Excerpted from The Chronicle of Higher Education A New Look for CUNY By SARA HEBEL Inside the television studios at the City University of New York's Graduate School and University Center, Tomiko Karino is introducing the university's new cable program, "Study With the Best." The new television program is a calculated effort to give CUNY a new face. "People who don't go to City College feel it's not all that good," Ms. Karino says. "But it's an excellent school." Right: president's reception at Brooklyn College, CUNY, for students in newly-founded Honors College Such praise was rarely heard three years ago, when a commission appointed by Rudolph W. Giuliani, then the mayor, called the university "adrift" and said it needed to raise standards. In November 1999, the New York State Board of Regents adopted a policy that raised admissions standards and eliminated remedial classes at CUNY's senior colleges. Those changes were fully phased in at all campuses this past fall. Many former critics are now lauding CUNY's academic improvements. Despite early concerns that more-rigorous admissions standards would drive applicants away, students seem to be flocking to CUNY. This semester freshman enrollment at CUNY senior colleges increased by 23 percent over last year; a total of 197,069 students are attending the university this spring, 3.5 percent more than the same time last year. CUNY this year also began a university wide honors college, attracting students with an average SAT of 1290. "We're well on our way to reshaping the university," says Chancellor Matthew Goldstein. "People will truly believe that it is a degree of value. It is becoming the university of choice instead of a last measure." Some former critics specifically praise Mr. Goldstein, who took over at CUNY in September 1999, for his leadership in building the honors college and improving the quality of key programs. His administration, they say, also has been able to attract more highly talented faculty members and dynamic campus presidents. University administrators and trustees, as well as members of the state Board of Regents, believe that CUNY is better serving underprepared students by requiring them to improve their skills before they enroll in senior-college courses. CUNY officials are especially excited about their new efforts to reach out to top high-school students in the area. The new honors college has been such a hit that applications for next fall have shot up more than 91 percent, to 2,670. "Our mission is to serve all New Yorkers," says Louise Mirrer, CUNY's executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. Before, "the range didn't stretch high enough." Benno C. Schmidt, vice chairman of CUNY's Board of Trustees, applauds CUNY for offering higher-quality programs without losing enrollment or diversity. Over the past several years the racial makeup of CUNY's student body has remained about the same. About 31 percent of students are black, 29 percent are white, 25 percent are Hispanic, 14 percent are Asian, and the rest are mostly Native American, CUNY officials say. "CUNY is on a roll," Mr. Schmidt says. "The institution has made extraordinary progress over the past three years." _________________________________________________________________ Copyright 2002 by The Chronicle of Higher Education