S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10583
I N A S S E M B L Y
July 6, 2022
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Jean-Pierre,
Cunningham) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher
Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing a Black
Leadership Institute within the State University of New York
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The State University of New York
("SUNY") has committed to becoming the most inclusive university system
in the country, where all students, faculty, and staff feel welcome and
supported. To meet this goal, SUNY must employ, in addition to faculty
and staff, leaders at the highest levels who share common experiences
and culture with those who comprise the fastest-growing segment of its
student population: diverse students who will become the nation's next
generation of leaders.
SUNY has seen a steady increase of Black students in recent years,
reaching nearly 11 percent, or over 42,000 students, in the 2019-2020
academic year. While SUNY continues its efforts to ensure that campus
leadership and faculty reflect the students they serve by hiring faculty
who are more representative of the diverse student population at SUNY
campuses, the diversity within executive leadership teams on many
campuses can be expanded further with support from the legislature.
It is, therefore, the intention of the legislature to create a Black
Leadership Institute ("the Institute") as an initiative for Black lead-
ers in higher education with a mission to retain and grow from within
SUNY a greater proportion of Black professionals at SUNY campuses. The
Institute shall offer support and foster professional development for
candidates for senior leadership roles on SUNY campuses, which will, in
turn, create a more diverse SUNY culture that represents New York state
and the SUNY student population.
The legislature further intends that the Institute would be designed
to open doors to executive-level positions and strengthen the Universi-
ty's pool of Black leaders. The Institute will identify, develop, and
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15663-02-2
A. 10583 2
recruit, and ultimately support, retain, and foster the success of Black
leaders across the SUNY system.
§ 2. The education law is amended by adding a new section 362 to read
as follows:
§ 362. BLACK LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. 1. SUBJECT TO AN APPROPRIATION FOR
THIS PURPOSE, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW
YORK, SHALL CREATE A BLACK LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE WITHIN THE STATE UNIVER-
SITY OF NEW YORK TO FOSTER THE SUCCESS OF BLACK LEADERS AT THE UNIVERSI-
TY PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT'S CABINET LEVEL. SUCH INSTITUTE SHALL DEVELOP
CANDIDATE IDENTIFICATION AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, SEARCH COMMITTEE
TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT MEASURES
FOR INSTITUTE PARTICIPANTS, PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMING,
SERVICES, RESEARCH AND RESOURCE IDENTIFICATION ACTIVITIES, AND ANY OTHER
PROGRAMS DEEMED NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE INTENT OF THIS INSTITUTE.
2. THE CHANCELLOR SHALL APPOINT AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND AN EIGHT
MEMBER ADVISORY COUNCIL, TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE TO FURTHER THE
DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE INSTITUTE. THE DIRECTOR AND THE MEMBERS OF
THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL SERVE FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS, WITH THE DIRECTOR
AND THREE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS APPOINTED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE
INSTITUTE'S EXISTENCE, THREE OTHER MEMBERS APPOINTED IN THE SECOND YEAR,
AND TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED IN THE THIRD YEAR. THE DIRECTOR AND ADVISORY
COUNCIL MEMBERS MAY BE REAPPOINTED AT THE END OF EACH TERM IN THE MANNER
OF THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT. THE DIRECTOR AND ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL
RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INSTI-
TUTE.
3. IN CONSIDERING MEASURES AND PROGRAMMING FOR EFFECTUATING THE
PURPOSE OF THE INSTITUTE, THE INSTITUTE SHALL CONSIDER SUCH FACTORS AS
PROGRAM COST-EFFECTIVENESS; THE ABILITY OF SUCH PROGRAMS TO OFFER
PROGRAMMATICALLY APPROPRIATE, LONG-TERM, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT SERVICES;
THE ABILITY OF SUCH PROGRAMS TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
INSTITUTE TO RECEIVE REWARDING TRAINING, SERVICES, AND SUPPORTS; AND
CURRENT AND PROJECTED EMPLOYMENT DATA AT CAMPUSES WITHIN THE STATE
UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.
4. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHALL PREPARE AND PRESENT TO THE GOVERNOR,
THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AT
THE BEGINNING OF EACH REGULAR SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE A SEPARATE
REPORT COVERING, IN SUMMARY, AND IN DETAIL, ALL PHASES OF ACTIVITY OF
THE INSTITUTE FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.