The City University of New York (CUNY) is the public university system of New York City, United States, and the largest urban university system in the country. Established to provide accessible higher education to a diverse population, CUNY comprises 26 campuses, including eleven senior colleges, seven community colleges, and eight professional institutions, enrolling over 275,000 students annually. Its academic offerings span a wide range of disciplines, with a strong emphasis on urban studies, social sciences, and professional training. Notable components include the Graduate School of Journalism, which focuses on urban and investigative reporting. CUNY's history traces back to the 19th century, evolving from institutions like the Free Academy (founded in 1847, now City College) into a unified system in the mid-20th century. It operates under the governance of the City University of New York Board of Trustees, with recent leadership including Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, who became chancellor in 2019 as the first Latino and minority educator to head the university. CUNY's alumni have achieved remarkable success, including thirteen Nobel Prize winners and twenty-four MacArthur Fellows. In recent years, CUNY has faced controversies, notably in April 2024 when students across its campuses joined nationwide protests against the Israel-Hamas war, demanding divestment from companies with ties to Israel. Despite such challenges, CUNY remains a cornerstone of public education in New York, promoting equity and opportunity in one of the world's most dynamic cities.