LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim March 6, 2012, as Public Higher Education Day in the State of
New York, in conjunction with National Public Higher Education Day

WHEREAS, The economic strength of the United States and its ability to
create jobs and compete globally require a skilled workforce educated
for a twenty-first century economy; and
WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Education, over
14 million students attend public postsecondary degree-granting insti-
tutions across every state in the United States, comprising almost
three-fourths of postsecondary students in the country; and
WHEREAS, The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis has found that publicly
supported community colleges enroll almost half of all United States
undergraduate students and are essential for workforce training and
retraining; and
WHEREAS, According to the Center for Measuring University Performance,
half of the top 50 American research universities are public insti-
tutions, from Virginia to Washington, Texas to Minnesota, Ohio to Colo-
rado, and many more; and
WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs, during the 2009-2010 academic year, public universities made up
two of the top five most popular choices for students who used benefits
from the Post-9/11 GI Bill; and
WHEREAS, The first Tuesday in the month of March is an appropriate day
to designate as National Public Higher Education Day, recognizing the
importance of public higher education for growing a skilled domestic
workforce, promoting research and innovation, and advancing the global
competitiveness of the United States; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 6, 2012, as
Public Higher Education Day in the State of New York, in conjunction
with National Public Higher Education Day; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.