LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Thomas F. Schutte, Ph.D. upon the
occasion of his retirement after more than 20 years of distinguished
service as President at Pratt Institute

WHEREAS, New York State's commitment to education is unparalleled; its
history and stature are secured by the superlative caliber of its educa-
tional professionals and the students they inspire; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to acknowledge the
significant milestones in the distinguished careers of those outstanding
educational leaders, whose dedication and achievements have been instru-
mental in developing character and academic excellence in the young
people of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Thomas F. Schutte, Ph.D. upon the occasion of his retirement after more
than 20 years of distinguished service as 11th President at Pratt Insti-
tute, Brooklyn, New York, following the end of the 2016-2017 academic
year; and
WHEREAS, The Pratt Board of Trustees have asked Dr. Thomas F. Schutte
to remain involved with Pratt Institute after next summer, when he will
assume the title of President Emeritus on July 1, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Educators like Dr. Thomas F. Schutte have provided a tremen-
dous service to the future of our State and Nation, inspiring gener-
ations of young people in their educational journeys and ensuring their
success in their future years; and
WHEREAS, In 1993, Dr. Thomas F. Schutte joined Pratt Institute follow-
ing a decade of acclaimed service as President of the Rhode Island
School of Design; at that time, the Institute was a commuter school with
about 2,700 mostly local and commuter students; today, it enrolls about
4,700 students from around the globe, with 90 percent of its freshmen
living on campus; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure at Pratt Institute, Dr. Thomas F. Schutte
presided over the renewal of the Institute's Brooklyn campus, including
the construction of five academic buildings and strategic acquisitions
of property in the borough, as well as the purchase and renovation of
Pratt's campus on 14th Street in Manhattan; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas F. Schutte transformed Pratt Institute into one of
the world's leading colleges of art, design, and architecture, and he
has been praised for a series of successful organizational, fiscal, and
academic initiatives that have catapulted Pratt into the very top
echelons of art and design colleges worldwide; and
WHEREAS, Due to Dr. Thomas F. Schutte's dedication, perseverance, and
commitment to excellence, Pratt Institute is recognized as a leader in
art and design education, as evidenced by the record number of student
applications the Institute receives each year, by the artistic and scho-
larly renown of its faculty, and by the superlative achievements of its
alumni; and
WHEREAS, As one of Pratt's most transformative leaders, Dr. Thomas F.
Schutte will be remembered for a deep commitment to academic excellence,
diversity, sustainability and fiscal stability, and greater impact with-
in the borough of Brooklyn, across the nation, and around the world; and
WHEREAS, Under Dr. Thomas F. Schutte's luminous leadership, important
steps have been taken to position Pratt in the vanguard of art and
design colleges for decades to come; the Institute's investments in its
beautiful campus, creative scholarship, and global programs will provide
a solid foundation for a successor; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas F. Schutte attributes much of his success to the
entire Pratt community of dedicated Board members, faculty, staff, alum-
ni, supportive friends, caring and involved parents, and wonderful,
enthusiastic students; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Thomas F. Schutte has clearly had an enduring impact on
the students at Pratt Institute, as well as on the community-at-large,
and accordingly merits recognition and applause for his impressive dedi-
cation to others; and
WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife, Tess, who feels privi-
leged to be part of his life and rejoices in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the
efforts of those individuals who work to support our proud tradition of
institutions of higher education by providing their skills and talents
to our colleges; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Thomas F. Schutte, Ph.D. upon the occasion of his retirement
after more than 20 years of distinguished service as President at Pratt
Institute; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Thomas F. Schutte, Ph.D.