Bill Text: NY K00526 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of SUNY Broome Community College
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2022-02-01 - adopted [K00526 Detail]
Download: New_York-2021-K00526-Introduced.html
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.