CUNY Receives Over $15 Million in Federal Funding from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, Members of Congress

Funding Will Expand Academic Programs, Support Workforce Development Initiatives, Upgrade STEM Labs and Establish University Emergency Operations Center

The City University of New York has received more than $15 million from Congressional Omnibus Appropriations to support 12 projects and programs across nine campuses, including the Central Office. The funds, an increase of 25% over last year, will help finance workforce development initiatives, upgrade STEM lab facilities, expand academic programs, strengthen CUNY's emergency response protocols and address infrastructure upgrades, including the preservation of the national landmark Louis Armstrong House Museum, the former home of the country's first Black popular music icon.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congress Members Adriano Espaillat, Nicole Malliotakis, Gregory Meeks and Jerry Nadler made the allocations, which were part of the $1.2 trillion Fiscal Year 2024 bill signed into law by President Biden in March.

The funds will enable the City College of New York to create a permanent headquarters for its Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Development Initiative, while also expanding the program's courses for New Yorkers looking to work in construction, clean energy and other fields within the urban infrastructure sector. It will also provide support for 100 projects at the College of Staten Island's STEM laboratories, including new equipment and construction of collaborative workspaces; fund a new wind tunnel lab and research database for the aviation program at York College; create a state-of-the-art forensics and cybercrime investigations laboratory at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice; and expand two of Hostos Community College's career programs that offer students administrative jobs on campus and simultaneous support from a faculty mentor.

"We thank Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand and our representatives in Congress who are working so diligently to help CUNY further its mission to lift New York," said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez."These federal appropriations, which will fund a wide range of innovative and critical initiatives throughout the University, will help us provide our students with the support they need to succeed academically, socially and professionally."

"I am so proud to support the City University of New York by delivering $3 million in federal funds for community projects, including funding for student mentorship and research programs at Hostos Community College, environmental health research at Medgar Evers College, the preservation of music icon Louis Armstrong's historic home in Queens and to upgrade CUNY's Emergency Operations Center for maximized emergency preparedness," said Senator Schumer. "CUNY's 25 campuses are the fabric of higher and continuing education in New York City, providing incredible opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds. I won't stop fighting for resources to support CUNY, its students and research initiatives, and the safety of all students, faculty, staff and visitors."

"New Yorkers have long relied on CUNY for high-quality public education, and this $15 million in federal funding will ensure CUNY can continue to put our students on the path to success," said Senator Gillibrand. "I'm especially proud that this funding will support the great work the Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative is doing to build a career pipeline for the next generation of infrastructure workers. We need this workforce now more than ever since President Biden signed the once-in-a-generation Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I'm so proud to have brought home this funding for CUNY, and I'll continue to work tirelessly to make sure all students can access high-quality education."

"I was proud to secure over $4 million in federal funding to secure an official headquarters for the Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative that will benefit students from my district and across New York by increasing workforce training and providing them with new learning opportunities," said Congress Member Espaillat. "Additionally, I was pleased to deliver $850,000 for the Bronx Community College automotive technology degree program, which will directly support the only automotive technology associate's degree program in the CUNY system. This program will be essential in helping to train students in a nationally in-demand career, making them desirable applicants to potential employers."

"I'm proud to have secured this funding to help the College of Staten Island continue to upgrade their STEM facilities and purchase new state-of-the-art equipment so our students can learn in the best environment possible," said Congress Member Malliotakis. "This investment will allow CSI to provide biology, chemistry, physics, math and engineering students with a high-quality education and fantastic hands-on learning experience so they can thrive in their studies and become successful leaders in the STEM field."

"I'm elated to have secured funds that aim to support New York's future leaders in the fields of aviation and engineering," said Congress Member Meeks. "Not only will this funding benefit current students, but it will strengthen research in science and technology across the board. As technological achievement and innovation have been a longstanding symbol of our country, it's imperative that we continue to make critical investments in our communities to continue these advancements."

"For decades, John Jay College has led the way in cultivating the next generation of criminal justice leaders," said Congress Member Nadler. "Now, I'm proud of my work to help continue this legacy of success by delivering $963,000 in community project funding for a cybercrime and digital forensics suite to prepare students for careers in this emerging field."

More than $15 million in federal funding will be used to establish initiatives and other enhancements throughout CUNY, including the following:

The City College of New Yorkreceived more than $5.6 million:

• $4.1 million from Congress Member Espaillat for establishing headquarters for the Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Development Initiative (RIWI), which will enable the program to expand its physical facilities.
• RIWI also received $1.5 million from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, which will allow them to expand their programs that offer historically underserved New Yorkers the chance to build their analytical and operational skills and prepare themselves for in-demand jobs in the rapidly changing field of infrastructure.

