Subject: Court Approves Consent Decree—A Message from Richard Lincer
December 16, 2015
To All Members of The Cooper Union Community:
Today, the Supreme Court of the State of New York approved the consent decree that was agreed to by the New York State Attorney General, The Cooper Union, the Board of Trustees and the Committee to Save Cooper Union in September. We are pleased to have the court’s formal approval on an agreement that clarifies ambiguities in the Charter and Deed of Trust, strengthens our governance and establishes a formal mechanism to evaluate the feasibility of returning The Cooper Union to a full-tuition scholarship model.
Last month, the Board of Trustees adopted amendments to the bylaws of The Cooper Union and related resolutions to reflect and implement the changes provided for in the consent decree. These provisions expand student and alumni-elected representation on the board, as well as adding non-voting observers from our faculty and staff. The resolutions establish a Free Education Committee of the board, which will examine whether The Cooper Union can return to a sustainable, full-tuition scholarship model that maintains its strong reputation for academic quality within its Art, Architecture and Engineering programs at their historical levels of enrollment.
We are now prepared to embark on the important next steps to establish a strong financial plan for the future. These governance changes provide a practical basis for collaboration among all stakeholders. We will continue to work to rebuild trust and appreciate the good will demonstrated by many members of the community in this regard.
Richard S. Lincer
Chairman, The Cooper Union Board of Trustees