Report of Regents Cultural Education Committee to The Board of Regents

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 April 14, 2015. In attendance were committee members: Regents Tilles, Bendit, Rosa, Cea, Cottrell and Brown. Absent: Regent Finn. Regents In addition to CE Committee Members, in attendance were: Chancellor Tisch, Regents Norwood, Ouderkirk, Collins, Chin and Johnson.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Chair’s Remarks: Regent Tilles welcomed everyone and opened the meeting. Deputy Commissioner Jeffrey Cannell spoke about upcoming activities and what’s going on in CEC:

• NYS Archives will host Historian and Author David McCullough at Chancellor's Hall on June 3 in which McCullough will be presented with the 2015 New York State Archives and History Award.
• The latest issue of New York Archives Magazine has been printed and is in the process of being distributed.
• Carol Desch, Head of Library Development, will be receiving a major American Library Association award for her professional leadership at the Association's annual meeting in June.
• Eight New York teams of about 40 people are participating with teams from nine other states in a program called ILEAD USA. The program is aimed at developing leadership, networking and technology skills by focusing on specific projects. Three New York State Library teams are participating.   Projects range from creating tools for use of the Information Literacy Continuum to promoting the State Library's Talking Book and Braille Library services.

CE (A) Museum Education Act

Mark Schaming, Director of the State Museum and Thomas Ruller, Director of Operations for the Office of Cultural Education presented information regarding the Museum Education Act - a bill proposed by the Museum Association of New York (MANY) to modify the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law. The proposed bill will provide competitive grants to museums and historical societies with collections to produce curricula, develop staff skills and expertise implement technology and support pupil transportation.  Museums and other eligible institutions would have access to grant funding to conduct curriculum-based educational programs for students and teachers in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve and adults enrolled in continuing education programs.

Motion to endorse the Museum Education Act as a Regents Legislative Priority.

Motion made by: Regent Rosa
Second by: Regent Brown
The motion was unanimously passed