CUNY Master Plan 2012-2016

THE CUNY MASTER PLAN 2012-2016
of Labor in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education, is among 32 nationwide and the only
one in New York State. The project is a cross-campus collaboration, with central administrative support,
involving a consortium of six community colleges—Borough of Manhattan, Bronx, Hostos, Kingsborough,
LaGuardia and Queensborough—and two comprehensive colleges, the College of Staten Island and
New York City College of Technology.
Career PATH aims to strengthen connections among college transition programs, as well as among
occupational training and degree programs, while building CUNY’s capacity to recruit and serve adult
learners. It will enhance opportunities, especially for nontraditional students, many with lower levels of
preparation and others who are English Language Learners.
Ensuring Quality in Continuing Education
Consistent with the University’s emphasis on a culture of assessment and accountability, CUNY is working
to collect better data in order to analyze and improve the quality of Adult and Continuing Education (ACE)
programs and services. A recent grant from the Ford Foundation is helping to move this initiative forward.
CUNY’s central and campus staff are collecting information on the management of continuing education
programs, as well as on program and student outcomes. These staff are also working with consultants and
examining strategies at other universities across the country in order to develop a systemwide approach to
data collection. This ACE Quality Initiative includes adoption of a program quality framework, implementation
of program quality assessment strategies, implementation of a reporting process for colleges, and
provision of support to campuses in their improvement efforts through technical assistance.
In 2012-2016, ACE will continue to develop the components of a system that, with the use of appropriate
technology, will assess and improve workforce development and continuing education programs
across the University. Such a system will increase the ability to track program outcomes for students;
increase effectiveness and efficiency in the use of program resources; enhance ability to measure, analyze,
and improve program operations; and enhance the ability to collaborate with community organizations,
employers, and other organizations to support workforce development programs.
Service to the City and State
CUNY will continue to meet the needs of city and state government to improve the skills of employees
and of individuals working for organizations under contract with governmental agencies to provide services
to New Yorkers. The University will also continue to partner with the government to address vital
public policy concerns and to improve the quality of services to New Yorkers. In addition to developing
online and face-to-face degree and certificate programs, CUNY will continue to develop customized programs,
credit-bearing and non-credit bearing, to meet the needs of employers and other organizations,
including unions, government agencies, and nonprofits.
The Green Workforce
CUNY has been collaborating on the development of an energy management and indoor air-quality
training initiative with the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. The targets for this
training have been facility professionals responsible for the management of 325 million square feet of
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