NYC Gazette

The City University of New York (CUNY) Board of Trustees has announced the creation of the Center for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging (CIEB), aimed at combating discrimination across its 25 campuses. The initiative, approved on Monday, seeks to foster understanding among diverse communities by utilizing systemwide resources, implementing policies related to discrimination and harassment, and overseeing training.

“The Board of Trustees of the City University of New York believes in the dignity of all human beings regardless of ethnicity, race, color, gender, national origin, religion and disabilities,” said CUNY Board Chairperson William C. Thompson Jr. “This Center for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging will centralize this work so there is consistency and accountability on all campuses to make sure students, faculty and staff are protected and respected. We intend to be a national leader in this space.”

“In the last year, there has been a growing call on higher education to create more outlets for students to engage in fruitful and productive conversations about their differences,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “These conversations are critical to ending hate and building understanding. CUNY is answering that call by creating this new Center to consolidate our efforts to fight hate and improve dialogue. As one of the most diverse institutions in the nation, the University’s core mission is to provide an environment that is free from discrimination and hate.”

The Center's responsibilities include overseeing policies relating to discrimination, harassment, bullying, and hate crimes; serving as the administrative arm for processing complaints; monitoring annual training for chief diversity officers; reviewing campus climate surveys; managing a comprehensive portal for complaints; and revising non-discrimination policies.

The establishment of CIEB aligns with actions committed under a voluntary resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights concerning nine Title VI complaints. This includes additional training for those investigating discrimination complaints.

CUNY continues collaborating with Judge Jonathan Lippman on an independent review of its antisemitism policies. Chairperson Thompson expressed gratitude towards Judge Lippman for his guidance.

The center will operate from CUNY's Central Office under an executive director reporting directly to the Chancellor. Over two years, CUNY has invested $1.3 million into anti-hate initiatives funded by New York City Council grants amounting to $550,000 and $750,000 from New York State for Campus Climate Support Grants.

In 2022, CUNY partnered with Hillel International’s Campus Climate Initiative involving seven colleges conducting surveys and focus groups regarding Jewish student experiences on campus.

In 2023, Chancellor Rodríguez established an Advisory Council on Jewish Life comprising prominent New York Jewish leaders discussing ways to enhance Jewish life within CUNY.

CUNY also expanded its official school calendar in February by adding four holidays: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Lunar New Year, and Diwali.

Founded in 1847 as America’s first free public institution of higher education, CUNY serves over 233,000 students across seven community colleges, eleven senior colleges, and seven graduate or professional schools within New York City's five boroughs. It awards approximately 50,000 degrees annually while maintaining a commitment to providing affordable quality education accessible to all students regardless of background.

For more information about CUNY visit https://www.cuny.edu.