In the midst of major scandal and shakeup at the City University of New York, state Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda is calling for a nationwide search to fill the vacated seat of one of CUNY's top officials, and others that may come.
With pressure from Gov. Cuomo to save his own job, CUNY Chancellor James Miliken recently made a number of moves, including demoting Jay Hershenson, senior vice chancellor, in charge of media and lobbying operations. Hershenson was transferred to a lesser position at CUNY's Queens College.
The university system came under fire in October after a New York Times expose on City College President Lisa Coico using college funds for personal expenses, followed a month later by Gov. Cuomo's state Inspector General issuing a report charging CUNY leaders with widespread mismanagement and financial waste.
Cuomo had called a year ago for the city, rather than state, picking up primary responsibility for funding CUNY. But the state Democratically-Assembly, which is dominated by city Democrats, resisted and the plan was dropped.
Sepulveda called for the nationwide search to fill Hershenson's top job as "a first step in cleaning the stables and restoring the reputation of what has long been a premiere institution of higher learning."
"CUNY has opened the door for both higher education and a better life to countless residents of this city, many to most of them minorities," said Sepulveda.
The assemblyman pointed out a number of issues that CUNY has had to contend with, including:
· CUNY’s community colleges continue their disastrous graduation rates of less than 23%;
· Medgar Evers College has an appalling graduation rate of 11%;
· CUNY has been working to implement a college exit exam that negatively impacts low-income students;
· CUNY continues to over rely on adjunct professors as instructors;
· Large class sizes and increased limits on course selection create barriers to graduation, and
· Extravagant salaries and fringe benefits for former administrators continue to strain current funding.
"This once great institution needs to re-examine itself, its administration and its financial integrity," said Sepulveda. "Whatever heads may roll in the process, the university - and those overseeing it - need to reach out nationally to assure the public they seriously want to rebuild its quality reputation."
Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda represents the 87th Assembly District covering Parkchester, Castle Hill, West Farms, Van Nest and Stratton Park.
