New York City Council
Committee on Higher Education
Sep 16, 2024
·
10:00 AM
2 hr 2 min
Summary
A hearing on engaging CUNY students in voting and civic activities. Discussions focused on:
- Voter registration initiatives
- Data collection on student voting rates
- Challenges in student awareness and participation
- Integration of civic engagement across curricula
- Resources needed to support these efforts.
Proposals included free MetroCards for CUNY students, improved collaboration between CUNY administration and student organizations, and targeted outreach to increase voter registration rates.
Features testimony from CUNY officials, NYPIRG, Generation Citizen, CUNY students, and the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Council Member Eric Dinowitz opens oversight hearing on engaging CUNY students in voting and civic activities
Council Member Eric Dinowitz, chair of the committee on higher education, opens the oversight hearing on engaging CUNY students in voting and civic activities. He emphasizes the importance of civic …
0:00:35
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4 min
Introduction and overview of the CUNY panel
Denise Maybank, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at CUNY, introduces herself and the panel present to testify on CUNY students' engagement in voting and civic activities. She outlines the diversity …
0:05:23
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120 sec
CUNY's pivotal role in civic and social mobility
Denise Maybank elaborates on CUNY's significance as a transformative engine of social mobility in New York City. She introduces the concept of 'civic mobility' and its importance in students' academic …
0:07:24
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76 sec
CUNY's voter registration data collection and analysis process
Denise Maybank outlines CUNY's methods for collecting and analyzing student voter registration data. This includes partnerships with government agencies and internal data analysis processes. - Arrangement with NYC Board of …
0:08:41
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47 sec
Analysis of CUNY student voter registration and turnout statistics
Denise Maybank presents detailed statistics on CUNY student voter registration and turnout rates across different types of elections and student populations. - Higher voter registration and turnout rates among senior …
0:09:29
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65 sec
Importance of student-led voter engagement initiatives at CUNY
Denise Maybank emphasizes the crucial role of student involvement in developing effective voter registration strategies and highlights key student-led organizations contributing to these efforts. - Necessity of involving current students …
0:10:35
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54 sec
NYPIRG's student-led voter engagement initiatives at CUNY
Megan Ahearn, Program Director of NYPIRG, testifies about the organization's successful student-led voter engagement initiatives at CUNY campuses. She emphasizes the effectiveness of peer-to-peer outreach and describes NYPIRG's model of …
0:11:34
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4 min
CUNY's voter engagement initiatives and communication strategies
Denise Maybank, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at CUNY, presents an overview of CUNY's voter engagement and communication strategies. She highlights various tools and initiatives used to promote awareness and …
0:15:49
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104 sec
Introduction and background of Kingsborough Community College's voter engagement efforts
Helen-Margaret Nasser introduces herself as the Director of the Student Union And Intercultural Center and student voter registration coordinator at Kingsborough Community College. She emphasizes the college's commitment to civic …
0:17:35
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60 sec
Voter engagement data and improvements at Kingsborough Community College
Nasser presents data on voter engagement at Kingsborough Community College, highlighting significant improvements in student voting rates since 2014. She references the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement (NSLVE) …
0:18:36
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58 sec
Challenges in engaging students in voter registration and political participation
Nasser describes the challenges faced in engaging students in voter registration and political participation. She highlights the disconnect and skepticism many students feel towards political life. - Many students feel …
0:19:36
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24 sec
Strategies for engaging diverse student populations in political education
Nasser outlines strategies for engaging Kingsborough's diverse student population in political education and civic engagement. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and leveraging the diverse experiences of students. - Students …
0:20:01
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88 sec
Voter registration initiatives and the role of student workers
Nasser describes the voter registration initiatives at Kingsborough, highlighting the role of federal work study students in these efforts. She emphasizes the effectiveness of peer-to-peer contact in engaging students. - …
0:21:31
