Senate Resolution No. 1717

BY: Senator MAY

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of Syracuse
University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and
Public Affairs on October 3, 2024

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those institutions of true purpose and high achievement whose
exemplary programs and accomplishments clearly demonstrate an enduring
pursuit of excellence in the education of the youth of this noble Empire
State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Syracuse University's Maxwell
School of Citizenship and Public Affairs on October 3, 2024; and

WHEREAS, The Maxwell School is an interdisciplinary school for
public service and the social sciences; its 100th Anniversary theme is
"Ever Strive," which is reflective of its ambitions to live up to the
portion of the Athenian Oath inscribed on its walls: "We will transmit
this city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than
it was transmitted to us"; and

WHEREAS, The Maxwell School was dedicated on October 3, 1924, and
was the first program to offer a graduate professional degree in public
administration; that Master of Public Administration program is the
oldest continuously operating, university-based MPA in the United
States; and

WHEREAS, Part of Syracuse University, a private research university
in Syracuse, New York, the Maxwell School is organized in 11 academic
departments, 13 affiliated research centers, and offers coursework in
the fields of public administration, international relations, foreign
policy, political science, science and technology policy, social
sciences, and economics through its undergraduate (BA) degrees, graduate
Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Master of Arts (MA), and PhD degrees;
and

WHEREAS, Recognized as one of the world's best graduate schools for
public affairs, the Maxwell School, formerly known as the Training
School for Public Service, was founded by New York City's Bureau of
Municipal Research, and was later transferred to Syracuse University in
1924; and

WHEREAS, The school is named for George Holmes Maxwell, a Syracuse
alumnus and Boston patent attorney, who in 1924 donated $500,000 to the
university to establish a school which would aim "to cull from every
source those principles, facts, and elements which, combined, make up
our rights and duties and our value and distinctiveness as United States
citizens"; Maxwell's initial interest was in training all undergraduates
for their roles as informed citizens in the American democracy and
University officials convinced him the school should also provide
professional training for future government officials and other public
servants; and


WHEREAS, In 1937, the University took its full name and moved into
Maxwell Hall, a purpose-built building on the west end of Syracuse
University's main campus; in 1994, the Maxwell School expanded and
Eggers Hall was designed; and

WHEREAS, In 2013, the Maxwell School and the Center for Strategic
and International Studies entered into a collaborative agreement that
included headquartering all Maxwell operations at CSIS; and

WHEREAS, Since 1995, the Maxwell School has been ranked the top
graduate program for public affairs in the country by U.S. News & World
Report; in 2022, the school ranked no. 1 in Public Management and
Leadership, no. 2 in Nonprofit Management and Public Finance and
Budgeting, no. 6 in the Environmental Policy and Management department,
and has received a myriad of other rankings; and

WHEREAS, The Maxwell School has had many prestigious visitors,
including Herbert Hoover, who was there for the dedication of Maxwell
Hall, and in 1960, Harry Truman, amid his personal campaign to bolster
appreciation for American government by the nation's young; and

WHEREAS, The steadfast and unyielding commitment of parents,
educators and administrators to provide the highest quality education
for students has become the hallmark and tradition of the Syracuse
University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; and

WHEREAS, Today, the Syracuse University's Maxwell School of
Citizenship and Public Affairs stands prepared to reach out, in earnest
and enthusiastic quest of its mission, to promote the maximum growth of
every student, establishing standards and building skills which will
carry its students and the citizens of its community into the future;
and

WHEREAS, The Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and
Public Affairs is proudly aware of its distinguished past, eager to
fulfill its present commitment to parents, students and the community,
and planning with vision and purpose for the ebb and swell of growth and
change it will encounter in the years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Syracuse University's Maxwell
School of Citizenship and Public Affairs on October 3, 2024; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship
and Public Affairs.