February 6, 1969 Minutes of Presidential Search Committee for Community College 7
Item
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BEDFORD STUYVESANT COALITION ON EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND SERVICES
268 Ashland Place = Room 602 Brooklyn, New York 11217
PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE NEETING
February 6, 1969 - 5:30 p.m.
The City University-Graduate Center
33 West 42nd Street, New York City
ee
President: Messrs.
Frederick Burkhardt, Chairman
Albert H. Bowker
.
Robert Carson
Luis Quiero-Chiesa
Julius Edelstein
James Oscar Lee
Jack L. Pannigqgan
Herman Patterson
Joseph Shenker
1 Albert Vann
Arleigh B. Williamson
| Mmes Almira Coursey
Isaura Santiago
Ella Sease
The meeting began with the Chairman's introduction of
two members of the City University Senate, a coalition of faculty
representatives of all community Colleges, who were attending the
meeting a observers.
He stated that the purpose of this meeting was to review
the curriculum vitae of the six strongest candidates, i.e., pended
Proctor, Samuel Westerfield, Jr., James Holt Reeves, Roscoe C.
Brown, Rhody A. McCoy and Preston Wilcox; and to select, if possible,
a President for Community College Number Seven.
|
Presidential Search Committee Minutes -~2-
a
A voice poll of the six candidates was called for,
following the suggestion that each voting member name his three
top choices. Messrs. McCoy, Proctor, Westerfield, and Wilcox
were nominated.
The Chairman said that before further discussion ensued,
it might be proper that each member contribute to establishing a
working Presidential Criteria. The Committee was in agreement in
such general areas as ability, experience in dealing with urban
and minority-group problems, leadership capabilities.
City University poeeionel gers that the Prestdent should
meet all requirements in the areas of personal education, i-e.,
Solel ee es of a Ph.D., experience in college-level administration
and a high professional reputation with working contacts in the
educational field. However, the Negotiation Team brought into
play additional Giali Ficaeions: which it felt would be essential
ina preciaent of a college in a predominately Black and Puerto
Rican community; such as, the ability to attract staff which will
be Semnatretic to community problems, a knowledge of the Public
School system in Black communities and the damage it has wrought,
the ability to respond favorably end relate to a community pol ley
making board and the expertise to innovate programs which serve
the needs of Black and Puerto Rican students.
Presidential Search Committee Minutes -~- 3-
An evaluation of each nominee was made by Committee
members, individually.
Discussion continued after the dinner recess, during
---which Dr. Burkhardt inquired as to the interest of the Committee
in Dr. Hugh Smythe. It was agreed tae he would be contacted
by Dean Shenker, who would explain the delay and arrange, if
possible, a tentative appointment for an interview.
Before adjournment, the Negotiation Team was advised
that , at present, all monies were still peing withheld by the
Ford Foundation.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
The next meeting of the Presidential Search Committee
will be held on Monday, February 17th, 5:00 p.m., at the City
University - Graduate Center.
‘Jul' Gilbert
Acting Secretary
BEDFORD STUYVESANT COALITION ON EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND SERVICES
268 Ashland Place = Room 602 Brooklyn, New York 11217
PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE NEETING
February 6, 1969 - 5:30 p.m.
The City University-Graduate Center
33 West 42nd Street, New York City
ee
President: Messrs.
Frederick Burkhardt, Chairman
Albert H. Bowker
.
Robert Carson
Luis Quiero-Chiesa
Julius Edelstein
James Oscar Lee
Jack L. Pannigqgan
Herman Patterson
Joseph Shenker
1 Albert Vann
Arleigh B. Williamson
| Mmes Almira Coursey
Isaura Santiago
Ella Sease
The meeting began with the Chairman's introduction of
two members of the City University Senate, a coalition of faculty
representatives of all community Colleges, who were attending the
meeting a observers.
He stated that the purpose of this meeting was to review
the curriculum vitae of the six strongest candidates, i.e., pended
Proctor, Samuel Westerfield, Jr., James Holt Reeves, Roscoe C.
Brown, Rhody A. McCoy and Preston Wilcox; and to select, if possible,
a President for Community College Number Seven.
|
Presidential Search Committee Minutes -~2-
a
A voice poll of the six candidates was called for,
following the suggestion that each voting member name his three
top choices. Messrs. McCoy, Proctor, Westerfield, and Wilcox
were nominated.
The Chairman said that before further discussion ensued,
it might be proper that each member contribute to establishing a
working Presidential Criteria. The Committee was in agreement in
such general areas as ability, experience in dealing with urban
and minority-group problems, leadership capabilities.
City University poeeionel gers that the Prestdent should
meet all requirements in the areas of personal education, i-e.,
Solel ee es of a Ph.D., experience in college-level administration
and a high professional reputation with working contacts in the
educational field. However, the Negotiation Team brought into
play additional Giali Ficaeions: which it felt would be essential
ina preciaent of a college in a predominately Black and Puerto
Rican community; such as, the ability to attract staff which will
be Semnatretic to community problems, a knowledge of the Public
School system in Black communities and the damage it has wrought,
the ability to respond favorably end relate to a community pol ley
making board and the expertise to innovate programs which serve
the needs of Black and Puerto Rican students.
Presidential Search Committee Minutes -~- 3-
An evaluation of each nominee was made by Committee
members, individually.
Discussion continued after the dinner recess, during
---which Dr. Burkhardt inquired as to the interest of the Committee
in Dr. Hugh Smythe. It was agreed tae he would be contacted
by Dean Shenker, who would explain the delay and arrange, if
possible, a tentative appointment for an interview.
Before adjournment, the Negotiation Team was advised
that , at present, all monies were still peing withheld by the
Ford Foundation.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.
The next meeting of the Presidential Search Committee
will be held on Monday, February 17th, 5:00 p.m., at the City
University - Graduate Center.
‘Jul' Gilbert
Acting Secretary
Title
February 6, 1969 Minutes of Presidential Search Committee for Community College 7
Description
On February 6, 1969, the Presidential Search Committee for Community College 7, composed of five City University of New York (CUNY) officials and five appointed representatives of Bedford-Stuyvesant community organizations, met to discuss criteria for selection of a president for the new college and four possible candidates for the position. Among the issues discussed at the meeting was whether “possession of a Ph.D. and experience in higher education” should be a required qualification, a questions that was not resolved at this meeting. In this meeting, the Committee agreed to contact and interview a fifth prospective candidate, Hugh Smythe, United States Ambassador to Malta, to whom they would eventually offer the position.
In February 1968, the City University of New York (CUNY) announced plans to establish a new “Community College 7 in or near Bedford-Stuyvesant. . . oriented to the Bedford-Stuyvesant Community and operated in consultation with the community.” Representatives of a broad network of Central Brooklyn community organizations engaged in an 18 months-long negotiation with CUNY Board of Higher Education officials over CUNY’s plans for its newly announced “Community College 7,” including discussions about the proposed school’s curriculum, who would lead it, and what role the community would play in the school’s governance. The role of the Bedford-Stuyvesant community in planning and determining the leadership of the college remained a central point of controversy between Central Brooklyn’s educational and civil society leaders and CUNY officials in the negotiations that followed.
Contributor
Woodsworth, Michael
Creator
Bedford Stuyvesant Coalition for Educational Needs and Services
Date
February 6, 1969
Language
English
Source
Donald Watkins Collection (Brooklyn Public Library)
Bedford Stuyvesant Coalition for Educational Needs and Services. Letter. “February 6, 1969 Minutes of Presidential Search Committee for Community College 7.”, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/2035