Assembly Resolution No. 526

BY: M. of A. Lupardo

COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of SUNY Broome
Community College

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those institutions of true purpose and high achievement whose
exemplary programs and accomplishments clearly demonstrate an enduring
pursuit of excellence in higher education for the youth of this noble
Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of SUNY Broome Community College; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of World War II, the New York State
Legislature agreed to establish five institutes of arts and sciences in
Binghamton, Buffalo, Utica, White Plains and New York City to
accommodate the returning veterans who sought greater educational
opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Cecil C. Tyrrell, the
Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences opened a year later in the State
Armory downtown, with the first class graduating in 1949; of the first
215 students, 63 were World War II veterans; and

WHEREAS, In 1950, former Governor Thomas Dewey approved a master
plan to develop New York State's education facilities, and shortly
thereafter, the Institute was turned into a two-year community college;
and

WHEREAS, Unfortunately, the Armory was destroyed in a horrific fire
on Labor Day 1951; despite the loss, college officials were determined
to rebuild, and in a show of support, other colleges sent trucks labeled
"Bundles for Binghamton," bearing books and other materials to help the
college do just that; exactly one month later, the college reopened in
the Kalurah Temple next door and offered classes in several downtown
sites; and

WHEREAS, Renamed the Broome County Technical Institute, it became an
official community college in 1953, when the Broome County Board of
Supervisors voted to accept the Community College Plan; the following
year, the Board chose the campus' future site at the former County Poor
Farm on Upper Front Street in Dickinson, New York, making it the first
in the SUNY system to undertake the construction of a completely new
campus; and

WHEREAS, In 1956, the first building on campus, now known as the
Student Services Building, opened for electrical students, and in that
same year, the college was renamed Broome Technical Community College;
and

WHEREAS, The campus' first five buildings were completed in March of
1957, and the campus hosted its first on-site graduation the next year;
Paul F. Titchener Hall opened in 1961, and eventually became home to the

college's Liberal Arts program, established in 1962 to award the
Associate in Arts Degree, and make it possible for students to complete
the first two years of their Bachelor's Degree which paved the way in
1973 for a joint degree program between the college and SUNY Binghamton
and the nearly 30 articulation agreements with four-year schools the
college offers today; and

WHEREAS, Through the next few decades, the campus continued to
expand: a new library, later named after President Cecil C. Tyrrell,
opened in 1968, followed by construction of the Business Building in
1971, the same year the college's name changed again, this time to
Broome Community College; the Applied Technology Building began
construction in 1984, followed by a new Campus Services Building in
1992, and the Decker Health Science Center in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the years, SUNY Broome also developed its
athletic programs; in 1961, the Hornets' basketball game against New
York City Tech became the first junior college game televised in the
country, and in 1980, Coach Dick Baldwin broke the record for the most
career victories ever by a two-year basketball coach, and become the
"winningest" active college coach at either two- or four-year schools
seven years later; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, Broome Community College opened its doors for the
first time to international students, and today, it hosts students from
Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico as part of its Scholarship for
Education and Economic Development (SEED) Program, and offers online
courses for international students; and

WHEREAS, To further expand its global existence, by 1991, many
students were enrolled in courses offered in the Everglades, the
Caribbean, Africa, Australia and Europe, and currently; they can study
abroad in Italy, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Haiti and London or with
satellite classrooms in their own communities; and

WHEREAS, The College continued to evolve, and in September of 2013,
it underwent its final name change to SUNY Broome Community College; in
the next few years, extensive renovations modernized the rest of the
campus, and in the fall of 2014, the College became a residential
campus; and

WHEREAS, In 2020, the SUNY Broome Culinary and Event Center was
officially dedicated in downtown Binghamton; after extensive renovations
of the former Carnegie Library; and

WHEREAS, Throughout its history, the College has continuously
developed its academic programs which has greatly benefitted not only
its students, but local students of all ages; the College's proud
tradition of technical and trade education has positioned it perfectly
for the growth in demand for science, technology, engineering and math
degrees, and partnerships with other colleges in the state are becoming
even stronger, allowing students to more easily transfer to four-year
institutions; and

WHEREAS, Today, SUNY Broome Community College remains true to its
mission of supporting all members of the learning community by creating
access to inclusive, diverse educational experiences; its students'
success is achieved through the provision of innovative academics,

transformative support, and meaningful civic and community engagement;
and

WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, SUNY Broome
Community College may look back with pride upon its humble beginnings,
find just satisfaction in its purposeful growth and hold true of purpose
in its commitment to serving the educational needs of its students; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of SUNY Broome Community College; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dr. Kevin E. Drumm, President, SUNY Broome Community
College.