Statement by CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez on the Enacted FY 2025 New York State Budget

"We thank Governor Hochul and our state legislative leaders for working together to enact a budget that builds on their commitment to public higher education and includes critical strategic investments in CUNY that will sustain and expand our ability to provide high-quality, affordable education and pathways to successful careers to New Yorkers of all backgrounds.

"The FY 2025 spending plan includes $76 million in additional operating support for CUNY senior colleges, notably including funding for recently negotiated labor contracts, as well as an expansion of operating aid that will enable our community colleges to continue rebounding from the disruptions caused by the pandemic and help CUNY address its ongoing structural deficit. The budget also includes an investment of $481 million in new capital funding to sustain CUNY's ongoing program of critical maintenance, expansion and improvements of its campuses throughout the city.

"The enacted budget stabilizes operational support while providing key increases for a range of schools and programs that are at the leading edge of CUNY's equity-driven mission, including the CUNY School of Medicine, micro credentialing programs to train teachers in the science of reading, the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Hub, the SEEK and College Discovery opportunity programs, the CUNY Black Male Initiative and many others. The Governor's Empire AI initiative will allow CUNY to provide cutting-edge opportunities for students and faculty in an emerging and important tech sector.

"We also applaud improvements to the state's Tuition Assistance Program that will increase the minimum award from $500 to $1,000 along with income thresholds for eligibility, allowing thousands more CUNY students to qualify for financial aid. At a time when the value of higher education is being scrutinized, the expansion of New York State's generous financial aid programs recognizes the importance of affordability in encouraging New Yorkers to pursue their educational and career goals.

"On behalf of CUNY's community of students, faculty and staff, I express my sincere gratitude to Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Heastie, Senators Krueger and Stavisky, Assembly Members Weinstein and Fahy, and members of the New York City delegation for recognizing CUNY's value as an unrivaled engine of upward mobility worthy of visionary investments."

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