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42 sec
Collaborative partnerships and diverse programming for voter engagement
Nasser outlines the collaborative partnerships and diverse programming initiatives undertaken at Kingsborough to promote voter engagement. She emphasizes the intentional and deliberate nature of their programming. - Partnerships with community-based …
0:22:14
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39 sec
Holistic approach to political engagement beyond voting
Nasser describes Kingsborough's holistic approach to political engagement, emphasizing that engagement goes beyond just voting. She highlights various methods used to engage students in political discourse and action. - Use …
0:22:53
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25 sec
Student participation in New York City's participatory budgeting program
Nasser highlights Kingsborough students' successful engagement in the New York City Civic Engagement Commission's participatory budgeting program, 'The People's Money'. This initiative demonstrated political participation beyond voting. - Students participated …
0:23:18
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23 sec
Ongoing commitment and acknowledgment of partners in voter engagement efforts
Nasser concludes by emphasizing her ongoing commitment to voter engagement work and acknowledging the various partners that support these efforts at Kingsborough Community College. - Emphasis on the importance of …
0:23:42
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56 sec
CUNY Vice Chancellor Denise Maybank discusses voter engagement initiatives
Denise Maybank, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at CUNY, presents an overview of CUNY's voter engagement activities and initiatives. She highlights various campus-based programs, events for National Disability Voting Rights …
0:24:39
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3 min
Steven Romalewski's Testimony on CUNY Mapping Service and Civic Engagement Tools
Steven Romalewski, Director of the CUNY Mapping Service at the Center for Urban Research, testifies about their work in helping New Yorkers understand and interact with government, particularly through their …
0:28:07
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4 min
Vice Chancellor Denise Maybank's Closing Remarks on CUNY's Commitment to Student Voting
Vice Chancellor Denise Maybank concludes CUNY's testimony by emphasizing the critical role of education in democracy and CUNY's commitment to promoting student voting. She stresses the importance of informed voting …
0:32:10
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101 sec
Council member acknowledges CUNY Mapping Service
Council Member Eric Dinowitz expresses appreciation for CUNY Mapping Service, particularly their redistricting map. He highlights how useful the service has been for his office in addressing constituent confusion about …
0:33:53
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33 sec
Inquiry into CUNY's concept of 'civic mobility'
Council Member Eric Dinowitz inquires about the meaning and measurement of 'civic mobility' at CUNY, a concept mentioned by Chancellor Felix Montrose Rejure. CUNY representatives attempt to explain the concept …
0:34:25
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79 sec
CUNY's initiatives for promoting civic engagement
Amna Malik, Senior University Director for Career Development and Internships at CUNY, outlines various initiatives the university undertakes to promote civic engagement and mobility among students. - CUNY TV hosts …
0:35:45
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46 sec
Discussion on CUNY's civic engagement goals and metrics
Council Member Eric Dinowitz inquires about CUNY's specific goals and metrics for civic engagement, such as internship placements, voter registration percentages, and student turnout rates. CUNY representatives and NYPIRG provide …
0:36:30
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3 min
CUNY's voter registration and turnout data collection practices
Council Member Eric Dinowitz inquires about CUNY's data collection practices for voter registration and turnout. CUNY representatives explain their methods and the duration of their data collection efforts. - CUNY …
0:39:40
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3 min
Importance of including primary election data in CUNY's analysis
Council Member Eric Dinowitz emphasizes the importance of including primary election data in CUNY's voter engagement analysis, particularly in the context of New York City politics. - CUNY currently only …
0:43:08
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90 sec
CUNY's curricula supporting civic engagement
Council Member Eric Dinowitz inquires about how CUNY's curricula in various fields support students' development of civic knowledge, skills, values, and motivation. CUNY representatives provide examples of courses and initiatives. …
0:44:44
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83 sec
Integrating civic engagement across academic disciplines at Kingsborough Community College
Helen-Margaret Nasser, Director of the Student Union and Intercultural Center at Kingsborough Community College, explains their efforts to integrate civic engagement across various academic disciplines. - The Student Union and …
0:46:08
