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GOVERNOR FORMS STATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION
Commission to Promote Higher Quality Higher Education in New York Former Cornell President to Lead Effort

Governor Eliot Spitzer today signed an Executive Order creating a state Higher Education Commission charged with identifying ways of improving the quality of higher education in New York.

“Excellence in higher education is a key to our state’s future,” said Governor Spitzer. “The state’s network of outstanding public and private colleges and universities are essential to producing the highly skilled work force that will be a major driver of New York’s Upstate economy. This new commission will help identify innovative, cutting edge ideas and necessary improvements that will help improve the quality of education we deliver and make New York’s higher educational system a world class institution.”

The Commission on Higher Education will be chaired by Professor Hunter Rawlings, President Emeritus of both Cornell University and the University of Iowa.

“It is an honor to be asked by Governor Spitzer to chair the Commission on Higher Education for New York State,” said Professor Rawlings. “New York's public and private colleges and universities play a crucial role in educating citizens for the 21st century, in conducting original research that extends the boundaries of human knowledge, driving economic development, and performing vital public services. It is essential that the state develop a progressive strategy for strengthening its institutions of higher education and optimizing their effectiveness.”

Under the Executive Order, the Commission will study the current higher education system and make recommendations about:

• improving access to the state’s public higher education system;
• expanding its degree programs to reflect state and regional economic development objectives;
• preparing community college graduates for a smooth transition to four-year institutions and/or obtain high value jobs upon graduation; and
• enhancing the capacity of the state’s university research centers to regain New York’s preeminent status in academic research while providing additional opportunities for high value employment.

The Commission will also make recommendations that address flexibility on the systems’ individual campuses to attract the best and brightest students and faculty and enlisting them in the service of the economic, humanitarian and civic needs of their communities.

The Commission operations will be run by Manuel Rivera, Deputy Secretary for Education, John Reid, the Assistant Secretary for Education, and Lloyd Constantine, Senior Advisor to the Governor. John Reid will serve as the Commission’s Executive Director. SUNY Interim Chancellor John Clark, CUNY Chancellor Matt Goldstein, State Education Commissioner Rick Mills and Abe Lackman, the President of New York’s Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities have pledged their support for the vital work of the Governor’s Commission.

The members of the Commission are:

   Hunter Rawlings, President Emeritus, Cornell University Chairman
   Lee Bollinger, President, Columbia University
   Don Boyce, Student, Rockefeller School of Public Affairs
   Nancy Cantor, Chancellor, Syracuse University
   John Clark, Interim Chancellor Nominee, State University of New York
   Milton Cofield, New York State Board of Regents
   Lois DeFleur, President, Binghamton University
   John Dyson, Chief Executive Officer, Pebble Ridge Vineyards and Wine Estates
   Peter Fishbein, Special Counsel, Kaye Scholer LLP
   Hon. Deborah Glick, Chairwoman, Assembly Higher Education Committee
   Matt Goldstein, Chancellor, CUNY
   Carl Hayden, Former Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents
   Elena Kagan, Dean, Harvard Law School
   Dr. Marcia V. Keizs, President, York College of the City University of  New York
   Abraham Lackman, President of the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
   Hon. Senator Kenneth LaValle, Chairman, Senate Higher Education Committee
   Eduardo Marti, President, Queensborough Community College
   Richard Mills, Commissioner of Education
   Myron Mitchell, Faculty, State University of New York
   Robert Paaswell, Faculty, City University of New York
   Hon. Crystal Peoples, Member of Assembly
   Bruce Raynor, President, UNITE HERE
   William Scheuerman, President, United University Professions
   John Sexton, President, New York University
   John Simpson, President, State University of New York at Buffalo
   Tom Schwarz, President, Purchase College - State University of New York
   Marc Shaw, Trustee, City University of New York
   Lauren Talerman, Student, Queens College
   Adam Urbanski, President, Rochester Teachers Association