Hostos Community College was honored to welcome City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez back to Hostos on Wednesday, October 29, for his 2025 State of the University Address, marking a meaningful homecoming for the former Hostos president. Chancellor Matos Rodríguez, who led Hostos from 2009 to 2014, returned to the campus where he spent five years championing student success, academic innovation, and the College’s long-term growth.
 
During his address at the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture’s Main Theater, the Chancellor unveiled CUNY Beyond, the nation’s most ambitious postsecondary career-success initiative. Designed to integrate career preparation, paid work-based learning, and employer engagement into every undergraduate program, the initiative will serve 180,000 students annually by 2030, ensuring graduates leave CUNY with both a degree and a clear career path.
 

“This is a proud moment for the Hostos community,” said Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis. “Welcoming Chancellor Matos Rodríguez back to the institution he once led — at a moment when CUNY is launching a transformative vision to elevate every student’s career trajectory — speaks to the enduring legacy of leadership and innovation here at the College.”
 
The event also highlighted the College’s exciting future, including the historic redevelopment of the Bronx General Post Office into a 190,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Allied Health and Natural Sciences hub for Hostos students. This transformative project will double the College’s capacity to prepare students for healthcare careers, a vital industry for the Bronx and New York City.
 

A reception followed the address at the Bronx General Post Office, bringing together campus leaders, CUNY colleagues, industry partners, and community stakeholders. The celebration offered an opportunity to reflect on the Chancellor’s enduring connection to Hostos, recognize the shared commitment across the CUNY family, and look ahead to a bold future for the University and the communities it serves.


Other key highlights of the address included:

 
Student Access and Pipeline Initiatives
  • Personalized “Welcome to CUNY” outreach to ~70,000 NYC Public School seniors.
     
  • Application fee waiver for NYCPS students through November 21.
     
Innovation and Research Leadership
 
  • Expansion of AI education, including:
     
    • Fully online master’s program in Generative AI at CUNY SPS.
       
    • AI certificate program at BMCC.
       
  • Breakthrough cancer-detection AI research at City College.
     
  • Nearly $6 million awarded to Bronx Community College for STEM research initiatives.
 
Read more about the State of the University Address here.