Senate Resolution No. 3039

BY: Senator COMRIE

COMMEMORATING the 50th Anniversary of City College
of New York - York College

WHEREAS, New York State's commitment to education is unparalleled;
its history and stature are secured by the superlative caliber of its
educational professionals and the students they inspire; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those institutions of commitment and high achievement, whose
purpose and endeavors prove a dedication to the pursuit of excellence in
the education of the young adults of this noble Empire State; and

WHEREAS, The City University of New York (CUNY) is the largest city
university system in the world with more than 200,000 students enrolled
at campuses throughout the five boroughs of New York City; and

WHEREAS, On October 24, 1966, CUNY voted to create a fifth senior
college, Alpha College, to serve the city's growing student population;
as its first president, Dr. Dumont F. Kenny quickly renamed the school
York College with the intention of building a bucolic, suburban liberal
arts school; and

WHEREAS, York College opened its doors in the Fall of 1967, with an
entering class of 371 students and a full-time instructional staff of 50
occupying the site for the first academic year; and

WHEREAS, In May of 1968, the CUNY Board of Higher Education selected
Jamaica, New York, as the future site of York College's permanent
location; three years later, President Milton G. Bassin assumed the
presidency and found temporary classrooms on the campus of Queensborough
Community College in Bayside, New York; and

WHEREAS, The CUNY Board reaffirmed York College's presence by
authorizing construction of the new campus in Jamaica, New York; during
this time, the college underwent expansive curricular development and
began to offer career related majors in the health professions and
opened the Office of Continuing Education to offer classes on practical
subjects; and

WHEREAS, Construction on York College's permanent campus began in
December of 1980; within six years, the college had enrolled over 4,000
students and held its first classes in the new Academic Core; and

WHEREAS, In 1990, York College opened its Performing Arts Center and
the Health and Physical Education facilities, followed by the athletic
fields a year later; this was followed by the construction of the United
States Food and Drug Administration's regional headquarters on York
College's campus, allowing students to take advantage of collaborative
internships, fellowships and research with world-class scientists; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, York College launched the Provost
Distinguished Scholars Lecture Series in 2009, attracting renowned
writers, scholars and scientists to speak to the York community; the

college also hired 33 new faculty members and reorganized its 18
academic departments into three schools, the School of Arts and
Sciences, School of Business and Information Systems and School of
Health and Behavioral Sciences; and

WHEREAS, Today, York College has grown to more than 7,780 students
from 120 countries speaking more than 83 languages; with plans to build
major additions to its campus, York College is eager to further improve
the opportunities for its students; and

WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Dr. Marcia V. Keizs, York
College has strengthened its academic programs by gaining national
accreditations and creating new academic offerings, as well as bolstered
the college's partnership with the FDA; and

WHEREAS, Steeped in a proud and distinguished history, City College
of New York - York 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 50th Anniversary of City College of New York - York
College; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Dr. Marcia V. Keizs, President, York College.