PSC/CUNY Executive Council Resolution on the Proposed Elimination of Hostos Community College
Item
Professional Staff Congress/City University of New York
25 West 43rd Street, Suite 620
New York, New York 10036
212/354-1252
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RESOLUTION, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS ,
"A Proposal for Restructuring the City University of
New York," dated February 19, 1976, has been submitted
to the Board of Higher Education, and
this Proposal would eliminate Hostos Community College,
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Richmond College
and the Voorhees campus of New York City Community
College; would convert Medgar Evers and York Colleges
to community colleges, and would diminish the mission
of New York City Community College, and
the closing and conversion of university units, the
consolidation of programs and other recommendations
contained in the Proposal would substantially reduce
the mission of the university, impair the integrity
of the university and its units, curtail the quality
and extent of educational opportunity, and jeopardize
the jobs of members of the instructional staff, and
the Proposal is an outrageous gesture of surrender to
the forces that would destroy the City University and
quality free public higher education in New York City,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Professional Staff Congress
reaffirm its commitment to the integrity of the City
University and its constituent units, and
That the Professional Staff Congress condemn--and commit
all the resources at its disposal to defeat-«the Proposal
and any alternate proposal that may be devised with
similar effects, and
That the union's efforts include the mobilization of
a unified union front of the entire university instruc
tional staff in opposition to the Proposal, a protest
demonstration at the Board of Higher Education hearing
March 8, a protest march on Albany March 16, joint
efforts with and support of PSC chapters representing
colleges directly affected by the Proposal, advertise-
ments in the general media, and the marshaling of support
for the union position among the general public, other
unions, government officials and all of the City
University community.
opeiu #153
25 West 43rd Street, Suite 620
New York, New York 10036
212/354-1252
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RESOLUTION, FEBRUARY 26, 1976
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS,
WHEREAS ,
"A Proposal for Restructuring the City University of
New York," dated February 19, 1976, has been submitted
to the Board of Higher Education, and
this Proposal would eliminate Hostos Community College,
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Richmond College
and the Voorhees campus of New York City Community
College; would convert Medgar Evers and York Colleges
to community colleges, and would diminish the mission
of New York City Community College, and
the closing and conversion of university units, the
consolidation of programs and other recommendations
contained in the Proposal would substantially reduce
the mission of the university, impair the integrity
of the university and its units, curtail the quality
and extent of educational opportunity, and jeopardize
the jobs of members of the instructional staff, and
the Proposal is an outrageous gesture of surrender to
the forces that would destroy the City University and
quality free public higher education in New York City,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Professional Staff Congress
reaffirm its commitment to the integrity of the City
University and its constituent units, and
That the Professional Staff Congress condemn--and commit
all the resources at its disposal to defeat-«the Proposal
and any alternate proposal that may be devised with
similar effects, and
That the union's efforts include the mobilization of
a unified union front of the entire university instruc
tional staff in opposition to the Proposal, a protest
demonstration at the Board of Higher Education hearing
March 8, a protest march on Albany March 16, joint
efforts with and support of PSC chapters representing
colleges directly affected by the Proposal, advertise-
ments in the general media, and the marshaling of support
for the union position among the general public, other
unions, government officials and all of the City
University community.
opeiu #153
Title
PSC/CUNY Executive Council Resolution on the Proposed Elimination of Hostos Community College
Description
In 1976, the Executive Council of the Professional Staff Congress (PSC) produced this resolution to convey their opposition to the proposal to close multiple community college campuses in New York City’s effort to save money. They also resolved to use all of their political resources to defeat the proposal and hold a demonstration to help to unify and build opposition to the proposal. The PSC, the union that represents faculty and staff employed by the City University of New York, was a crucial collaborator in all three campaigns to save Hostos Community College from inadequate facilities, budget cuts, and closure threats.
In 1975, the New York City fiscal crisis led to efforts by city officials and the CUNY administration to close or merge multiple campuses in order to pay back debt that was owed to major banks. Hostos Community College was slated to merge with Bronx Community College in order to dramatically cut spending. It was this threat that led to the second iteration of organizing to save Hostos. Determined to preserve Hostos for the South Bronx as a place for students to pursue a bilingual higher education, students, faculty, the PSC, and community groups joined forces to keep Hostos open.
In 1975, the New York City fiscal crisis led to efforts by city officials and the CUNY administration to close or merge multiple campuses in order to pay back debt that was owed to major banks. Hostos Community College was slated to merge with Bronx Community College in order to dramatically cut spending. It was this threat that led to the second iteration of organizing to save Hostos. Determined to preserve Hostos for the South Bronx as a place for students to pursue a bilingual higher education, students, faculty, the PSC, and community groups joined forces to keep Hostos open.
Contributor
Meyer, Gerald
Creator
PSC CUNY Executive Council
Date
February 26, 1976
Language
English
Rights
Public Domain
Source
Hostos Community College Archives
Original Format
Resolution / Legislation
PSC CUNY Executive Council. Letter. “PSC/CUNY/Executive/Council/Resolution/on/the/Proposed/Elimination/of/Hostos/Community/College.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/658