The Advocate - January 2006 Issue

Temporary Reprieve for GC Tuition Hikes

CUNY graduate students will be spared from tuition increases the 2006-07 school year, but should prepare for expected annual increases over the next four years.

According to GC President Bill Kelly, the current discussions about CUNY tuition increases in Albany for the 2006-07 year specifically exclude all graduate students, who were hit with an 18+% hike last year. CUNY undergraduates are looking at an annual $300 increase, although nothing has been finalized.

Nonetheless, the rumor that GC students would be spared from the annual 2.5% tuition raises in 'The Compact' turned out to be unfounded. The Board of Trustees overwhelmingly approved 'The Compact' (the funding proposal for the CUNY Master Plan) on November 28, though USS Representative Carlos Sierra abstained. But while the funding scene has been given the Board's stamp of approval, the state legislature still needs to agree to it and vote the money into the budget. So students can plausibly expect it to go into effect in the 2007-08 school year, and run for four years.

The DSC denounced the tuition increases in November, although not the Compact as a whole (see correction, page 2), but at least one DSC representative told THE ADVOCATE that the DSC had not gone far enough in its condemnation. CUNY Professional Staff Congress President, Barbara Bowen, did denounce the full Compact, which calls for a renewed focus on private fundraising (which Bowen called the "privatization" of CUNY), increased efficiency standards for faculty and staff, and the tuition increases. In her testimony to the Chancellor on November 21, Bowen acknowledged the difficult position the Chancellor is in considering the consistent decline in State funds to CUNY, calling on him demand that the State restore the funds and fight for parity between SUNY and CUNY.

Currently, according to Bowen, State funds for a full-time-equivalent student at CUNY amount to $5,846, compared to $10,677 for the same student at

SUNY. Bowen called this disparity "unconscionable," noting that "it's hard to imagine that it doesn't have something to do with race."


HOME	ABOUT	SUBSCRIBE	SUBMISSION	ADVERTISE	DONATE	STAFF
*Inside the Current Issue* ARCHIVES INDEX: November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 May 2005 March 2005 February 2005 December 2004 October 2004 September 2004 Rally Photo Album May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 December 2003 October 2003 September 2003 Comments or questions about the site?: advocate webmaster The current issue will be available online within 7 days of printed publication.		Temporary Reprieve for GC Tuition Hikes CUNY graduate students will be spared from tuition increases the 2006-07 school year, but should prepare for expected annual increases over the next four years. According to GC President Bill Kelly, the current discussions about CUNY tuition increases in Albany for the 2006-07 year specifically exclude all graduate students, who were hit with an 18+% hike last year. CUNY undergraduates are looking at an annual $300 increase, although nothing has been finalized. Nonetheless, the rumor that GC students would be spared from the annual 2.5% tuition raises in 'The Compact' turned out to be unfounded. The Board of Trustees overwhelmingly approved 'The Compact' (the funding proposal for the CUNY Master Plan) on November 28, though USS Representative Carlos Sierra abstained. But while the funding scene has been given the Board's stamp of approval, the state legislature still needs to agree to it and vote the money into the budget. So students can plausibly expect it to go into effect in the 2007-08 school year, and run for four years. The DSC denounced the tuition increases in November, although not the Compact as a whole (see correction, page 2), but at least one DSC representative told THE ADVOCATE that the DSC had not gone far enough in its condemnation. CUNY Professional Staff Congress President, Barbara Bowen, did denounce the full Compact, which calls for a renewed focus on private fundraising (which Bowen called the "privatization" of CUNY), increased efficiency standards for faculty and staff, and the tuition increases. In her testimony to the Chancellor on November 21, Bowen acknowledged the difficult position the Chancellor is in considering the consistent decline in State funds to CUNY, calling on him demand that the State restore the funds and fight for parity between SUNY and CUNY. Currently, according to Bowen, State funds for a full-time-equivalent student at CUNY amount to $5,846, compared to $10,677 for the same student at SUNY. Bowen called this disparity "unconscionable," noting that "it's hard to imagine that it doesn't have something to do with race."
		Inside the Current Issue