Committee on Resources

Committee on Resources

September 15, 2025

11:00 – noon (by Zoom)

Present: Gila Acker, Donna Chirico, Chris Hsu, Lori Hoeffner, Eduardo Rios, Akkeem Polack, Rajiv Bishundayal, Faith Ibeh, Hector Santos, Maki Hajikano

Guest: Claudia Schrader, Ajisa Dervisevic, Nicole Williams

1. Welcome
The meeting was called to order, and participants were welcomed.

2. Election of Committee Chair

• Dr. Acker and Dr. Chirico were nominated for the position of committee chair; however, both declined due to scheduling conflicts.
• Prof. Hajikano accepted a nomination and was elected chair of the committee for AY 2025–2026.

3. Overview: College Financial Plan for AY 2025–2026

a. Deficit (Negative Position)

• Current deficit: $ 11 + million.
• York College is listed among the colleges of high concern.
• Hiring: Must adhere to the 2:1 hiring requirement.
• Tuition & Collections: A 2% increase in tuition collections is incorporated.

b. York College FY 2019–2026 Financial Report (Overview)

• Revenue targets were not met in AY 2020, AY 2022, AY 2023, and AY 2024.
• York College utilized Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) funds in AY 2021, AY 2022, and AY 2023 to cover pandemic-related expenses.

c. Approaches to recovering the Deficit

Cost Reduction Strategies

• Personnel expenses account for nearly 85% of the overall budget.
• Vacant positions will remain unfilled.
• Reduce adjunct faculty costs.

Concerns

• Multiple sections of courses: Large programs (e.g., Psychology) require multiple sections to meet diverse student needs. Enrollment data on which sections (days and times) fill most quickly can inform scheduling decisions.
• Course cap: The class cap is currently set in the mid-20s. Explore ways to retain courses rather than cancel them if they are slightly under-enrolled.
• If there is a legitimate reason to retain a low-enrolled course, consult with the Department Chair, Dean, and Provost. For additional funding, contact the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA).

Revenue Generation Strategies

• Performing Arts Center (PAC): The PAC is currently under construction, so no rental revenue is being generated. Once renovations are complete, PAC rental income will contribute to reducing the deficit.
• Continuing Education: Revisit the idea of offering continuing education programs, as they can be a strong source of revenue.

d. Enrollment

• The overall enrollment target was met.
• Specific categories that did not fully meet their targets:
• Readmits Undergraduate: 89.7%
• Transfers: 93.9%
• Freshmen: 97.6%
• Continuing Undergraduate: 96.4%

e. CUNY University Senate

• The state budget for CUNY may be challenging for AY 2025–2026.

f. Higher Education and Current Challenges

• The “Big, Beautiful Bill” may continue to have a significant impact on higher education in the coming year.

4. New Initiative Requests

• Committee members are asked to review the new initiative proposals and submit their rankings to Ms. Williams by Friday, September 19.

Committee on Resources

September 26, 2025

12:00 –1 pm (by Zoom)

Present: Gila Acker, Donna Chirico, Chris Hsu, Lori Hoeffner, Eduardo Rios, Akkeem Polack, Rajiv Bishundayal, Faith Ibeh, Hector Santos, Maki Hajikano

Guest: Claudia Schrader, Ajisa Dervisevic, Nicole Williams

1. Approve the minutes

2. New initiatives: Ranking and discussion

• Before allocating funds from the New Initiatives budget, it is essential to explore alternative funding sources to avoid overlap. For example, can the proposals for the Active Learning Model Classroom and Digitizing VHS be supported by the Technology Fee?
• The undergraduate research conference ($10,000) was funded by the Auxiliary before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Auxiliary no longer has sufficient resources to support this event.
• The proposal assessment process may need to be revisited. For instance, evaluating impact should include determining how many students will benefit from the initiative and its long-term effects.

• A final decision on which projects to fund will be postponed until the next meeting, pending clarification on whether the two proposals can be covered by the Tec Fee.

3. Deficit recovery plans

Current situation

• Current deficit: $ 11 + million.
• York lost approximately 300 students during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• FTE has increased. 
• York College is listed among the six colleges of high concern.
• New hiring is restricted to critical positions, such as:

• Faculty needed to meet accreditation requirements
• Health and safety staff
• Revenue-generating roles

• The overall situation in higher education remains uncertain.

Strategy 1: Increase Enrollment and Retention

• Restructure existing offices/roles instead of creating new positions. 
• Expand offerings through weekend and online programs to better utilize campus space.
• Request a new Academic Core Building to support program expansion (integrated into the broader building plan).

Strategy 2: Generate Revenue

• Space/room rental 
• Include essential personnel (e.g., safety and custodial staff) in strategic hiring, as they are critical for supporting rental operations.

Strategy 3: Fundraising

• Foster a giving culture by engaging alumni and encouraging small, affordable contributions (e.g., $10–$20 donations).

• The president will present at the Senate meeting (September 30) and speak about it at the State of the College address (October 9).  Feedback and input will be welcomed.