Queens College is cutting classes and staff and the reasons behind it remain unclear. 

Since 2019, the school has cut nearly 4,000 class sections. This summer, department chairs were told to cut part-time faculty budgets by up to 40%.

The effects are already visible. The chemistry department had to cut lab sections because there were not enough staff to keep them safe.  Library jobs have been cut too, and college assistants are losing hours and health insurance.The school cites low enrollment, but the numbers do not support that claim. Urban Studies Chair Melissa Checker said some of her department’s programs are seeing more students than ever; however, they are still being told to make cuts.

CUNY’s own enrollment data tells a different story. As of late June, Queens College had about 350 more students enrolled than it did at the same time last year.

Moreover, Professional Staff Congress president James Davis said the cuts are “ill-timed and unstrategic.” Faculty also point out that the school keeps adding high-paid administrative jobs while cutting classroom support. That’s the real issue. This is not just about budget cuts being bad; it is about the school not clearly explaining where the money is going.

If enrollment is fine, students deserve a real explanation for the cuts. Adjuncts and part-time faculty should not be the first thing that is cut every single time. This affects more than just Queens College students. Baruch College already struggles with overcrowding, and easier cross-campus enrollment could help both schools. But none of that works if students cannot trust the numbers they are being told.

CUNY does not have to make budgets painless, but it should make them transparent. Until Queens College clearly explains why the cuts always land on the people running classrooms and libraries, students have every reason to remain skeptical.