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May 7, 2008
Support CUNY
Restoration of
$26 Million to
City Budget
Dear Members and
Friends of The
City University
of New York
Community:
The proposed
2009 budget for
New York City is
currently under
review by the
New York City
Council. The
budget calls for
almost $26
million less in
direct operating
support than is
needed for
CUNY's six
community
colleges. We
urgently ask you
to contact City
Council members
to urge their
support to
restore the
reductions and
provide
critically
needed funding.
CUNY's community
colleges
currently serve
enrollments
annually of
nearly 79,000
degree-credit
students and
almost 118,000
students in
adult and
continuing
education. The
shortfall in
operating
support will
directly affect
our colleges'
ability to
provide the
full-time
faculty,
additional
counselors, and
student services
this growing
student body
needs.
The budget also
proposes cuts of
more than $15
million to the
Peter F. Vallone
and Safety Net
Scholarship
programs.
Scholarship
support is
crucial to CUNY
students, most
of whom work
part-time or
full-time while
they pursue a
degree.
Please visit
www.supportcuny.org
today and e-mail
your council
members. Draft
letters are
provided, and we
encourage you to
personalize them
to reflect your
individual
circumstance or
opinion. Please
encourage
relatives,
friends, alumni,
and others to
express their
views.
Especially in
these difficult
economic times,
community
colleges provide
a crucial
pathway to
careers-helping
to strengthen
the workforce
and the tax base
of productive
New Yorkers.
We really need
your help now.
CUNY's e-mail
campaigns have
been very
successful in
communicating
the University's
urgent needs to
public
officials. Thank
you for your
continued
support.
Sincerely,
Jay Hershenson
Senior Vice
Chancellor for
University
Relations and
Secretary, Board
of Trustees
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