N.Y. Education Law § 6201: Legislative findings and intent

§ 6201. Legislative findings and intent. 1. The legislature finds

that in order to meet the state's responsibility to provide

post-secondary education in New York city beyond the associate degree

level, as it does elsewhere in the state, there should be full state

funding of senior college operating and debt service. The governance of

the university must reflect increased state responsibility but should

preserve the city's participation in the governance of the university it

created and developed at city expense.

2. The legislature intends that the city university of New York should

be maintained as an independent system of higher education governed by

its own board of trustees responsible for the governance, maintenance

and development of both senior and community college units of the city

university. The university must remain responsive to the needs of its

urban setting and maintain its close articulation between senior and

community college units. Where possible, governance and operation of

senior and community colleges should be jointly conducted or conducted

by similar procedures to maintain the university as an integrated system

and to facilitate articulation between units.

3. The legislature's intent is that the city university be supported

as an independent and integrated system of higher education on the

assumption that the university will continue to maintain and expand its

commitment to academic excellence and to the provision of equal access

and opportunity for students, faculty and staff from all ethnic and

racial groups and from both sexes.

4. The city university is of vital importance as a vehicle for the

upward mobility of the disadvantaged in the city of New York. The

pioneering efforts of the SEEK and College Discovery programs must not

be diminished as a result of greater state financial responsibility for

the operation of the city and state of New York.

5. Only the strongest commitment to the special needs of an urban

constituency justifies the legislature's support of an independent and

unique structure for the university. Activities at the city university

campuses must be undertaken in a spirit which recognizes and responds to

the imperative need for affirmative action and the positive desire to

have city university personnel reflect the diverse communities which

comprise the people of the city and state of New York. In its urban

environment this commitment should be evident in all the guidelines

established by the board of trustees for the university's operation,

from admissions and hiring to contracting for the provision of goods,

services, new construction and facilities rehabilitation.