NYC Education News

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Weill Cornell Gets $8.2M for Male Birth Control Pill

Weill Cornell Medicine has received an $8.2 million federal grant to advance an experimental male birth control pill designed to temporarily stop sperm from swimming. Led by pharmacology professors Dr. Jochen Buck and Dr. Lonny Levin, the four-year research project aims to develop an on-demand contraceptive that men could take approximately 30 minutes before sex, with effects lasting six to eight hours. Earlier preclinical research found that blocking an enzyme involved in sperm movement could prevent pregnancy in experimental models. The new funding will support drug formulation, manufacturing, safety studies and preparations for an initial human clinical trial. The pill is not approved for human use, and researchers must establish its safety and effectiveness before it could become a contraceptive option.

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Lincoln Center Announces 2027 Winter Dance Festival

Lincoln Center is bringing contemporary dance into the winter season with a festival showcasing New York City-based choreographers and companies. Beginning January 6, 2027, the Lincoln Center Contemporary Dance Festival will feature performances at Alice Tully Hall, including a world premiere, two New York premieres and newly commissioned works. Participating artists include Heidi Latsky, Hannah Garner, Omar Román de Jesús, Shamel Pitts and Netta Yerushalmy, alongside performances celebrating Juilliard Dance's 75th anniversary. The festival is part of Lincoln Center's expanding commitment to contemporary dance through the Pasculano Collaborative. All events are free or offered through Choose-What-You-Pay pricing, making the performances accessible to audiences across New York City.

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NYC to Expand Speed-Limiting Tech to 3,000 Vehicles

New York City is expanding technology designed to prevent municipal vehicles from exceeding posted speed limits, following reported reductions in speeding during an earlier rollout. The city plans to equip 2,000 additional vehicles with intelligent speed assistance over three years, bringing the program to 3,000 vehicles. The system limits acceleration when drivers exceed designated speed thresholds, helping reduce speeding on streets shared with pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists. A federal and city study found that speeding declined 64% among equipped vehicles, including an 82% reduction on high-speed roads. The announcement also includes a separate pilot to test pedestrian warning systems on 100 school buses, extending the city's fleet safety efforts to student transportation.

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MTA Renames Jamaica Center Station for York College

For thousands of students traveling to York College in Jamaica, Queens, a familiar subway stop now carries the name of their destination. The MTA has renamed Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer to Jamaica Center–York College, formally recognizing the CUNY institution as it celebrates its 60th anniversary. The station serves approximately 23,000 weekday riders and connects the E, J and Z subway lines with 30 bus routes. With roughly 80 percent of York College students relying on public transportation, the new name is intended to make campus navigation easier while highlighting the college's longstanding role in Southeast Queens. The change also places York College among nine CUNY institutions recognized in New York City's subway station names.

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NYC AI Jobs Institute Aims to Train 40,000 by 2032

As artificial intelligence changes the skills employers seek, New York is investing in ways for residents to enter technology careers without relying solely on traditional industry pathways. A new AI Jobs Institute in Long Island City will combine workforce training, employer connections and support for entrepreneurs, with a goal of reaching 40,000 New Yorkers by 2032. Operated by the nonprofit Pursuit, the initiative is backed by $10 million in public investment and partnerships spanning technology, finance, education and philanthropy. The Queens facility is expected to be fully occupied in mid-2027 and will also house a center focused on helping underrepresented entrepreneurs develop businesses. The initiative reflects growing efforts to connect technological change with economic opportunity.

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York College to Launch Evening Nursing Program in 2027

For New Yorkers interested in nursing careers, finding time for college while maintaining a job or supporting a family can be a major obstacle. York College in Jamaica, Queens, is introducing a new evening nursing program beginning in spring 2027 to provide an alternative to traditional daytime study. The CUNY institution has educated nursing students for more than four decades, with graduates working in healthcare facilities locally and beyond. The new option will combine evening coursework with clinical experiences, creating additional scheduling flexibility for qualified students pursuing a nursing degree. York College has not yet announced application dates or detailed enrollment requirements, but prospective students can contact its Department of Nursing for information as the launch approaches.

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NYU Langone Opens Psychiatric Emergency Unit in Brooklyn

Brooklyn residents experiencing serious mental health crises will have another dedicated treatment setting as NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn expands its psychiatric emergency services in Sunset Park. The hospital's new Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program provides space for immediate evaluation, short-term observation and treatment, with access to inpatient care when necessary. The expansion also strengthens the connection between hospital services and community-based mental health support through a mobile crisis team and outpatient facilities. NYU Langone is simultaneously investing in the city's psychiatric workforce through a residency program focused on underserved communities, including immigrant families and patients who need care in languages other than English. Together, the initiatives reflect a broader effort to make psychiatric treatment more accessible across Brooklyn.

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CITY Collegiate Conference Launches for 2027

New York City's college sports landscape is preparing for a significant change as the newly established CITY Collegiate Conference brings public and private institutions together under one NCAA Division III organization. Scheduled to begin competition in 2027–28, the conference will unite eight CUNY colleges with Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey. The move creates a broader regional platform for college athletics, connecting student-athletes across four NYC boroughs and neighboring New Jersey. With championships planned in 18 sports, the conference aims to strengthen local rivalries, expand competitive opportunities and reduce travel demands for student-athletes balancing academics and athletics. Building on CUNYAC's history, CITY represents a new chapter for metropolitan college sports while maintaining strong ties to New York City's public university system.

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CUNY Enrollment Rises for Fourth Straight Year

The City University of New York reported a fourth consecutive year of enrollment growth, with preliminary fall 2026 figures showing a 3.2% increase across the university system. Total enrollment reached approximately 253,000 students, up nearly 12% since 2022, representing about 27,000 additional students. Community colleges and graduate programs each recorded 5% growth, while Bronx Community College and Borough of Manhattan Community College reported 9% increases. Graduate enrollment climbed to nearly 31,000 students, exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted the expansion of CUNY Reconnect, a tuition-free community college initiative for eligible adults ages 25 to 55, which currently serves 9,786 students and has expanded to additional campuses.