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109 sec
NYPIRG's broad approach to student civic engagement
Megan Ahearn, Program Director at NYPIRG, outlines their organization's broad approach to engaging students in civic activities across various issues and disciplines. - NYPIRG offers service-based projects, including voter registration …
0:47:58
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57 sec
Council Member Brewer commends CUNY's data collection efforts
Council Member Gale Brewer expresses appreciation for CUNY's extensive statistics and their ability to obtain data from the Board of Elections. She commends their efforts in collecting and analyzing voter …
0:48:55
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26 sec
Discussion on obstacles to voter registration and turnout
Council Member Gale Brewer inquires about the obstacles to voter registration and turnout despite CUNY's good statistics. The discussion focuses on identifying barriers and potential solutions to increase civic engagement …
0:49:21
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65 sec
Strategies to improve voter engagement at CUNY
Helen-Margaret Nasser, from Kingsborough Community College, details various strategies employed to improve voter registration and turnout among CUNY students. - Nasser emphasizes the effectiveness of paper registration forms over digital …
0:50:27
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177 sec
Funding sources for civic engagement initiatives at CUNY
The discussion explores various funding sources for civic engagement initiatives at CUNY, including grants and personal efforts by staff members. - Helen-Margaret Nasser describes her work as a 'labor of …
0:53:24
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145 sec
Council Member Brewer addresses challenges in civic education
Council Member Gale Brewer shares her observations on the challenges faced in civic education, particularly noting the lack of engagement with traditional news sources among students. - Brewer mentions her …
0:55:49
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34 sec
Council Member Brewer proposes student project to engage with City Council
Council Member Gale Brewer suggests a student project to engage with City Council members and assess their responsiveness to student inquiries. - Brewer proposes that students contact all council members …
0:56:24
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25 sec
Council Member Dinowitz questions CUNY on voter registration coordinators and mail-in ballot assistance
Council Member Eric Dinowitz inquires about CUNY's voter registration coordinators and the sustainability of relying on volunteers for this role. He also asks about CUNY's efforts to assist students with …
0:56:52
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3 min
CUNY's distribution of voter registration forms to students
Council Member Erik Bottcher inquires about CUNY's practices for providing voter registration forms to students. CUNY representatives explain that all students receive electronic forms annually, with additional efforts during orientation …
0:59:58
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77 sec
State mandates for voter registration at CUNY and SUNY
Council Member Erik Bottcher confirms that New York State election law mandates voter registration form distribution for SUNY and CUNY students. CUNY representatives affirm this requirement and its implementation. - …
1:01:15
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20 sec
Best practices for student voter registration from other states
Council Member Erik Bottcher inquires about successful voter registration initiatives in other states that could be replicated in New York. NYPIRG and CUNY representatives discuss various approaches and reforms that …
1:01:36
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136 sec
Voter registration competitions and legal considerations
Council Members Eric Dinowitz and Erik Bottcher discuss the potential for voter registration competitions at CUNY campuses, while representatives from NYPIRG and CUNY provide insights on legal considerations and current …
1:03:52
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107 sec
Council Member Eric Dinowitz discusses CUNY's civic engagement efforts and suggests improvements
Council Member Eric Dinowitz addresses CUNY's civic engagement initiatives, focusing on opportunities beyond voter registration. He emphasizes the importance of engaging students with community boards and suggests ways to improve …
1:05:41
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4 min
Testimony by Akeem Pollock, Student from York College (CUNY) on Engaging CUNY Students in Voting and Civic Activities
Akeem Pollock, a student from York College, testifies about the challenges CUNY students face in civic engagement and voting. He emphasizes the lack of awareness about existing programs and the …
1:17:00
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3 min
Testimony by Salimatou Doumbouya, Student and Chairperson of the University Student Senate at New York City College of Technology
Salimatou Doumbouya, a student at New York City College of Technology and chairperson of the CUNY University Student Senate, testifies about the importance of student civic engagement and the role …
1:20:25
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3 min
