By THUYA KYAW
Representatives of the new CUNY school of labor and urban studies, which is expected to open in August, requested additional funding of $800,000 from the city during their meeting with the City Council committees on Higher Education and Civil Service and Labor on Thursday.
Council members Inez D. Barron and I. Daneek Miller, who head the committees, were among those who heard the testimony by CUNY officials who are changing the approach of the existing Murphy Institute from general topics to a focus on labor and urban studies.
“The school would be a success if a lot of leaders in this country can claim it one day,” said Vita Rabinowitz, the Executive Vice Chancellor and University Provost at CUNY, on her visions for the school.
The plan to refocus the institute started in February 2014, but was held back after a task force established by CUNY stalled the plan over concerns raised by the Labor Advisory Board.
Eventually,the CUNY Board of Trustees approved a resolution to establish a new school of Labor and Urban Studies in June, giving them just a little more than a year to implement a transitioning plan.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo approved $2 million for services and expenses, and $1.5 million for additional fees. However, CUNY is requesting the extra $800,000to get the school up and running smoothly this year.
Four-hundred students currently enrolled at the Murphy Institute will be transferred to the new school, and the first semester expected to begin with 15 faculty members.
“Our students will be earning a degree of urban and labor studies and this is important,” said Dr. Greg Mantsios, who was named founding dean of the school.
“They will recognize that this isn’t a field that is buried.”
Two scholarships will be offered to students, for diversity and labor scholarship and tuition assistance scholarship.
Students will also have an unlimited access to the library in Baruch College, which will include special privileges like taking out books and laptops.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.