Hunter College is confronting a significant $14 million budget deficit, according to City University of New York (CUNY) officials. The financial strain on the flagship campus was a key topic during a recent, unannounced meeting of CUNY's Board of Trustees. The board convened for approximately two-and-a-half hours on August 17 at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College for what sources described as a "retreat" or "summer session."
During this private gathering, trustees reviewed the financial health of CUNY's 26 institutions, revealing Hunter's substantial deficit and noting that several community colleges are also experiencing operating shortfalls. Hunter College's deficit represents a significant portion of its $399 million budget.
In response to the financial challenges, a spokesperson for Hunter College stated that the institution is implementing cost-saving measures to address the projected structural deficit. The college aims to ensure that these measures do not impact the quality of education provided to students. The statement also indicated that full-time faculty, staff, and academic programs are not expected to be affected, and that the college may draw on reserves to cover any remaining deficit at the end of the academic year, with an emphasis on minimizing operational disruption.
Concerns have been raised regarding the legality of the trustees' closed-door session, with some questioning if it violated New York's Open Meetings Law. Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, a former CUNY trustee, criticized the practice, stating that such gatherings for official business should not occur without public notice. He noted that under the Open Meetings Law, official business is typically conducted in public, with exceptions for discussions on personnel matters or litigation.
Rachel Fauss, a senior policy advisor for the watchdog group Reinvent Albany, commented that conducting public business in private, especially with a quorum present, is problematic. She emphasized that discussions about college finances and enrollment trends are crucial information for the public.
A CUNY official, however, maintained that the session was lawful because no official board business was conducted, and no votes were taken. The CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance reportedly presented information on future enrollment and demographic trends, citing declining high school populations and competition from other universities as factors impacting CUNY.
CUNY's enrollment has not yet fully recovered to its pre-pandemic level of 271,242 students in fall 2019. While enrollment has increased by 9.13% over the past three years, rising from a post-pandemic low of 225,881 in Fall 2022 to 246,503 in Fall 2025, CUNY anticipates further enrollment increases for the upcoming fall semester.
The CUNY Board of Trustees comprises members appointed to staggered seven-year terms by the governor and mayor. The board is currently chaired by Bill Thompson, a Hochul appointee.