Gains in Reform Discussed at Education Forum

Last Friday, the Polytechnic Institute of NYU (NYU-Poly) hosted the forum “Improving School Outcomes for Black and Latino Males: The Vision,” sponsored by the Black Male Donor Collaborative, the Brooklyn Community Foundation, the JP Morgan Chase Foundation, the Adelaide L. Sanford Institute and NYU-Poly. 

The forum featured John B. King, Jr., Commissioner of Education and President of the University of the State of New York, and Dennis Walcott, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education. Lester Young, Jr., Regent at Large for the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York, moderated the event focused on calling to action education professionals to reduce the achievement disparities of Black and Latino males in New York City schools. 

Jerry Hultin, president of NYU-Poly, welcomed the more than 250 attendees and briefly outlined the Institute’s initiatives in supporting underserved minorities both through K-12 programs and through NYU-Poly’s degree programs, in addition to highlighting NYU-Poly’s financial support of its student body and the resulting earning power of its graduates. 

NYU-Poly has long been an advocate for invigorating student interest in science, technology, engineering, and math in city schools, most notably with in-school robotics programs and summer institutes focused on enriching educators’ understanding of STEM curriculum. President Hultin addressed these achievements and the cascading effects of enlivening a child’s interest in math and science early in their educational career, as young as third grade. Also noted were the efforts of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), of which President Hultin serves as a Trustee, in helping minority students to enroll in and complete their college education.

The opening statements of their respective visions by Commissioner King and Chancellor Walcott were followed by an engaging and lengthy off-the-record question and answer session.