Dear CUNY Community,

As we reach the midpoint of the summer session and look forward to the Fall 2024 semester, I want to reaffirm that the physical and emotional well-being of our students and employees is always a top priority at CUNY. That obligation to ensure the safety and protect the rights of all members of our community is especially important in these polarizing times.

I want to remind everyone that CUNY does not tolerate acts of hate or bigotry of any kind. This includes discrimination or harassment based on national origin or heritage – including shared Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, Muslim or South Asian ancestry – and/or the association with these national origins and ancestries.

I also want to be clear that the University will promptly take all necessary and appropriate actions to address any such discrimination and remedy its effects. We encourage students and employees who believe they have been subjected to such discrimination, or who have information about an incident or situation, to report it to the University. Anyone who believes they have been a victim of harassment, discrimination or retaliation should use the University-wide Discrimination and Retaliation Reporting Portal.

CUNY has rules and regulations in place to maintain public order through an atmosphere of mutual respect, civility and trust on our campuses. These rules apply to everyone and you can read about them here.

As we have seen during these times of political conflict, deeply held views can sometimes devolve into statements or actions of antisemitism, Islamophobia or other forms of bigotry against individuals with opposing views. But as I have said on numerous occasions, intimidation, harassment, retaliation or any form of discrimination against those with opposing convictions cannot be the way we as a community respond in times of conflict and crisis. The University will not be tolerant of anyone in our community who violates this very fundamental principle.

As a further response, I urge anyone who is impacted by these events and needs help to access the support available to them. All CUNY campuses have health and wellness centers with professional counselors on hand to help students work through anxiety, grief and other overwhelming feelings and personal concerns. You can find location and contact information for all campus counseling services and learn how to access additional services by visiting the CUNY Mental Health Services webpage.

Faculty and staff may reach out to CCA@YourService, CUNY’s confidential employee assistance program provider, which is available 24/7 by calling 800-833-8707 or logging on to www.myccaonline.com with the company code “CUNY.”

CUNY has long been committed to supporting our diverse community in an environment of mutual respect. We are proud of the culture of civility that has guided us for generations, even as we remain steadfast in our commitment to freedom of expression and vigorous discourse that are central to our role as a leading institution of higher education.

CUNY is one of the most diverse universities in the country and among the nation’s greatest engines of social mobility. This makes us uniquely positioned to be a model for these times: an inclusive educational institution where all can learn, create knowledge, feel safe and supported, and thrive together while recognizing and appreciating our differences.

Sincerely,

Félix V. Matos Rodríguez
Chancellor