In mid-March, President Kathleen Waldron, Brian Kell, executive director of government and community relations, and three Baruch students traveled to Albany to meet with elected officials and support a massive campaign against the proposed cuts in financial aid programs, an imminent tuition increase and the shortfall in operating funds for CUNY. At the city level, the New York City budget for CUNY has proposals to limit the Peter F. Vallone scholarship program and reduce the funds for Council-funded programs.
Mei Hua, an accounting major who graduates this June, spoke about her decision to take a one-day trip and meet with representatives in the state capitol. “I really liked my experience at Baruch and I’m a senior and don’t want to see this opportunity taken away from future students. I know other students will not be able to attend if there is a tuition increase or they take financial aid away,” she explained.
Some student financial aid components such as SEEK and College Discovery were eliminated. Their collective mission is to serve the poorest students in the University; six out of 10 CUNY students come from households earning $30,000 or less, and seven out of 10 works full or part time.
“These programs are fundamental for lots of students here at Baruch, the attitude from the State Assembly towards the restoration of more than $12.7 million in financial aid is very positive. We have to wait until the budget is approved but we’re very confident of the outcome,” Waldron added.
The officials listened to Hua as well as students Natimil Abreu and Sean Byam. She described to them how she receives financial aid and also works in order to pay for school. Although no promises were made regarding what can be done to help the public university system, Hua remarked that she felt a common support for CUNY and even found a few Baruch students in Albany. “There have been no promises of yes or no. Overall I felt that it was promising that the people we spoke to will support CUNY, but then again they are politicians. A lot {of officials} have heard so much good stuff that they already have a good opinion of CUNY,” she said.
Another hot topic on the agenda is a potential tuition increase for CUNY students in 2006. The president was asked why a new tuition hike of $250 (6.3 percent) is necessary if combined with previous increases would equate an overall tuition hike of over $1000 in just 24 months. After a brief pause Waldron replied, “Unfortunately, tuition increases were stalled for so long, they’re never adjusted not even to match inflation rates, so CUNY administrators were forced to raise tuition suddenly”.
According to the website supportcuny.org, one of the first priorities for CUNY officials is to protect qualified students who cannot afford to attend college. Waldron explained, “I am part of the Fiscal Affairs Committee with other college presidents and we advise Chancellor Goldstein directly. The goal is not to raise tuition, but if there’s any increases, {they} should be small adjustments, gradually throughout the years, so it won’t be a big hit for students.”
The website also notes how the Executive Budget does not provide sufficient funds to meet the costs of operating senior colleges at present service levels. “A shortfall of $26.3 million is something to be worried about, but Baruch is not one of the senior colleges that is been affected.”
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