Res. No. 250
Title
Resolution admonishing the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York (the "Board of Regents") for "breaking tradition" by failing to elect to the position of Chancellor the incumbent Vice Chancellor, as has been the tradition of the Board of Regents, and requesting that the Board of Regents explain to the New York State Legislature, all statewide educational organizations, and to all New Yorkers why they neglected to follow this tradition and to seize the opportunity presented to them to elevate to the position of Chancellor, incumbent Vice Chancellor Sanford, a visionary and committed educational leader who has worked tirelessly on behalf of all the children of the State of New York to provide them with a quality education through the state's public school system.
Body
By Council Member Vann, Barron, Dilan, Foster, Sanders and Seabrook; also Council Members Clarke and Jackson
Whereas, Since the early 1960's, the minutes of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York (the "Board of Regents") have reflected a policy of the Board of Regents where they have elected, by majority vote, the incumbent Vice Chancellor to succeed the Chancellor, who is vacating such position; and
Whereas, For the first time since the early 1960's, the Board of Regents have failed to elect to the position of Chancellor, the current incumbent Vice Chancellor, Regent Adelaide Luvenia Hines Sanford;
Whereas, The Board of Regents unprecedented break with their traditional practice is particularly troubling because of the outstanding qualifications and educational leadership that Vice Chancellor Sanford has exhibited during her nearly 16 years of service as a member of the Board of Regents; and
Whereas, Vice Chancellor Sanford is a graduate of Brooklyn College, Wellesley College, and Fordham University, where she was a Ford Foundation Fellow in Urban Education; and
Whereas, Vice Chancellor Sanford has served in many positions of educational leadership, having begun her teaching career in 1950, and having served as Principal of Public School 21 and Crispus Attucks School, where during her tenure the school received city-wide recognition as an outstanding inner city school with excellent teacher morale and special programs for gifted and talented students; and
Whereas, Vice Chancellor Sanford has received numerous awards for her outstanding leadership in education, including the First Distinguished Black Alumna Award on the 125th Anniversary of Wellesley College in recognition of her lifetime achievements, the Humanitarian Award of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Distinguished Alumna Award of Brooklyn College, the Ellen Lurie Award of the Community Service Society, and the Josephine Shaw Lowell Award for her work in empowering low-income communities; and
Whereas, In 1986, Vice Chancellor Sanford was unanimously elected to a seven year term as a Member-at-Large of the Board of Regents, re-elected to a second seven-year-term in 1993, and to a five-year term in 2000;
Whereas, In March 2001, Vice Chancellor Sanford was elected to the position of Vice Chancellor of the Board of Regents; and
Whereas, During her tenure with the Board of Regents, Vice Chancellor Sanford has served and continues to serve in many leadership positions, including Chair of the Regents' Committees on Low Performing Schools, Higher Education, and the Professions; and
Whereas, During her tenure, Vice Chancellor Sanford produced the report "Perform or Perish", published by the New York State Education Department, examining the impact of failing schools in New York State and helping to set the foundation for the formulation of new educational policies; and
Whereas, During her tenure, Vice Chancellor Sanford provided important leadership, creating the Task Force on Teaching as Chair of the Committee on Higher Education, which examined and recommended more rigorous standards for teachers and pedagogical institutions; and
Whereas, At the present time, Vice Chancellor Sanford serves as Co-Chair of the Committee on Closing the Performance Gap, which is processing and scrutinizing the problems in accessing educational opportunities and pupil performance in New York State; and
Whereas, In her capacity as Chair of subcommittees and task forces, Vice Chancellor Sanford established Citizens Advisory Panels, drawing from distinguished citizens and incorporating a broad spectrum of members of the community, including clergy, parents, members of the judiciary and the business and banking communities, who brought a depth of knowledge, energy and commitment to the work of the Regents' Committees, and provided sound recommendations on matters of policy and public concern; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York admonishes the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York for "breaking tradition" by failing to elect to the position of Chancellor the incumbent Vice Chancellor, as has been the tradition of the Board of Regents; and, be it further
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York requests that the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York explain to the New York State Legislature, all statewide educational organizations, and to all New Yorkers why they neglected to follow this tradition and the opportunity presented to them to elevate to the position of Chancellor, incumbent Vice Chancellor Sanford, a visionary and committed educational leader, who has worked tirelessly on behalf of all the children of the State of New York to provide them with a quality education through the state's public school system.
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