LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the State
University of New York at Oswego

WHEREAS, New York State's commitment to education is unparalleled; its
history and stature are secured by the superlative caliber of its educa-
tional professionals and the students they inspire; and
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 which have achieved world renown and brought pride and
honor to our State and Nation through their traditions 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 commem-
orate the 150th Anniversary of the State University of New York at Oswe-
go; and
WHEREAS, The theme of the sesquicentennial year will be "Celebrating
150 Years of Engaging Minds and Opening Doors."; and
WHEREAS, Formal activities will begin with the State University of New
York at Oswego's commencement on May 14, 2011, and continue throughout
the rest of the year; and
WHEREAS, The State University of New York at Oswego was founded in
1861 as the Oswego Primary Teachers' Training School by Edward Austin
Sheldon, who embraced and popularized some of the most innovative teach-
ing methods of his day; in 1913, the campus moved from the city of Oswe-
go to the current lakeside location following the construction and open-
ing of what is now known as Sheldon Hall; and
WHEREAS, In 1942, New York State legislation elevated the institution
from a normal school to the degree-granting Oswego State Teachers
College; in 1948, it became one of the State University of New York's
charter members; to meet the expanded need for specialized instruction,
the institution broadened its academic perspective to become a full-
fledged arts and sciences institution in the SUNY system and featuring a
range of liberal and professional studies by 1962; and
WHEREAS, SUNY Oswego's student body quadrupled during the 1960s and
early 1970s, which was a busy time of building on campus as well, 29 new
buildings opened in the 1960s alone; it divided into the College of Arts
and Sciences, School of Business and School of Education in 1992; and
WHEREAS, SUNY Oswego also created the School of Communication, Media
and the Arts in 2007; the College of Arts and Sciences became the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2008; and
WHEREAS, The campus currently consists of 46 buildings with classroom,
laboratory, residential and athletic facilities; recent years have
witnessed the launch of a significant campus-wide renovation and renewal
program, highlighted by the October of 2006 opening of the Campus
Center, the college's first new building in 35 years; and
WHEREAS, The State University of New York at Oswego is one of 13
university colleges in the SUNY system; more than 8,200 students enroll
annually, and there are more than 73,000 living alumni with known
addresses; the school offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, minors
and graduate programs; and
WHEREAS, Ably led by President Deborah F. Stanley, SUNY Oswego contin-
ues to prosper today and into the future; and
WHEREAS, With great admiration, this Legislative Body is proud to pay
tribute to this eminent academic institution which stands at the thresh-
old of the future with its legacy of outstanding achievements and its
impressive body of distinguished faculty and alumni; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the State University of New York at
Oswego; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Deborah F. Stanley, President of the State University of New
York at Oswego.