Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson joined CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez on December 2 for a visit to Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School to highlight the expansion of CUNY’s dual enrollment College Now program to include independent religious schools, which began in 2024. This move expands the college’s and CUNY’s reach into local communities and builds on the success of the 42-year-old College Now program, which gives high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses. Between last fall and this fall, the number of students enrolled from independent religious schools in College Now programs, administered by Brooklyn College, increased from 32 to 78 students, or 144%. “This expansion reflects CUNY’s commitment to providing high-quality education to all of New York City’s students,” said Chancellor Matos Rodríguez. “We’re helping more students build real academic momentum and enter college with the confidence, credits, and preparation they need to thrive both in a higher education setting and beyond.” “The College Now partnership between Brooklyn College and Yeshiva of Flatbush reflects our ongoing commitment to Brooklyn’s vibrant community,” said President Anderson, who was joined by Lillian O’Reilly, vice president of enrollment management and retention at Brooklyn College. “We’re excited to welcome these students into College Now and support their success well beyond.” President Michelle J. Anderson addresses students at Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School. At Yeshivah of Flatbush, 23 students are currently enrolled in year-long College Now courses—including Physics, English Composition, American Pluralism, and College Algebra—that are taught directly at the high school by Yeshivah of Flatbush teachers who are also Brooklyn College adjunct lecturers. An additional 30 students are also taking Calculus at the high school through the College Now program. The program serves as a model for future collaborations with other private and religious schools. The new collaboration is an important part of the university’s broader strategy to enhance educational access to all students across New York City. The expansion is funded through partnerships between CUNY campuses and the yeshivas. “We’re excited to offer our students college-level courses through CUNY’s College Now program. This initiative helps our students enter college better prepared and further along in their academic journey,” said Rabbi Joseph Beyda, head of school at Yeshivah of Flatbush Joel Braverman High School. “All From the Comfort of My High School” Rebecca Weinwurzel, a junior at Joel Braverman High School, said she knows taking more challenging courses will be worth it. “Yes, the work is harder and I’m putting in more effort, but I’m gaining so much: a whole semester of college, all from the comfort of my high school, with classmates and teachers I already know. It really pays off in the long run,” she said. Jacob Hanan, who is also a junior, appreciates getting a preview of college courses. “College classes are more self-directed—the teacher instructs you and then you do your work. In high school classes, it’s more like you’re doing the work along the way with the teacher,” he said. “I’m learning how to write better essays in English class, and in history there is more focus on critical thinking, so those skills are really helping me grow.” A second yeshiva, Magen David Academy in Bensonhurst, is also part of the program and offers College Now classes on nutrition through Brooklyn College. About College Now CUNY’s College Now program is one of the oldest dual enrollment initiatives in the nation. During the 2024-25 school year, more than 30,000 New York City Public Schools students from nearly 600 high schools participated. Its impact is well-documented: Research shows students who take part in dual enrollment programs are more likely to graduate from college and have higher degree completion rates than their peers who did not participate in such programs.
