As of the Spring 2026 semester, Queens College has offered 374 fewer course sections compared to the previous academic term, as enrollment continues to decline and financial resources remain constrained.
A previous report by The Knight News, published March 12th, 2025, found that enrollment had dropped to 15,965 students in Fall 2024, not only marking a 3.15% decrease from Fall 2023 but also falling far below the administration’s target of more than 19,000 students. College leaders have identified enrollment growth as essential to maintaining the institution’s financial stability.
“Our priority is to ensure that students can access the instruction, advising, and support services they need to complete their degrees, even in a challenging financial and operational environment,” said QC administrators in a joint statement provided by Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration Troy Hahn, Academic Advising Center Director Laura Silverman, and Vice President for Student Affairs and Strategic Enrollment Initiatives Jennifer Jarvis.
Across campus, reduced staffing has resulted in fewer course options, longer wait times for advising and support, and limited availability in some student services—challenges that directly affect registration, academic planning, and students’ progress toward graduation.
“They don’t usually get back to you in a timely manner—or at all—and sometimes close the ticket, leaving you completely hanging,” said Mim Akter, a Media Studies junior, describing her experience in contacting the IT Department.
These challenges related to staffing reflect the broader financial pressures faced by institutions across the City University of New York system. According to CUNY’s fiscal year 2026 budget request, rising operational costs and declining enrollment have strained institutional budgets as campuses work to maintain academic programs and essential services.
At Queens College, administrators said staffing levels vary by department and are evaluated based on outcomes rather than a single overall number. The college monitors several indicators including course availability, advising response times, tutoring usage, student wait times, and operational backlogs. When strain appears, officials respond through process adjustments, cross-unit coordination, temporary coverage, student employees, and targeted hiring when funding permits.
“Current staffing levels require us to be intentional and well-organized in how support is delivered,” said the administration. “Supporting student success remains a college priority, even during periods of limited resources.”
Internal data suggests that staffing pressures are also affecting employees. The Spring 2025 QC Workplace Survey reported “recurring concerns related to workload strain, limited resources, inconsistent leadership practices, and cross-departmental communication challenges.”
For many students, the effects of limited staffing are felt daily—in both restricted class availability and extended wait times for support services.
To address reduced one-on-one access to student services, the college has expanded group advising workshops, peer mentoring, and online self-service tools. Fall 2025 data from the QC in 4 program show that more than 1,000 first-year students who attended group advising workshops completed an average of 12.88 credits during their first semester.
“Some programs have been modified in scale, frequency, or scheduling, particularly those that are highly labor-intensive or require extended staffing,” administrators said. They also noted that resources are prioritized for services which support the greatest number of students and have the strongest impact on retention and academic progress.
At the system level, the Professional Staff Congress, the union representing CUNY faculty and staff, continues to advocate for increased state funding. The union’s fiscal year 2027 budget campaign calls for full public investment to restore staffing levels, expand course offerings, and reduce service gaps across CUNY campuses.
Despite ongoing challenges, Queens College’s Self-Study Report expresses optimism about the Spring 2026 semester, citing filled leadership positions and expanded enrollment initiatives as steps toward strengthening academic programming in the coming years.
