CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez has issued a statement on Gov. Hochul’s FY 2026 Executive Budget Proposal:
“Gov. Hochul’s executive budget proposal for the Fiscal Year 2026 builds on her historic commitment to providing New Yorkers with a public higher education system that is affordable, modern and innovative.
“Providing free community college tuition for adults pursuing degrees in high-demand fields will not only strengthen New York’s economy but open new avenues of opportunity for underserved individuals. These commitments, along with critical support for operating aid, proven academic programs like CUNY ACE and ASAP as well as innovative research on AI, will continue to enhance our academic and economic impact.
“We are thankful that the executive budget maintains the community college funding floor at 100% of prior year funding, providing fiscal stability for our two-year colleges which are the gateway to upward mobility for tens of thousands of students every year.
“The increased capital funding and decarbonization investments will enable us to meet the short-term infrastructure demands of our 25 campuses and pursue long-term initiatives that will reduce our carbon footprint and strengthen our climate resilience.
“We thank Gov. Hochul for continuing to champion public higher education and look forward to working with her and legislative leaders in Albany to make our shared vision of a more inclusive and prosperous New York a reality.”
