Objective

To determine the extent of implementation of the seven recommendations included in our initial audit report, Course Offerings (Report 2019-S-19).

About the Program

City University of New York (CUNY) comprises 11 senior colleges; seven community colleges; and seven graduate, honors, and professional schools located throughout New York City’s five boroughs. As of fall 2022, approximately 226,000 students were enrolled at CUNY’s 25 campuses. The annual tuition in fall 2022 for a New York State resident pursuing a bachelor’s degree full-time at CUNY was $6,930.

Many full-time CUNY students studying toward a bachelor’s degree do not graduate within four to six years of first-time enrollment. Based on CUNY data, only 33% of those full-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students who enrolled in 2018 (the most recent entering class with published four-year graduation rates) received their bachelor’s degree within four years. Similarly, just 55% of full-time students who first enrolled in 2016 graduated with a bachelor’s degree within six years.

CUNY students receiving financial aid generally have to maintain certain eligibility requirements to continue receiving financial aid. While programs vary, the number of credits and the courses taken are important requirements to ensure students continue receiving aid. Further, some financial aid programs are limited to specific time frames (such as 4 years) or number of semesters. Students must enroll in specific coursework to ensure continued financial aid.

The objective of our initial audit, issued in September 2020, was to determine whether CUNY was effectively matching course offerings to student demand. The audit covered the three academic years ended June 30, 2019, and focused on five senior colleges in each borough with large enrollments in 2017: the College of Staten Island, Lehman College, Hunter College, New York City College of Technology, and Queens College. Specifically, the audit found that CUNY was not effectively matching course offerings to student demands; was not comprehensively tracking students’ use of financial aid or monitoring their graduation rates; and did not formally survey students to consider their feedback when preparing course schedules. In addition, students reported that advisors did not provide beneficial academic guidance, which caused their graduation to be delayed.

Key Findings

CUNY officials have made progress in addressing the problems we identified in the initial report. Of the initial report’s seven recommendations, two were implemented, three were partially implemented, and two were not implemented.

Key Recommendations

Officials are given 30 days after the issuance of the follow-up assessment to provide information on any actions that are planned to address the unresolved issues discussed in this report.