Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2000

Release #427-00

 
Contact: Sunny Mindel / Michael Anton (212) 788-2958

MAYOR GIULIANI COMMENDS PROGRESS AT CUNY

Phase-out of Remediation Key Element of New Master Plan

Enrollment at Senior Colleges Increases

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani---joined by CUNY Board of Trustees Chairman Herman Badillo, Vice Chairman Benno Schmidt, Chancellor Matthew Goldstein, and Deputy Mayor Anthony Coles---today hailed the progress of the City University of New York in establishing academic standards, phasing out remediation, and increasing enrollment.

Widely regarded as a troubled institution just a few years ago, CUNY is in the midst of a dramatic turnaround. Last fall, the CUNY Board of Trustees moved to phase out remedial education at four senior college campuses. Since then, freshman enrollment has increased systemwide by 5%, and at some senior colleges by more than 20%.

"This is proof positive that high standards work," Mayor Giuliani said. "When you ask more of students, they rise to the challenge. It's clear that the students currently pursuing their education at CUNY, far from being deterred by higher standards, are actually attracted by the greater academic rigor. They know that the education they'll be receiving at the new, improved CUNY will serve them better throughout their lives and careers. I want to congratulate Chairman Badillo, Vice Chairman Schmidt, and Chancellor Goldstein on their fine work. Under their leadership, I have no doubt that CUNY will continue to improve."

Deputy Mayor Anthony Coles said, "Once again, the doomsayers were proven wrong. Higher standards and the phase-out of remediation are improving the level of education at CUNY. This Administration has always maintained that students shouldn't come to college to do high-school level work. Apparently, CUNY students agree."

In May 1998, Mayor Giuliani announced the formation of a task force chaired by Benno Schmidt to examine CUNY's performance and suggest reforms. The task force presented its report, "CUNY: An Institution Adrift," in June 1999. With the Mayor's strong support, the new leadership at CUNY---including Chairman Badillo, Vice Chairman Schmidt, and Chancellor Goldstein---has moved to adopt many of the task force's reforms.

Among those reforms. in September 2000, the CUNY Board of Trustees adopted a new 4-year Master Plan, which requires the phase-out of remedial education at all senior colleges by 2001. The Plan also requires the first University-wide exit exam for students in remediation at the two-year community colleges, and provides for the establishment of an "honors college," an academically rigorous senior college program comparable to top public university programs throughout the nation.

 

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