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Revision as of 04:57, 16 April 2004 by Catdude (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The University of the State of New York (USNY) is the governmental umbrella organization of the US state of New York which is responsible for most institutions and personnel that are in any way connected to formal educational functions (public and private) in New York State. USNY was established in 1784 to provide oversight to King's College (today known as Columbia University). A Board of Regents oversees USNY. The Board of Regents includes 16 members elected by the New York State Legislature for five-year terms. Twelve of the Regents represent the State's 12 judicial districts (one appointed from each district), and four are at-large. The Regents serve without salary.
Today, USNY's affiliation and oversight is very broad; indeed, such affiliation and oversight is more broad than would be found anywhere else in the United States. USNY includes: more than 7,000 public and private elementary and secondary schools; approximately 250 public and private colleges and universities; another approximately 250 proprietary (for-profit) schools; nearly 7,000 libraries; about 750 museums; and 25 public broadcasting facilities. Also included is the State Archives; a special school for the blind and another special school for the deaf; as well as vocational rehabilitation and special education services. Additionally, USNY has the affiliation of, and oversight for, more than half a million professionals practicing in 38 licensed prfessions, as well as 200,000 public certified school teachers, counselors, and administrators. Certain education-related insitutions (such as most museums) could exist in New York State without being part of USNY; however, as an example, most museums in New York State choose to be part of USNY (i.e., be chartered by the Board of Regents) in order to get things like tax-exempt nonprofit status.
Closely allied with USNY is the New York State Education Department (NYSED), created at the behest of former New York Governor (and former US President) Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. The relationship between USNY and NYSED can be unclear to many, including many in New York State. However, the best way to explain it is that USNY has, as a subordinate unit, NYSED, including NYSED's various administrative personnel — the various schools, colleges, libraries, museums, teachers, etc. of USNY form constituent units of USNY, whereas NYSED forms a constituent and subordinate component of USNY. USNY, thorugh its Board of Regents, generally uses NYSED as a vehicle to carry out policy created by the Regents. In other words, USNY (through its Board of Regents) generally creates policy, whereas NYSED generally administers policy. The Board of Regents elect a Commissioner of Education, who acts as the head of NYSED. The Board of Regents are New York State's chief creators of education policy; the Commissioner of Education is New York State's chief education administrator. The New York State Legislature can also create some education policy; such statutory education policy would become official education policy that the Commissioner of Education would also be responsible for administering.
The New York State Constitution and state education law declare the Regents the "head" of the Education Department, but the Commissioner of Education (again, appointed by the Regents) is "president" of the University — that is, chief executive officer of the state's education system. The Board of Regents elects a chancellor, who presides over the Regents' meetings and appoints its committees.
Not to be confused with USNY is the State University of New York (SUNY), which is one of New York State's systems of public higher education (the other such system being the City University of New York ). The various SUNY units are all part of USNY. However, the power of SUNY and CUNY units to grant degrees and certificates exist by mandate of the State Legislature; a private college or university in New York State would be allowed to grant degrees and/or certificates by virtue of a charter granted by the USNY Board of Regents.