File #: Res 0229-2004    Version: * Name: Adequately fund CUNY so as to return it to a tuition-free system.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Higher Education
On agenda: 3/24/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon Governor George Pataki and the New York State Legislature to adequately fund the City University of New York so as to return it to a tuition-free system.
Sponsors: Charles Barron, Maria Baez, John C. Liu, Margarita Lopez, Miguel Martinez, Hiram Monserrate, Bill Perkins, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, Albert Vann
Council Member Sponsors: 10

Res. No. 229

 

Resolution calling upon Governor George Pataki and the New York State Legislature to adequately fund the City University of New York so as to return it to a tuition-free system.

 

By Council Members Barron, Baez, Liu, Lopez, Martinez, Monserrate, Perkins, Sanders, Seabrook and Vann

 

                     Whereas, The City University of New York (“CUNY”), is the largest municipal university system in the United States and the third largest public university system in terms of student numbers in the country; and

Whereas, According to CUNY, the University had a total student enrollment for the Fall 2003 of 213,952, of which 184,183 were enrolled in undergraduate degree programs; and

Whereas, CUNY traces its roots to The Free Academy, which was established in 1847 with the mission and purpose to educate “the whole people;” and

Whereas, In 1961, CUNY’s educational mission was codified in New York State Education Law section 6201, which states that CUNY as “an independent system of higher education,” has a commitment to “academic excellence and to the provision of equal access and opportunity for students, faculty and staff from all ethnic and racial groups and from both sexes;” and

Whereas, In furtherance of this educational mission, CUNY students who were also New York City residents were the beneficiaries of a tuition free policy until 1976, when the policy was changed and students were required to pay tuition for the first time; and

Whereas, Since tuition was implemented in 1976, tuition costs at CUNY have continued to increase, and today full-time undergraduate students who are New York City residents are required to pay $2,800 a year in tuition to attend a community college and $4,000 a year to attend a senior college; and

Whereas, According to statistics provided by CUNY, approximately 43% of their 2003-2004 adopted budget was generated through tuition and other revenue, as opposed to 28% of their adopted budget for 1979-1980; and

Whereas, The United States Department of Education reported in 2003 that New York State's senior and community public colleges were the 15th and sixth most expensive in the nation; and

Whereas, According to CUNY, approximately 70% of their full-time degree students receive financial aid, with 84,000 students receiving federal Pell Grants, 71,000 receiving State TAP grants, and 8,800 being aided by federal Work-Study grants during the 2001-02 academic year; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon Governor George Pataki and the New York State Legislature to adequately fund the City University of New York so as to return it to a tuition-free system.

 

 

 

LS# 400

RA

3/18/2004

H:/word/resolutions/barron/ls#400