NYC
COMPTROLLER CANDIDATE’S SURVEY
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?
Berman
Thompson
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?
Berman
Thompson
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?
Berman
Thompson
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?
Berman
Thompson
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?
Berman
Thompson
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?
Berman
Thompson
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.).
Berman
Thompson
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?
Berman
Thompson
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?
Berman
Thompson
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?
Berman
Thompson
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.
Berman
Thompson
12.
PRIORITIES:
While many individuals may be committed to a certain issue, they often
also have a prioritized list.
(a) What are your top three higher education priorities?
(b) Please list and explain.
Berman
Thompson
For more information contact: Miriam
Kramer.
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