Letter from Chancellor Albert Bowker to Al Vann: Space and Personnel
Item
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‘he City University of NewYork Office of the Chancellor “4 meen ae .
535 East 80 Street, New York, N.Y. 10021
212/360-2121 bs $6 a eens RS
May 27, 1968
Mr. Albert Vann
Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition on
Educational Needs and Services
c/o The Education Affiliate
268 Ashland Place .
Brooklyn, New York
Dear Mr. Vann:
Immediately following Tuesday's meeting with your group, I instructed my
staff to conduct an intensive search of possible ways and means of moving
promptly to implement your proposal.
I asked themto look into all possible sources of support, within the
framework of our budget and of current authorizations. Obviously.the sooner
we could get under way, the better it would be for all concerned, and of
course, for the planning of the new college.
As I told you, I thought very well of the general idea. The problem is
how to get started.
Our University budget experts pointed out to me that the expenditure of
money from presently budgeted sums was strictly circumscribed by inflexible
City rules governing the use of planning funds, and by specific laws and
regulations covering expenditures by the University.
However, consistent with the understanding arrived at in my office and
with my instruction, the following has been found to be possible:
PERSONNEL:
We will hire the person designated by you to perform secretarial duties.
OFFICE SPACE:
Upon your indication of the appropriate building, we will rent the
needed space for your use.
SUPPLIES AND CORRESPONDENCE:
A revolving fund of $1,000 will be established which will be replenished
on a monthly basis in accordance with regular budget procedures regarding
vouchers, etc.
RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT:
If you will provide us with a list of the office equipment you need, our
business office will arrange for the delivery of this equipment.
CONSULTANTS :
Additional information is needed regarding your specific plans for
consultants -- the kind of consultants you will need, the qualifications, the
proposed rates of pay, etc. -- so that we can see whether existing authori-
zations for consultants for University purposes might be utilized to meet
your specific needs.
TRANSPORTATION:
This can be taken care of under existing University authorizations.
As the Committee begins to review candidates, leading contenders can be
brought to New York City, or members of the Committee can travel to see them. -
t
This is what we can do, on a temporary basis in accordance with my commit-
ment to you. Even this will take some stretching. But we can and will do it.
It was no simple matter to make these arrangements. But I feel that the
worth of the purpose fully justifies these efforts.
In order to make specific and concrete arrangements as far as space and
secretarial personnel are concerned, please communicate with Dean Shenker
who will implement the above arrangements with our fiscal and facilities
staff.
For the future, there is, of course, the possibility of establishing a
more coherent pattern of approved budgetary provisions for community support
of activities which are directly related to University functions and purposes.
However, this would'require substantial staff study, and then clearance by us
with both the City Comptroller and the State Comptroller, It might also
require consideration by the Board, since it would be a new kind of activity
for the City University, and would need to be set up in a manner that would
be legally defensible and fiscally accountable.
Sincerely,
; Albert H. Bowker
AHB: cdm Chancellor
ce: Mrs. Ella Sease
Judge Thomas R. Jones
Mr. Robert Carson
Tes ki Lue VAT! ean
‘he City University of NewYork Office of the Chancellor “4 meen ae .
535 East 80 Street, New York, N.Y. 10021
212/360-2121 bs $6 a eens RS
May 27, 1968
Mr. Albert Vann
Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition on
Educational Needs and Services
c/o The Education Affiliate
268 Ashland Place .
Brooklyn, New York
Dear Mr. Vann:
Immediately following Tuesday's meeting with your group, I instructed my
staff to conduct an intensive search of possible ways and means of moving
promptly to implement your proposal.
I asked themto look into all possible sources of support, within the
framework of our budget and of current authorizations. Obviously.the sooner
we could get under way, the better it would be for all concerned, and of
course, for the planning of the new college.
As I told you, I thought very well of the general idea. The problem is
how to get started.
Our University budget experts pointed out to me that the expenditure of
money from presently budgeted sums was strictly circumscribed by inflexible
City rules governing the use of planning funds, and by specific laws and
regulations covering expenditures by the University.
However, consistent with the understanding arrived at in my office and
with my instruction, the following has been found to be possible:
PERSONNEL:
We will hire the person designated by you to perform secretarial duties.
OFFICE SPACE:
Upon your indication of the appropriate building, we will rent the
needed space for your use.
SUPPLIES AND CORRESPONDENCE:
A revolving fund of $1,000 will be established which will be replenished
on a monthly basis in accordance with regular budget procedures regarding
vouchers, etc.
RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT:
If you will provide us with a list of the office equipment you need, our
business office will arrange for the delivery of this equipment.
CONSULTANTS :
Additional information is needed regarding your specific plans for
consultants -- the kind of consultants you will need, the qualifications, the
proposed rates of pay, etc. -- so that we can see whether existing authori-
zations for consultants for University purposes might be utilized to meet
your specific needs.
TRANSPORTATION:
This can be taken care of under existing University authorizations.
As the Committee begins to review candidates, leading contenders can be
brought to New York City, or members of the Committee can travel to see them. -
t
This is what we can do, on a temporary basis in accordance with my commit-
ment to you. Even this will take some stretching. But we can and will do it.
It was no simple matter to make these arrangements. But I feel that the
worth of the purpose fully justifies these efforts.
In order to make specific and concrete arrangements as far as space and
secretarial personnel are concerned, please communicate with Dean Shenker
who will implement the above arrangements with our fiscal and facilities
staff.
For the future, there is, of course, the possibility of establishing a
more coherent pattern of approved budgetary provisions for community support
of activities which are directly related to University functions and purposes.
However, this would'require substantial staff study, and then clearance by us
with both the City Comptroller and the State Comptroller, It might also
require consideration by the Board, since it would be a new kind of activity
for the City University, and would need to be set up in a manner that would
be legally defensible and fiscally accountable.
Sincerely,
; Albert H. Bowker
AHB: cdm Chancellor
ce: Mrs. Ella Sease
Judge Thomas R. Jones
Mr. Robert Carson
Tes ki Lue VAT! ean
Title
Letter from Chancellor Albert Bowker to Al Vann: Space and Personnel
Description
Letter from Chancellor Albert Bowker to Al Vann, Chairman of Bedford-Stuyvesant Steering Committee, outlining the ways in which the University can meet the request of the Bedford-Stuyvesant Coalition for space and personnel.
Contributor
Florence, Tager
Creator
Bowker, Albert
Date
May 27, 1968
Language
English
Relation
2672
2722
Rights
Obtained from Contributor - Copyright Unknown
Source
CUNY Central Archives
Bowker, Albert. Letter. “Letter from Chancellor Albert Bowker to Al Vann: Space and Personnel”. 2672, CUNY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE, accessed March 10, 2026, https://stephenz.tailc22a4b.ts.net/s/cdha/item/346
Time Periods
1961-1969 The Creation of CUNY - Open Admissions Struggle
