CUNY Master Plan 2012-2016

MISSION PART ONE
grams, campuses must carefully develop residential programming to ensure an intentional experience
that supports academic learning outcomes. To address this need, over the next four years, the University
plans to invest in staff training and develop residential policies and programming expectations.
• Faculty and peer mentoring: Regular, focused, faculty-student and student-student interactions
can enhance the quality of the collegiate experience and encourage academic success. Through
meaningful mentoring relationships, students can learn about resources and opportunities while
also gaining valuable guidance and insight about college and professional success. In fall 2012, CUNY
will launch a pilot peer-mentoring program, funded by the Lumina Foundation and co-sponsored by
the Hispanic Federation, to provide transition support for first-year students while leveraging technology
to enhance the development of virtual learning communities.
• Veteran student services: CUNY is experiencing significant growth in its student veteran population.
Since 2008, veteran enrollments have grown 53 percent across the University, including a remarkable
233 percent in the community colleges. This growth is due in part to enhanced GI Bill benefits, New
York State Veterans Tuition benefits, and wars concluding abroad. CUNY campuses must have appropriate
programmatic infrastructure, policies, and human resources to effectively guide veterans
through the completion of their studies. Moreover, support systems must be enhanced to ensure our
veterans receive needed leadership opportunities, physical and learning accommodations, and mental
health services and support. To that end, Chancellor Goldstein announced the creation of a committee
of the Council of Presidents to recommend changes in University policies and procedures in order to
better serve CUNY student veterans and to improve their success in their studies and their preparation
for the workforce. These new policies and procedures will be put into place by 2016.
• Services for students with disabilities: CUNY enrolls more than 8,000 students with disabilities.
The University is dedicated to the full and equal participation of these students in all aspects of University
life and offers comprehensive support services and a broad range of programs for all students
with disabilities. Going forward, the University will:
— Provide recommendations about how to best serve the growing population of students with
Autism Spectrum Disorder and implement the recommendations as appropriate;
— Establish a centralized Office of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services (ODHS), reducing costs and
improving service quality. CUNY serves more than 400 deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including
over 120 students in need of sign language interpreter services. The cost to provide sign language
interpreter services through private agencies is three times higher than it would be through
professionals employed by CUNY.
— Expand the use of computers with adaptive technologies to meet the instructional needs of students
with disabilities inside of and outside of the classroom.
International Education
CUNY students hail from 210 countries and speak nearly 190 languages. The University’s classrooms
reflect the globally oriented workplaces students will inhabit as graduates and offer CUNY students rich
47