Committee Report | May 2011

Cultural Education Committee

May 16, 2011

Time: 12:05pm

 Location: EB 146

REGENTS COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL EDUCATION

Regent Roger Tilles, Chair of the Cultural Education Committee, submitted the following written report.

Your Committee on Cultural Education Committee had its scheduled meeting on May 16, 2011.

In attendance were committee members: Tilles and Dawson

Absent were Regents Rosa and Bendit.

In addition to CE Committee Members, in attendance were:  Regents Cea, Norwood, and Cottrell and Chief Operating Officer Valerie Grey.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Chair’s Remarks: Regent Tilles welcomed everyone and opened the meeting.  He noted that at tomorrow’s full-board meeting, the Board will consider final adoption of a modification of Regents Regulations section 3.27 relating to the management of Museums and Historical Societies holding collections.  The modifications were developed with the assistance and consensus support of a broad based committee, led by Carole Huxley.

CE (D) 1 – Annual Report of the Regents Advisory Council on Libraries to the Board of Regents

Gerald Nichols, vice chair of the Regents Advisory Council (RAC) on Libraries briefed the committee on the Annual Report of the RAC. Chair of the Committee, Bridget Quinn-Carey  was unable to attend today’s meeting.  Printed copies of the report were distributed to committee members prior to the meeting.  The in-depth report included the status of current programs, services, recommendations and potential opportunities that would continually improve library services for all New Yorkers and to meet customers’ ever-changing needs, advancing technologies and trends and challenges faced by libraries.  Mr. Nichols indicated that libraries across the state are thriving, but are “starving” for resources.  Mr. Nichols asked the committee to designate a liaison between the committee and the RAC.  He also asked for input from committee members on the future vision for libraries.  RAC member John Hammond briefed the committee on his work in developing a “20/20 Vision” report that establishes an agenda for libraries for the coming decade.   He indicated that his working group will have a draft vision document by the end of the summer and that they would solicit input and feedback from the field at the New York Library Association annual meeting and hopefully in meetings throughout the state, within each Regent region.

Regent Tilles agreed to act as the liaison to the RAC.  He also suggested that libraries would benefit from greater partnerships and increasing their visibility within the communities they serve.  Regent Norwood suggested that the RAC solicit Board of Regents members for their input directly.  He also suggested that he would assist the committee in reaching out to the library community in the finger lakes region.  Finally, he suggested that the committee develop a plan and a vision that breaks down silos, that incorporates strong partnerships with the P-12 and higher education communities and that libraries follow the model of banks, being seen, not as buildings, but as omnipresent services.

CE (D) 2– Summer School of the Arts

Chief Operating Officer Val Grey briefed the committee on the financial status of the Summer School of the Arts and the recent transition of the program from the Office of P-12 to the Office of Cultural Education.   The nationally recognized Summer School for the Arts’ program is unique in itself, providing opportunities for professional training and instruction to qualifying high school students with special talents.  By enriching students’ experiences, these programs may help them define and elevate their talents and aid them in choosing a field in the fine arts and/or the performing arts.  Regent Tilles indicated that the committee would like additional information on each of the individual schools, specifically where the students come from and what the need for each school is in order to advocate for additional support for the school.