Hunter College confronts $14 million shortfall after secret CUNY board retreat
Hunter College disclosed a $14 million budget gap, revealed during a closed-door CUNY board session, and said it will use savings and reserves to cover the shortfall.
During a two-and-a-half-hour closed session on Aug. 17, CUNY’s board of trustees examined the finances of its 26 institutions and uncovered a $14 million deficit at flagship Hunter College, which operates on a $399 million budget. Marc Shaw, a senior advisor at the CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance, delivered a presentation on declining high-school enrollments and competition from SUNY schools. Hunter officials said they will pursue savings, preserve full-time faculty and programs, and possibly draw on reserves to bridge the gap.
Former trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld condemned the secret meeting as potentially illegal under the Open Meetings Law. A watchdog advisor echoed concerns that financial and demographic data should be public. The board, chaired by Bill Thompson, maintained the session was lawful because no official votes were taken.
Why it matters
The deficit threatens funding for a major public college and raises questions about transparency in public-sector governance.
In this story
