CUNY News In Brief (September, 2008)
by Advocate Staff
Cuts to CUNY Budget:
As part of Governor David Paterson’s effort to trim New York State’s budget by $1 billion, legislators approved a package of spending cuts directly impinging on the welfare of CUNY students.
In addition to significant cutbacks in Medicaid, the state corrections department, and other local assistance programs, CUNY suffered a $26 million reduction in state support. Moreover, CUNY was forced to transfer an addition $25 million to state coffers in order to match cuts suffered by other universities state-wide.
This stick-up job resulted from Patterson’s unwillingness to raise taxes on resident millionaires throughout the state. Contrary to the recommendations of his advisor Joseph Stiglitz, who publicly stated that “it is economically preferable to raise taxes on those with high incomes than to cut state expenditures,” Patterson indicated that this measure would be pursued only as a last ditch effort to ameliorate the state’s $5.4 billion deficit.
GC Technology Fee Increases
While students were away for the summer, the Executive Committee of the CUNY Board of Trustees was hard at work raising overall tuition fees. On July 21, the committee approved an increase of $25 to the technology fee, raising it from $75 to $100 for full-time students, and from $37.50 to $50 for part-timers.
According to the chancellor’s office, higher fees “will assist the University in providing expanded services to students and building campuses that enhance every student’s educational experience.” Yet, it is clear that the fee increases were not motivated by an articulated agenda for improvement. The chancellor has “asked each college’s Technology Fee Committee to meet and develop a technology plan that makes the best use of this revenue to meet the specific needs of the individual campus.” On a positive note, students suffering financial hardship may appeal for waivers, and individual colleges have been instructed to assist needy students wherever possible.
Graduate Center Gets New Nurse Practitioner, Finally
After nearly a year without a certified, on-site Nurse Practitioner at the Graduate Center’s main campus, the Wellness Center has finally filled this outstanding void by hiring Adraenne Bowe. The Health Services Center lost the invaluable services of Mary P. Clancy in July 2007. Since then, students have been without services promised to them through payment of their student activity fee. The Wellness Center is a vital source for student health and well-being.
In addition to providing free medical consultations, physicals, and other care to enrolled students, the center offers critical services to the most vulnerable members of the community: those who have little or no insurance. The arrival of Bowe provides much-needed relief.
Bowe comes to the Graduate Center Wellness Center with an extensive background in health care.
While working primarily in urban settings, Bowe has received certification as a Nurse Practitioner in family health (FNP), pediatrics (PNP), and adult health (ANP). Her past experience includes work in occupational health, community-based health clinics, outpatient hospital clinics, and emergency care, as well as years working in college-based communities.
