CUNY Master Plan 2012-2016

THE MISSION PART FOUR:
The University Must Remain Responsive to the Needs of its Urban Setting
“
The university must remain responsive to the needs of its urban setting,” states Section 6201 of
the New York State Education Law. Shortly thereafter, the law reiterates: “Only the strongest
commitment to the special needs of an urban constituency justifies the legislature’s support of
an independent and unique structure.” This section of the Master Plan focuses on the myriad ways in
which the University remains steadfastly responsive to the needs of its urban setting and urban constituency,
while simultaneously fueling New York’s social and economic engines in ways that were
undoubtedly not envisaged when the law was drafted in 1961. Indeed, if New York City is at the beating
heart of the state’s economic development, CUNY provides the sustaining muscle and lifeblood.
The importance of New York City to the health of New York State has been clearly expressed in the
New York City Economic Development Council’s Strategic Plan (co-chaired by CUNY Chancellor
Matthew Goldstein), which described New York City as “the state’s primary economic engine.” However,
the city faces significant challenges, with one-fifth of its residents living below the federal poverty line.
“This, along with aging infrastructure, a shortage of affordable housing and continuing challenges in public
education, generates outsized demands on the local tax base, which are exacerbated by reductions in
state and federal aid. As a result, New York is among the most heavily taxed cities in America.” Add to this
the pressure of increasing global competition, and it isn’t difficult to see another layer of challenge facing
the portion of the city’s population that is “unprepared to participate in the modern workforce and,
therefore, chronically unemployed or earning less than required to enjoy a reasonable standard of living.”
In meeting this challenge, CUNY is essential.
The New York City Regional Council’s Strategic Plan is based on four key pillars: improving quality of
life; creating a pro-growth, pro-jobs environment; investing in the future; and fostering innovation and
inter-regional cooperation. These pillars depend on prominent industries and large institutions—including
CUNY—to build on the city’s multiple strengths, “while ensuring that economically distressed communities
and populations have greater opportunities to participate in the benefits of that growth.” That
message resounds throughout this section of the CUNY Master Plan. 9
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New York City Regional Economic Development Council, Strategic Plan, 2011. Available at
http://nyworks.ny.gov/themes/nyopenrc/rc-files/nyc/REDECFINALNYC.pdf
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