CUNY Master Plan 2012-2016

MISSION PART FOUR
office space and other buildings in the city’s real estate portfolio. The training provides these staff with
the knowledge to recognize and address energy-related operations and maintenance needs in their buildings,
while helping NYC meet its goal of reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent
by 2017. Participants can earn an industry credential in running energy efficient buildings. Results have
been excellent and agreements have been extended to reach additional classifications of building operators
including electricians, thermostat repairers, and HVAC technicians. To date, CUNY has trained
more than 750 facilities management personnel working in eight city agencies. So far this training has
been face to face, but CUNY has been asked to help develop an online format that will result in a hybrid
version in 2013. There is also a video in development on energy efficiency for building occupants.
Coastal Storm Plan Personnel Training Program
To prepare for the potential impact of a large coastal storm, the New York City Office of Emergency
Management (OEM) has developed a Coastal Storm Plan (CSP). Key components of the plan are the
establishment of evacuation centers and hurricane shelters to serve up to 600,000 residents who may
seek public shelter in the event of a severe storm. CUNY has been involved in an ongoing collaboration
with OEM to prepare the volunteers who will manage an evacuation and the shelters. CUNY has developed
training materials and provided pre-incident training to orient volunteers and management to the
plan in advance of the identification of a storm, and self-paced online training to thousands of volunteers
for the jobs they will perform should a storm hit and evacuation be necessary. The first test of the training
during Hurricane Irene in fall 2011 by all accounts was quite successful.
Going forward, CUNY will also continue to provide support to the Regional Catastrophic Training
Consortium (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) by developing materials used by the regional jurisdictions
to train response teams on their roles and responsibilities in the event of an evacuation.
Other Initiatives
CUNY is engaged in a large variety of ongoing initiatives of specific benefit to the New York City
region. These include the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Executive Leadership Program, a
seven-day, intensive professional-development program designed to provide NYCHA department directors
with a unique opportunity to strengthen their skills and effectiveness; partnerships with the New
York State Offices of Children and Family Services and of Temporary and Disability Assistance to provide
distance learning and professional development for thousands of human services employees across New
York State; and Citizenship Now!, which helps CUNY students and New York’s immigrant community
access higher education and improve their career opportunities by assisting them in the path to citizenship.
Citizenship Now! has become a major force among immigration service providers in New York, doubling
its capacity since the submission of the Master Plan for 2008-2012. Today it serves more than
11,500 individuals a year. In addition, the scope of its services has expanded beyond providing assistance
with citizenship and immigration applications. Citizenship Now! has developed educational initiatives,
including online seminars, to better prepare immigration professionals, as well as volunteers, to serve
immigrants in New York. In 2012-2016 Citizenship Now! will:
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