Testimony by Tahisha Fields, President of Graduate Student Assembly at Baruch and CUNY University Student Senate
Tahisha Fields, a newly elected member of USS and president of the Graduate Student Assembly at Baruch, provided testimony on student engagement in voting and policy advocacy. She emphasized the …
1:24:02
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154 sec
Testimony by Alexis Ramirez, Student Senator from Borough of Manhattan Community College & University Student Senate
Alexis Ramirez, representing Borough of Manhattan Community College and the University Student Senate, addressed the NYC City Council on student civic engagement and voting initiatives at CUNY. He emphasized the …
1:26:41
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179 sec
Council member acknowledges students' civic engagement
Council Member Eric Dinowitz commends the student panel for their commitment to civic engagement, highlighting their participation in the student senate and their presence at the city council hearing as …
1:29:41
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22 sec
Discussion on student involvement in CUNY-led civic engagement initiatives
Council Member Dinowitz inquires about the students' involvement in CUNY-led civic engagement initiatives. Alexis Ramirez shares his experience as a BMCC ambassador for Help America Vote, describing his responsibilities and …
1:30:04
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70 sec
Suggestions for improving CUNY's civic engagement efforts
The council member and students discuss potential improvements to CUNY's civic engagement initiatives. Students emphasize the need for more resources, better collaboration with student organizations, and addressing the challenges of …
1:31:16
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89 sec
Integrating civic engagement in CUNY curricula
The discussion focuses on integrating civic engagement into various academic curricula at CUNY. Students share experiences from different majors, highlighting the importance of connecting coursework to civic and political issues. …
1:32:48
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178 sec
Voter registration and engagement efforts on CUNY campuses
Students share their observations of voter registration and engagement efforts on their respective CUNY campuses. They describe various initiatives and challenges in getting students to participate in the voting process. …
1:35:46
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107 sec
Testimony by Junior E Andrews, Student at Medgar College and USS Student Center, on Food Insecurity and Civic Engagement
Junior E Andrews, a student at Medgar College and part of the USS Student Center, discusses the link between food insecurity and civic engagement among CUNY students. He argues that …
1:39:42
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145 sec
Testimony by John Morales, Student President at LaGuardia Community College
John Morales, an immigrant student from Ecuador and the Student President at LaGuardia Community College, testified about his experiences with civic engagement and the challenges he faces as a non-citizen …
1:42:11
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3 min
Testimony by Sharon Brown on Religious Freedom in Schools and Civic Engagement
Sharon Brown testified about the importance of incorporating religious freedom and practices in schools as part of civic engagement. She argued that the removal of prayer and religious elements from …
1:45:29
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3 min
Testimony by Isabel Torres, Sophomore at Queensborough Community College and University Student Senate Delegate
Isabel Torres, a sophomore at Queensborough Community College and University Student Senate delegate, testified about the importance of providing free MetroCards to CUNY students. She shared her personal experience of …
1:48:45
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3 min
Council member inquires about student involvement in CUNY-led activities
Council Member Eric Dinowitz asks the students about their personal involvement in CUNY-led activities beyond what they've already mentioned. Junior E Andrews responds, stating he hasn't been personally involved but …
1:52:12
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95 sec
Council member comments on student responses and USS advocacy
Council Member Eric Dinowitz makes remarks about the students' responses and the University Student Senate's (USS) advocacy efforts. He notes the effectiveness of the USS's messaging strategy and offers to …
1:53:48
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30 sec
Discussion on EBT cards and metrocards for CUNY students
Council members and students discuss the potential for providing EBT cards and metrocards to CUNY students. Council Member Gale Brewer points out that EBT cards are federally funded and could …
1:54:20
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122 sec
Testimony by Khin Mai Aung, Mid-Atlantic Executive Director of Generation Citizen
Khin Mai Aung, Mid-Atlantic Executive Director of Generation Citizen, testified about their organization's efforts in voter education, engagement, and registration activities in New York City schools. She highlighted their RISE …
1:57:31
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3 min