CUNY’s New Placement Path

THE ISSUE: CUNY’s move away from testing new students for remedial-education courses.

The contention that City University of New York is lowering its standards by overhauling a failed approach to remedial education flies in the face of rigorous national research (“CUNY’s Giant Step Back,” Editorial, Aug. 5).

By replacing a short placement test with a formula that combines highschool grades with SAT or Regents exam scores, CUNY will more accurately meet the needs of 25,000 talented freshmen who annually enroll in its associate degree programs.

In doing so, CUNY joins SUNY colleges and university systems across the country that are investing in similar placement approaches and improved teaching to reduce the institutional and individual costs associated with outdated approaches to remediation.

Just a few weeks ago, a Post editorial praised CUNY “as the nation’s top-value public-university system.” Nothing has reverted since: Our graduation standards are the same. We just now have better strategies to enhance our students’ chances at meeting their full potential — a change, that, if anything, is worthy of celebration.

José Luis Cruz Exec. Vice Chancellor CUNY The Bronx

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