November 22, 2016 the CUNY Rising Alliance held a forum at Borough Hall in Brooklyn, calling for free tuition at CUNY. I brought my policy class. The place was filled to the brim with people.
One of my students asked why we were talking about free tuition when tuition was going up. I replied that sometimes we have to speak up for what we want, not just what we are against.
A free education is a part and parcel of a healthy democratic society, where knowledge communicates power, checks dictators, and informs dissent. CUNY Rising was changing the conversation, pointing out that everyone needs higher education, and tuition should be free.
It is more important than ever.
 |
| This writer and one of my old students at CUNY Rising Nov 22, 2016. |
And today.
That change in the conversation is bearing results.
Governor
Andrew Cuomo has announced a proposal to provide free tuition at CUNY and SUNY
schools for students with annual family incomes below $125,000. He made the
announcement yesterday morning alongside Senator Bernie Sanders at LaGuardia
Community College. Here is the PoliticoNY
coverage and here is the news
release and video from the Governor's Office. President Bowen was at the
event with members of the LaGuardia Community College PSC chapter. The union has
released this statement to press:
Statement on Governor Cuomo's Proposal for Free Tuition at CUNY
and SUNY
Barbara Bowen, President, Professional Staff Congress
Governor
Cuomo's proposal to offer free tuition to CUNY and SUNY students is a conceptual
and political breakthrough: it names free tuition at public colleges as the new
standard to which states should aspire. The proposal for Excelsior Scholarships
has the potential to improve the lives of millions of New Yorkers. At a moment
when college costs are rising, student debt is out of control and Americans are
wary of what the future holds, New York State can re-set the national agenda for
college education by enacting a fully funded investment in free public college
education for low- and middle-income students. Everyone in the state will
benefit if college education is in reach for all.
Now
is the moment to make a similarly bold commitment to providing the resources
CUNY and SUNY need to fulfill the Governor's promise to students. To enable
students to graduate within two or four years, CUNY will need to be able to
offer essential courses, support services and academic resources. We urge the
governor to take this opportunity to articulate an equally visionary agenda for
public higher education investment.
The
PSC looks forward to learning the details of the proposed Excelsior Scholarship
and will work with the Governor's Office and the Legislature to support it. We
also look forward to an Executive Budget that includes funding not only for free
tuition but for increased investment in public higher education. New York could
ensure national leadership on higher education by coupling the proposal for
Excelsior Scholarships with a commitment to fully funded public
universities.
As
a union committed to economic and racial justice, the PSC echoes Senator Bernie
Sanders' support for the proposal and his praise for the promise of publicly
funded free, high-quality college education. We will look forward to working
with the governor and the legislature to make that promise a reality.
The devil is in the details with this one. So we'll see. But i'm proud to be a part of the CUNY Rising Alliance which has pushed to change the conversation from tuition increases to decreases in a remarkably quick amount of time. Here is the statement from CUNY Rising.
CUNY RISING ALLIANCE STATEMENT ON
GOVERNOR CUOMO’S PROPOSAL FOR FREE PUBLIC COLLEGE TUITION
GOVERNOR CUOMO’S PROPOSAL FOR FREE PUBLIC COLLEGE TUITION
Free, high-quality public higher education should be the right of every New Yorker—of every American! The CUNY Rising Alliance applauds Governor Cuomo for his proposal to offer free tuition for any student with a family income below $125,000 accepted to a two- or four-year SUNY or CUNY school. We eagerly await the details of the plan, especially details about how it will be publicly funded and how it will apply to all students no matter their immigration status.
The Excelsior Scholarship, if it comes paired with increased public investments in quality education at CUNY and SUNY, would be an example of the kind of progressive leadership that New York students and families need from the governor. CUNY and SUNY students need free tuition, but they also need smaller classes, improved course offerings, modern facilities, increased advisement and tutoring and the best faculty and staff. Since 1975 CUNY's full-time faculty has been diminished by 33 percent while its student body has increased by about 15 percent. This trend must be reversed, if students are to get the education they deserve. The governor's proposal is an important beginning. No matter what’s happening in Washington D.C., New York can have the fully funded public university systems its people need, if we fight for it and our leaders are willing to lead.
The Excelsior Scholarship, if it comes paired with increased public investments in quality education at CUNY and SUNY, would be an example of the kind of progressive leadership that New York students and families need from the governor. CUNY and SUNY students need free tuition, but they also need smaller classes, improved course offerings, modern facilities, increased advisement and tutoring and the best faculty and staff. Since 1975 CUNY's full-time faculty has been diminished by 33 percent while its student body has increased by about 15 percent. This trend must be reversed, if students are to get the education they deserve. The governor's proposal is an important beginning. No matter what’s happening in Washington D.C., New York can have the fully funded public university systems its people need, if we fight for it and our leaders are willing to lead.
About CUNY Rising
CUNY Rising is a growing alliance of 30+ community groups, non-profits, unions, student advocates and faith-based organizations that serve, mobilize and minister to millions of New Yorkers. In December, CUNY Rising released a white paper making the case for free and quality education at CUNY.
CUNY Rising is a growing alliance of 30+ community groups, non-profits, unions, student advocates and faith-based organizations that serve, mobilize and minister to millions of New Yorkers. In December, CUNY Rising released a white paper making the case for free and quality education at CUNY.
- She did a bunch of organizing for Bernies college for all act andwon't let that die if she can help it!Neither should any of us. Lets keep on pushing and
aspiring.
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