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 charter of the City of New York does not give the Public Advocate budgetary powers. However, as Public Advocate I will use my 16 years experience negotiating the city budget to advocate for increased City funding for CUNY.

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?

I support free tuition for CUNY.

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?

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?

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?

(a) I have advocated in support of the needs of both the students of CUNY and the PSC for additional full time faculty for years.
(b) As Public Advocate, I would not have direct responsibility for budget negotiations concerning CUNY, but would use the resources of my office to help document the problems with the current funding inadequacies for full time faculty and advocate to reverse the current trend as quickly as possible.

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?

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?

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.

The Public Advocate cannot appoint members to the Board of Trustees. 

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.

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