Exclusive | Hunter College facing massive $14M deficit, CUNY officials say during secret retreat

Hunter College is grappling with a massive $14 million deficit, officials confirmed to The Post — after the City University of New York’s board of trustees discussed the flagship school’s dire financial situation during a secret “retreat.”The trustees — without any public notice — held what sources called a “retreat” or “summer session” for two-and-a-half hours at the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College on Aug.17.The board discussed the finances at CUNY’s 26 colleges and institutions, revealing that Hunter was deep in the red, and that several community colleges also had operating deficits, according to the sources.Marc Shaw, a senior advisor at the CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance, also gave a PowerPoint presentation to the board that addressed future enrollment and demographic trends — given declining high school student population and stiff competition from other colleges, including the State University of New York campuses.Hunter College officials confirmed the school was contending with having to close $14 million in red ink in a $399 million budget.“Hunter College is implementing financial savings measures to address its projected structural deficit while ensuring our ability to provide a high-quality education for our students is not impacted,” a school spokesperson said in a statement.“Full-time faculty and staff and academic programs are not expected to be affected,” the statement said.

“We may also draw on reserves if necessary to cover any remaining deficit at the end of the academic year.These decisions are being made with an aim toward minimal operational disruption.”Beyond the school’s troubling financial news, sources questioned if the trustees’ closed-door session violated New York’s Open Meetings Law.One former CUNY trustee blasted the current leadership for holding a secret meeting on what appears to be official business.“I was on the board for 15 years.

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