When I began my career at CUNY in 2003 as a newly hired assistant professor at Queens College, I was relieved to learn that the college offered low-cost child care on campus for students, staff and faculty. I was new to the area and trying to find child care for my toddler was daunting.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Child\u00a0Development\u00a0Center<\/a> allowed me to pursue my professional aspirations while my daughter was nearby and starting her academic journey. Twenty-three years later, I work in CUNY\u2019s Central Office as the University\u2019s executive vice chancellor and provost \u2014 and my daughter is a Queens College graduate.<\/p>\n Neither of us would have reached this point as easily without CUNY\u2019s support, and I remain deeply grateful to the center\u2019s dedicated staff who made it possible for both my daughter and me to thrive. No parent should have to sacrifice their educational or career ambitions because they cannot find affordable, quality child care. The University operates 17 campus-based child care centers across the five boroughs, with plans for an 18th at Queensborough Community College. Together, they provide quality care and preschool education that meet the needs of student-parents and their children.<\/p>\n These services, along with CUNY\u2019s broader commitment to early childhood education, underpin the University\u2019s role as the nation\u2019s foremost engine of economic opportunity. Our child care centers help thousands of student-parents complete their degrees, while our academic programs prepare the next generation of teachers and child care professionals \u2014 addressing a critical workforce need in New York.<\/p>\n That work was on display<\/a> earlier this month when Chancellor F\u00e9lix V. Matos Rodr\u00edguez visited an early childhood development class at Borough of Manhattan Community College. The class qualifies for Governor Hochul\u2019s initiative, CUNY Reconnect, to provide free community college for adults entering high-demand fields.\u00a0And the students are preparing for careers that are urgently needed as Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani advance their goal of universal child care for 2-year-olds.\u00a0CUNY is\u00a0stepping up,\u00a0expanding its\u00a0early childhood education The University also operates the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute<\/a>, which supports aspiring educators through 10 career-development centers statewide. In partnership with New York City\u2019s Workforce Development Corporation, the institute recently launched the NYC Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program<\/a>, placing aspiring child care workers in paid roles while they earn a tuition-free Child Development Associate certificate from the CUNY School of Professional Studies.<\/p>\n
pipeline to help meet the state\u2019s needs. Thirteen CUNY colleges now enroll more than 3,600 students across some 50 early childhood programs at every degree level.<\/p>\n