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 March 12, 2013.

In attendance were committee members: Regents Tilles, Dawson, Cea, Jackson, and BrownAbsent:  Regents Bendit, Rosa, and Cottrell. In addition to CE Committee Members, in attendance were: Chancellor Tisch; Chancellor Emeritus Bennett; Regents Chapey, Phillips, Tallon, and Cashin; and Commissioner King

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

Regent Dawson welcomed everyone and opened the meeting. 

Deputy Commissioner Cannell provided a brief update on OCE activities including a report on media coverage of the Civil War Exhibit and the State Education Department’s mural in Chancellor’s Hall, the New York in Bloom fundraiser, Museum Advisory Council Meeting, the World Trade Center Museum awards, and the Common Core workshop scheduled for Summer 2013, and new exhibitions that have recently opened.

CE (D) 2 – Three-Year Strategic Plan 
Deputy Commissioner Cannell updated the Committee on the plan that was presented to CE Committee in December 2011.  Cannell reviewed accomplishments and project activities based on a plan and presented a high-level overview of the major activities of the Office of Cultural Education for 2013-2015.

Chair’s Remarks: Regent Tilles remarked on the Museum Advisory Council and meetings to discuss museum best practices and collaboration with USNY and other community organization.    

CE (A) 1 – Museum History Collections Policy 
Mark Schaming, Director and Assistant Commissioner of the NYS Museum, spoke of the adoption of a collections policy for the History Collections of the State Museum, replacing a 1985 policy on deaccessioning (also on Consent Agenda).  Motion to adopt the collections policy was made.  
Motion by: Regent Tilles
Second by: Regent Dawson
Passed by unanimous vote 

CE (D) 1 – Update on NovelNY
Bernard Margolis, State Librarian and Assistant Commissioner of the NYS Library, provided an update on the status of the statewide NovelNY online database program which, as of December 31, 2012, was available in 5,595 libraries statewide.  The update included: statistics on level of use, penetration in libraries, economic impact and value to citizens.  Upcoming plans include the addition on databases informed by the Common Core Standards.