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Q&A
Council Member Brewer questions CUNY officials on Reconnect program and student debt
0:43:08
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3 min
Council Member Gale A. Brewer inquires about the CUNY Reconnect program, focusing on how it addresses student debt and re-enrollment issues. CUNY officials explain the program's outreach efforts and impact on reducing the number of students unable to re-enroll due to unpaid balances. A student, Jacqueline George, shares her positive experience with the program.
- The discussion reveals that over 13,000 students have been contacted by the Reconnect program regarding unpaid balances.
- CUNY officials emphasize the importance of direct financial support to students, including metro cards, fee waivers, and the proposed Fresh Start program.
- The conversation highlights the ongoing efforts to provide wraparound services and financial assistance to help students overcome barriers to enrollment and completion.
Gale A. Brewer
0:43:08
I just have one question that maybe come later.
0:43:10
I'm losing my voice.
0:43:11
I'm sorry.
0:43:12
The +1 687, have they do you know how many of have already been contacted by Reconnect, or is this a group that has not been connect contacted at all?
0:43:24
This is
0:43:34
They've already been contacted.
0:43:35
So this group has already been contacted probably by reconnect, and they haven't reconnected yet.
0:44:34
So the 13,000 have gotten a similar contact email to the student.
0:44:59
Okay.
0:44:59
It's it's a large number, but it's it seems to me that if people aren't responding like you did, they have other things going on in their life, and it's hard to respond.
0:45:11
But so you'd have to do more of a wraparound, like the chair said, in order to get them
0:45:51
I mean, sounds like you're doing everything you can.
0:45:54
Is there some other support that you would need for this number?
0:45:58
Because you're doing
Reine Sarmiento
0:43:24
for the twenty five twenty four, twenty five school year.
0:43:29
So most if they if they stopped out in the '24, they have already been contacted.
0:43:41
They haven't.
0:43:42
And the students that we contact on a regular basis, sometimes it takes a year for them to get to a situation where they could enroll.
0:43:52
And so most of the contact is ongoing.
0:43:55
Jackie is one.
0:43:57
And Jackie is one of them.
0:44:41
Yep.
0:44:41
Over 50% of the Reconnect money goes directly to the colleges in support of retention and finishing.
0:44:50
So the money's distributed to them and they have lists of students who have balances and they're addressed before they even register.
0:46:00
Metro cards, waivers, and the queues.
0:46:04
The wraparound services we're working on but the direct financial support to students, to them is priceless.
0:46:16
So I think that that would go a long way in helping the adult students, but Fresh Start could could have an impact on all students.
0:46:25
Thank you.
Jacqueline George
0:43:59
How long did I I actually had had
0:44:05
Yes.
0:44:05
I was one of the students.
0:44:07
I was actually in the middle of my semester at Baruch.
0:44:12
I had a summer balance of $998, which was going to prevent me from enrolling for the fall semester and didn't know how I was gonna pay that, but you know I'm in the middle of classes and I get an email from the reconnect program saying hey, we realize that you have an outstanding balance, we know that registration is going on, Please reach out to us.
0:44:32
We have a grant for you.
Eric Dinowitz
0:44:01
Please make sure you're speaking into the microphone and that the red light is on.
0:46:00
a lot.
Dzelika Daniel
0:45:16
to come back.
0:45:17
It's also twofold in that in the current semester as the student is going through and has an existing balance that prevents them from registering during open enrollment time, we do have the reconnect teams at the colleges that will reach out to use reconnect completion grant within the semester semester to remove the ability of the hold.
0:45:36
So oftentimes we're not adding to that 13,000.
0:45:40
That number is actually being reduced as the numbers were higher in previous years, it's actually reducing because we're using the funds while they're actively enrolled to be able to allow them to register for the forthcoming term.