LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Pratt Institute upon the occasion of
celebrating the 50th Anniversary of its City and Regional Planning
Program on May 14-15, 2010

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those exemplary institutions of higher education within the
State of New York for their enduring commitment to the pursuit of
academic excellence; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Pratt Institute upon the occasion of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of
its City and Regional Planning Program; and
WHEREAS, Pratt Institute will commemorate this most auspicious occa-
sion May 14-15, 2010; former Chairpersons, alumni, current students, new
graduates, faculty and community partners will spend a fun and engaging
weekend celebrating the work of Ron Shiffman and the program's eleven
past chairs, and participating in lively, cross-generational dialogue;
it will also host a panel discussion moderated by a special guest, urban
critic and author Roberta Brandes Gratz; and
WHEREAS, As Pratt Institute celebrates the 50th Anniversary of its
Planning program, it continues to expand and enhance the opportunities
for its students; and
WHEREAS, Its Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development (PSPD)
is an alliance of four programs with a shared value placed on urban
sustainability -- defined by the "triple bottom line" of environment,
equity and economy; its four graduate Master of Science programs are:
City and Regional Planning; Environmental Systems Management; Facilities
Management; and Historic Preservation; and each of these four graduate
programs maintains its independence, degree and depth of study; yet with
the advice of Coordinators and Chairs, students can move between the
four programs, with the further option to follow set tracks for special-
ized or multifaceted studies; studios bring together students from all
four graduate programs for interdisciplinary teamwork; and
WHEREAS, PSPD also offers linkages to: the undergraduate Construction
Management Program, with the opportunity to focus on real estate devel-
opment; Brooklyn Law School, with opportunity for a joint Masters/Juris
Doctor; and to the Pratt Center for Community Development, with opportu-
nity to combine study and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, The primary mission of the PSPD is to provide a profes-
sionally oriented education to a student body with diverse cultural,
educational professional backgrounds; the PSPD welcomes applicants with
undergraduate degrees in a wide range of academic disciplines; in the
application process, the PSPD values creativity, civic engagement and
depth of experience, as well as intellectual capacity; and
WHEREAS, The Environmental Systems Management Program is entirely
devoted to urban environmental policy and systems; "green development"
and LEED courses augment the Facilities Management Program curriculum;
the Historic Preservation Program is already "greened," as the most
sustainable action is to preserve and reuse; and
WHEREAS, In this century as in the last, the major human force on our
planet is migration to metropolitan areas; while the major challenge of
the present and future is addressing global warming; prior city planning
values of aesthetics (as per the City Beautiful movement of the late
19th century) and new technology (as per the City Efficient movement of
the mid-20th century) must now be augmented with a new city sustainable
movement; the PSPD is especially committed to realizing this paradigm of
urbanism on the community as well as the citywide basis; and

WHEREAS, True sustainability considers factors such as social justice
and financial realities; advocacy and participation planning are core
principles, further propelled by the Livable Cities and the Environ-
mental Justice movements; sustainability is not just a new set of tech-
nologies and standards; it is also a value system; and
WHEREAS, Relevant employment and internships are an important compo-
nent of the PSPD's educational approach; students entering with work in
a relevant field may earn up to 25 percent of their credits through
advance standing; paid internships are available; and students with
unpaid internships may have credits waived; the resulting variety of
professional experiences enriches seminar discussions and studio team-
work, provides students with a wealth of contacts in the field, and
strengthens their job qualifications; and
WHEREAS, Through internships, partnerships, studios, demonstrations of
professional competence and directed research, students have ample
opportunity to work on real-world and real-time issues; and
WHEREAS, New York's history, diversity and international character
offer Pratt students a rich training ground for planners, preservation-
ists, developers and sustainability practitioners; and
WHEREAS, Pratt students graduate equipped with the technical know-how,
collaborative skills and critical thinking necessary to pursue profes-
sional careers and plan for environmental and social justice in urban
places; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when insti-
tutions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Pratt Institute upon the occasion of celebrating the 50th Anni-
versary of its City and Regional Planning Program, fully confident that
in its future, it will enjoy the same success which has so characterized
its past; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Pratt Institute.