1. COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING:
State Education Law mandates that the City fund one-third of CUNY community college's overall budget, but that level of funding has not been met for nearly a decade.
(a) Do you plan to increase City funding for CUNY?
(b) By how much?
(c) Over what period of time?

The City of New York works extremely hard to meet all of its state-mandated obligations, including full funding for each one of its CUNY's community colleges. Unfortunately, the state likes to issue mandates without attaching the necessary funding we need to fulfill them. Thus, the City must try to meet its goals for CUNY with one hand tied behind our backs, and the City's "maintenance of effort" budgeting for community colleges has not kept pace with increasing costs. While New York State law mandates that student tuition account for no more than 33% of the community college system's budget, students presently cover more than 40% of the bill. While the New York City Comptroller does not have the budgeting power that the Mayor and the City Council hold, I will work hard as an advocate for CUNY, pushing the Governor and the state legislature to increase state aid for the entire CUNY system. I will join with the State Comptroller in urging to the State Legislature to meet the goal set out in the 1970s under the Engler formula reforms, which call for a 40% state contribution to the CUNY community college system.

2. TUITION:
In the 1970's, tuition at CUNY was free. Today, CUNY tuition costs $3,200 at the four-year colleges and $2,500 at the two-year colleges.
(a) Do you support a decrease in CUNY tuition?
(b) If yes, for what academic year do you plan to implement such a reduction?
(c) Would this be a reduction for all CUNY students? Please explain.
(d) Would you return CUNY to the free tuition days of the 1970's?

An Associate's Degree from CUNY is one of the priciest degrees in the nation, second only to Vermont. New York State ranks near the bottom of the list of states in per capita expenditure for higher education. This is an outrage. As Comptroller, I will use the auditing power of the office to demonstrate the vast economic returns to students, business and the City that result from adequate investment in higher education. State funding for higher education in New York City should be seen as an investment opportunity in the productivity, professional development, health and well-being of its citizens. The demands of other priorities will prevent a return to the days of free tuition, at least in the short-term. However, the cost of earning an Associate's Degree should be reduced. I will vigilantly defend CUNY against any attempt to increase tuition costs at the senior colleges.

3. CHILDCARE:
Over 60% of CUNY students are parents, and the majority of this number attend community colleges.
(a) What plans might you have to assist students who are parents?
(b) How would these ideas be reflected in both the City and State budgets?

4. WELFARE:
Last fall, the Work-Study/Internship Bill, which allows students on public assistance to count their campus work-study and internships, was written into State law.
(a) Would you continue to support that legislation?
(b) In addition, would you support legislation that would allow college education (i.e. class attendance) to count as work activity?
(c) Would you initiate such legislation?
(d) What else might you do to assist college students on public assistance?

Education is a vital link for citizens seeking to make the transition from welfare to work. I was one of the first public officials to get CUNY authorized as an official welfare-to-work site, blocking the Administration's attempts to limit transitional employment to street sweeping jobs. I fully support any effort designed to further the goal of helping citizens get the training they need to earn a living in a field that challenges them. I fully support any legislation or other effort to further that goal. In addition to making CUNY more accessible to welfare recipients, one of the best ways to lift some of the burdens and pressures so that educational goals can be reached would be to aggressively extend the provision of child care services to CUNY students.

5. FINANCIAL AID:
According to a National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education's report (Measuring Up 2000: The State-by-State Report Card for Higher Education), New Yorkers who send dependents to college spend more than 1/3 of their family income on higher education-even after financial aid is deducted. This seems to indicate that financial aid, specifically the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), must be expanded.
(a) Do you agree with this statement?
(b) Would you promote and/or support legislation that will enhance TAP and financial aid?
(c) What are some ways you might do so?

TAP is the keystone for keeping college affordable for working class New Yorkers. I fully support expansion of the program. The maximum award should be higher than the current $5,000 a year to better account for cost of living increases. The number of semesters of eligibility should be expanded too.   

6. FACULTY LINES:

 At CUNY's community colleges, full-time faculty represent 44% of the total faculty, while part-time faculty or adjuncts represent 56% of instruction. At the senior college level, CUNY is at a 51% to 49% full-time to part-time ratio. Overall, since 1974, CUNY has lost nearly one-half of their entire full-time faculty.
(a) Do you support the need for more full-time faculty lines?
(b) If so, what ratio between full-time and part-time do you deem as reasonable for a high-quality education, and over what period of time would you plan to implement this ratio?

To restore CUNY, the faculty-to-adjunct ratio should be 70/30. Full-time faculty are necessary to meet and work with students after class and help with extracurricular programming, share in the governance of the institution, and conduct top-notch research in their respective fields. The State Legislature has, in recent years, expanded funding for full-time faculty, but more resources are needed. In the immediate future, I support the allocation of funds to give adjuncts additional pay so that they may be permitted to hold office hours with students. This modest immediate step will at least offer some time to get help from their instructors.

7. MERIT SCHOLARHIPS:

 Merit scholarships, such as the New York City Council Merit Award, provide incentives for academically talented students to attend CUNY. This year, Mayor Guiliani proposed to cut this program in his budget.
(a) If elected, would you support the next Mayor to do the same?
(b) Would you consider establishing additional merit incentives for NYC students?
(c) If yes, please give some examples (e.g. areas of study, merit criteria, etc.).

8. COLLEGE NOW:
College NOW is a CUNY initiative that helps New York City high school students prepare for college through extra academic assistance and training courses at their school and on various community college campuses.
(a) Do you support the College NOW program?
(b) Would you increase funding to enable expanding College NOW?
(c) If yes, by how much and over what period of time?

"College Now" is one of the most exciting initiatives that CUNY has ever undertaken. The initiative offers support services in high school to get students interested and prepared for higher education. I support its expansion as an extraordinary way prepare students for CUNY. Under current plans, "College Now" will be offered in every public school within the next few years. I will work to make sure that plan is put into action.   

9. REMEDIATION:
Last year, the CUNY Master Plan removed remediation from its four-year colleges. Now, extra academic assistance and tutoring are only available to students studying at CUNY's community colleges.
(a) Do you agree with this action?
(b) Why or why not?
(c) Would you restore remediation to the four-year campuses?

The goal of CUNY is to provide accessible, affordable higher education for New Yorkers. Remediation is a central tool in helping citizens get college degrees. I strongly oppose any attempt to eliminate remediation. Much of the recent debate has cast students who need remediation as villains, and this is wrong. Reform should not be politicized. With this in mind, where remediation is carried out-whether in a senior college or community college setting-is of secondary importance. The larger issue is improving the delivery of remediation services so that it moves students along into degree programs. If remediation is only to be carried out at the community colleges, then investments must be made in capital projects to guarantee that the efforts of the community colleges will be successful.  

10. CAPITAL PROJECTS:
With the institution of the CUNY Master Plan and the shift of remediation to the community colleges, some would claim that the community colleges need more basic infrastructure resources such as buildings and technology.
(a) Do you agree with this argument?
(b) If so, are you prepared to propose and to fight for money for capital projects so that the community colleges can successfully absorb CUNY's Master Plan?
(c) What are some ways you might do this?

11. BOARD OF TRUSTEES:
Please give examples of the kind of person you might support to be appointed as a Trustee to CUNY's Board.

Appointments to the Board of Trustees should have experience in the college classroom, a record of scholarly accomplishment, experience in higher education administration, as well as a commitment to CUNY's mission to provide an excellent education at an affordable price available to all New Yorkers. I believe there is also room on the Board for progressive thinkers from the private sector who could provide additional insights on how CUNY can help its students meet new demands posed by the City's ever-changing job market and local economy.

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