NYC government partners CUNY to reconnect dropouts

The New York City government has partnered the City’s university to launch a Reconnect program that helps dropouts to gain degrees.

According to a report on Tuesday August 30, 2022, the initiative, which will be launched this fall semester, aims to re-enroll thousands of New Yorkers, who earned some college credits but left school before completing a degree.

The $4.4 million CUNY Reconnect pilot program was funded in the Fiscal Year 2023 city budget at the behest of advocacy by the New York City Council and will seek to help these former students secure degrees or other credentials that improve their economic mobility and advance the city’s post-pandemic recovery.

The program was envisioned by the Center for an Urban Future’s research and first proposed by Speaker Adams at the Association for a Better New York’s Power Breakfast and in her State of the City address.

CUNY Reconnect plans to begin by enrolling 10,000 returning students, starting in this fall semester. CUNY estimates that there are approximately 700,000 working-age New Yorkers, who have earned credits and could return to finish their degrees or earn certificates that would help them enhance their careers.

This includes students who left college during the pandemic, as well as those who withdrew years or even decades ago.

The initiative will also conduct outreach to students who graduated from high school during the pandemic and were unable to attend college because of personal circumstances.

“Expanding opportunities for working New Yorkers is critical to supporting our communities and advancing our local economy,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams.

“CUNY Reconnect, which I highlighted in my 2022 State of the City address, is an innovative initiative that can help working-age New Yorkers increase their earning potential by returning to earn a degree.

“The Council championed this $4.4 million pilot initiative in the city budget that will serve thousands of returning students this fall, and hopefully tens of thousands more in future expansions.

Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, “We know how hard it is to restart a college education. By recruiting former college students and making it easier for them to return to school, CUNY Reconnect will help working adults obtain the education they need for better-paying jobs, which will fuel the city’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”

“Returning to college after a significant break can be daunting, but by creating a welcoming and personalized readmission process, we can ease that transition for many thousands who stand to benefit and put them on the pathway to life-changing opportunity,” he added.