Fariha Khan’s CUNY journey began more than a decade ago, when she began earning Hunter College credits during high school. After graduation, Fariha had big plans and she enrolled at Hunter College. But life got in the way. Her stepfather suffered a debilitating stroke, and she paused her studies to care for him. Eventually, she was able to earn an associate degree and complete a healthcare training program at two CUNY community colleges – yet remained determined to finish what she started at Hunter. Last year, she returned and is now in the final semester of her bachelor’s degree.
When Fariha introduced my State of the University address this month, her story offered living proof that unexpected hardships don’t have to derail a dream. Her journey demonstrates how our University’s interconnected programs, tailored support and career preparation initiatives help New Yorkers persevere through real-world challenges. As Fariha said, “At CUNY, an interrupted timeline does not mean a closed door.”
Our ability to meet students where they are at every stage of their academic journey is driving our fourth consecutive year of enrollment growth, including an increase of 3.2% this fall. CUNY has added nearly 27,000 students over the last four years, according to preliminary figures. To build on this momentum, we work closely with NYC Public Schools to create a seamless bridge from high school to college. We recently distributed “Welcome to CUNY” letters and extended this year’s fee-free application period for nearly 70,000 high school seniors until Nov. 16.
We are also removing barriers for adult learners. Through Governor Hochul’s CUNY Reconnect program, we are covering tuition, fees and books for students ages 25-55 pursuing associate degrees in high-demand fields. Launched last year, Reconnect is serving nearly 10,000 adults and now has expanded beyond CUNY’s seven community colleges to three additional colleges and to allow adults with existing degrees to return and reskill.
Welcoming students to campus is only the first step; our ultimate goal is ensuring every degree leads to economic mobility. Through CUNY Beyond, our signature effort launched last year, we are engaging industry partners and embedding career preparation into undergraduate coursework.
As I announced during my address, we secured $4 million in new grants from Ascendium Education Group and ECMC Foundation to expand this career work. It is part of a surge in philanthropic support that helped CUNY and our colleges raise a record $312 million in the past fiscal year, pushing our four-year total to nearly $1.1 billion. This historic support demonstrates a growing recognition of our impact. The generosity of national foundations, local organizations and individual donors helps transform lives like Fariha’s while lifting the economic and civic vitality of our city and state.
By opening doors wider and creating pathways to meaningful careers, CUNY will continue to serve as New York’s premier investment in opportunity, ensuring — as Fariha so powerfully put it — that “our futures are shaped not by where we started, but by how hard we are willing to work to get where we are going.”
Matos Rodríguez is the chancellor of The City University of New York (CUNY), the largest urban public university system in the United States.