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CUNY urges council to remove small financial barriers, expand Reconnect and consider MetroCard relief
Summary
CUNY officials told the City Council's higher-education committee that small unpaid balances, application fees and transportation costs keep many adults from completing degrees; CUNY presented results from its Reconnect program and asked for baseline funding and partnership on fee and transit relief.
City University of New York officials testified before the City Council's Committee on Higher Education that relatively modest fees and unpaid balances can block students from reenrolling and completing degrees, and they urged the council to back expanded Reconnect funding, broader application fee waivers and transit support.
Renee Sarmiento, CUNY's vice chancellor for enrollment management, told the committee the university's Reconnect program has returned tens of thousands of adults to college since 2022 and that many working-age New Yorkers have some college but no degree. "When we reach out to adult learners, small financial hurdles we remove and offer personalized support, students return and they succeed," Sarmiento said. She and CUNY staff emphasized the ripple effects of degree completion on earnings, tax revenue and reduced reliance on public benefits.
Zalika Daniel, university director for strategy and operations for CUNY Reconnect, outlined three barrier types the committee asked the council to address: undergraduate and graduate application fees, small outstanding campus balances that block re-enrollment, and transit costs for commuters. Daniel provided figures for application fees (e.g., $65 for CUNY undergraduate first-year applications; transfer $70) and noted that fee waivers are an important equity tool; she said CUNY will supply further data to the committee on usage and demographics.
Committee chair Eric Dinowitz framed the discussion around the everyday costs students face: application fees, small holds of a few hundred dollars and the expense of commuting. City and research witnesses, including the Center for an Urban Future, have previously called out commuting cost as a top non-tuition reason students stop attending community college. Council members asked CUNY for budget estimates, potential savings and how the city and university could structure baseline funds or pilot MetroCard programs for students.
What happened next: CUNY pledged to provide additional data and to work with council staff on program design and cost estimates. The committee reserved time to review budget implications and potential pilot models.
Why it matters: Small, recurring administrative and transportation costs can drive otherwise-motivated students out of higher education. The council is considering whether modest targeted investments, policy changes and baseline funding for proven re-enrollment programs can increase degree completion and long-term economic mobility.
Evidence: Testimony from CUNY Reconnect leadership at the higher-education committee hearing; committee questions and policy context from the Center for an Urban Future and prior council briefings.