The College of Staten Islandreceived more than $4.6 million:

• $1.7 million from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to fund the purchase of new equipment and technology to expand the Wind Energy Workforce Education and Training program, create workforce development curricula for students looking to work in New York's fast-growing offshore wind industry and purchase equipment for instruction in sustainable energy that will be used by the Engineering and Environmental Science program.
• $2.9 million from Congress Member Malliotakis for many STEM lab improvements that include the construction of a math instruction lab for 30 students and a new mobile robotics training system for the engineering lab, which will help prepare students for careers in industries like manufacturing, healthcare, aerospace and more. Additional upgrades include new systems for patient, birthing and neonatal simulation in the nursing lab; biology lab improvements such as a new interactive 3D anatomy display table and virtual reality anatomy visualization systems; new computers, protective fume hoods and scientific instruments like a liquid chromatography machine, which is used to separate compounds in liquid samples, for the chemistry labs; and new telescopes and other equipment for the physics labs.

Hostos Community Collegereceived $1 million from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to expand two existing on-campus employment programs: the Mentor/Mentee Jobs on Campus program and the Hostos Research Center's faculty-student mentorship program. These initiatives pay students and pair them with faculty members who help them learn administrative, professional workplace and research skills.

The CUNY Central Officereceived $1 million from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to establish an emergency operations center. It will be part of a larger system-wide plan to improve CUNY's emergency preparedness program and help university emergency managers and first responders continue to effectively respond to emergencies and communicate with city, state and federal officials and first responders.

John Jay College of Criminal Justicereceived $963,000 from Senators Schumer, Gillibrand and Congress Member Nadler to create a state-of-the-art forensics and cybercrime investigations laboratory and research suite. Under the direction of the college's Center for Cybercrime Studies, the new lab will enhance research, instruction, professional training and technical capacity to address threats and vulnerabilities within emerging technologies. It will also enable the Center to better assist public and private organizations to understand the ever-changing cybercrime risk landscape, detect cybersecurity vulnerabilities and identify the methods used by cybercriminals to evade security measures.

Bronx Community Collegereceived $850,000 from Congress Member Espaillat to renovate Guggenheim Hall for its automotive technology degree program. The renovations will allow a new classroom and a garage, providing more than 5,000 square feet of instructional space. The project will also include replacing the building's lower roof and additional upgrades to areas like the HVAC and lighting systems, creating a safer and more energy-efficient learning space.

TheLouis Armstrong House Museum, which has a longstanding partnership with Queens College, received $500,000 from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand for the renovation, repair and modernization of this historic structure, which was built in 1910. A team of historic preservation experts determined the scope for the project, which includes roof replacement, electrical updates and water damage remediation.

Medgar Evers Collegereceived $500,000 from Senators Schumer and Gillibrand to purchase equipment for the environmental health programs of its chemistry and environmental science department. The department will help fight against environmental pollution by monitoring sources of environmental contamination, and sharing its knowledge with government and research agencies to help inform policies that promote environmental justice and sustainability.

York Collegereceived $300,000 from Congress Member Meeks to fund a new wind tunnel lab and aviation research database for its Aviation Institute's aviation management program. The new wind tunnel lab will help students understand wind characteristics, including pressure and speed variations, and gain crucial experience in aerodynamics that will prepare them for careers in engineering, aviation and other related fields.

The City University of New Yorkis the nation's largest urban public university, a transformative engine of social mobility that is a critical component of the lifeblood of New York City. Founded in 1847 as the nation's first free public institution of higher education, CUNY today has seven community colleges, 11 senior colleges and seven graduate or professional institutions spread across New York City's five boroughs, serving more than 225,000 undergraduate and graduate students and awarding 50,000 degrees each year. CUNY's mix of quality and affordability propels almost six times as many low-income students into the middle class and beyond as all the Ivy League colleges combined. More than 80 percent of the University's graduates stay in New York, contributing to all aspects of the city's economic, civic and cultural life and diversifying the city's workforce in every sector. CUNY's graduates and faculty have received many prestigious honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 26 MacArthur "Genius" Grants. The University's historic mission continues to this day: provide a first-rate public education to all students, regardless of means or background. To learn more about CUNY, visit https://www.cuny.edu.

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