matching funds for capital appropriations provided by the State of New York for community colleges of the City University of New York.

By Council Members Avella, James, Stewart and Dickens

                     Whereas, The City University of New York (“CUNY”) is the nation’s largest urban public university, serving more than 243,000 degree-credit students and 273,000 adult, continuing and professional education students; and

                     Whereas, CUNY is comprised of 23 institutions, including 6 community colleges: Borough of Manhattan Community College, Bronx Community College, Hostos Community College, Kingsborough Community College, LaGuardia Community College and Queensborough Community College; and

                     Whereas, Collectively, the CUNY community colleges serve an enrollment of more than 80,000 degree-seeking students and over 134,000 adult and continuing education students; and

                     Whereas, Community colleges are a resource for the entire community, developing programs to meet a broad range of academic needs, providing workforce development, basic adult education and language instruction; and

                     Whereas, Through open admissions, low tuition, convenient campus locations and a variety of courses, community colleges are accessible to a diverse population who might otherwise not have the opportunity to obtain a postsecondary education; and

                     Whereas, Since 1999, CUNY’s community colleges have seen a 30 percent increase in enrollment; and

                     Whereas, Typically, during times of economic instability, citizens turn to community colleges to re-tool their skills, gain new competencies and advance their education; and

                     Whereas, CUNY community colleges are funded through three major sources: the State, the City and tuition and fee revenue; and

                     Whereas, According to New York State Education Law Section 6304(1)(c), “The master plan, standards and regulations prescribed by the state university trustees shall include provisions for financing the capital costs and operating costs of such [community] colleges in the following manner: . . .The local sponsor or sponsors shall provide one-half of the amount of the capital costs”; and

Whereas, According to the June 2008 Final Report of Findings and Recommendations of the New York State Commission on Higher Education, many New York State counties consistently fail to match the State’s capital appropriations, leaving State capital appropriations unspent, despite unmet needs for improvements at community colleges; and

                     Whereas, State appropriations are wasted when the City fails to provide matching funds and CUNY community colleges struggle to improve their facilities on their own so that their growing student body can receive a quality education; and

Whereas, Since 1996, the City has failed to match approximately $180 million in state appropriations for the capital needs of the community colleges; but for Reso A funds provided by the Council and the borough presidents, the amount of the City's underfunding would have been approximately $337 million; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the City of New York to allocate matching funds for capital appropriations provided by the State of New York for community colleges of the City University of New York.

Amended by CM Avella

LS #5559

2/18/2009