Report of Regents Cultural Education Committee to The Board of Regents

Your Committee on Cultural Education had its scheduled meeting on June 7, 2021. Regent Roger Tilles and Regent Frances Wills, Co-Chairs of the Cultural Education Committee, submitted the following written report. In attendance were committee members: Regent Tilles, Co-Chair, Regent Wills, Co-Chair, Regent Cea, Regent Cottrell, Regent Ouderkirk, Regent Collins and Regent Mead. Regents, in addition to Cultural Education Committee members, in attendance were:  Chancellor Young, Vice Chancellor Finn, Regent Norwood, Regent Chin, Regent Reyes, Regent Hakanson, Regent Mittler, Regent Turner, Regent Ferrer, and Commissioner Rosa.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Co-Chairs Regent Tilles and Regent Wills welcomed everyone.

Deputy Commissioner’s Report (Discussion) 
Deputy Commissioner Mark Schaming provided an update on the Office of Cultural Education’s programs and services including:

• The Cultural Education Center – which houses the State Museum, Library and Archives – reopened to the public on Monday, May 17, 2021 with modified hours and COVID-19 prevention policies in effect.
• New York State Summer School of the Arts is projecting an enrollment of over 240 students for virtual classes this summer.

Digital Equity Summit Report and Libraries’ Role in Serving Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Discussion) [CE (D) 1]

State Librarian Lauren Moore described the role of libraries in digital equity and community resilience during the pandemic by sharing examples from across the state. She also shared results from the Digital Equity Summits held this past winter and previewed the next Digital Equity Summit to be held on June 15.