Gov. Eliot Spitzer has chosen Cornell President Emeritus Hunter R. Rawlings to head a commission to submit recommendations for improving the state of higher education in New York.

"It is an honor to be asked by Governor Spitzer to chair the Commission on Higher Education for New York State," said Rawlings, a professor of classics who served as Cornell's president from 1995 until 2003, then again from 2005 to 2006.

Spitzer's creation of the 30-member commission, composed of some of the leading authorities in higher education and affiliated institutions in the state, reflects the governor's commitment to overhaul higher education in New York, Rawlings said. The commissioners have until Dec. 1 to submit a preliminary report.

Under the governor's executive order, the commission will study the current higher education system and make recommendations on:

• Improving access to the state's public higher education system.
• Expanding degree programs to reflect state and regional economic development objectives.
• Preparing community college graduates for a smooth transition to four-year institutions or to high-value jobs upon graduation, or both.
• Enhancing the capacity of the state's university research centers to regain New York's pre-eminent status in academic research while providing additional opportunities for high-value employment.

Rawlings said it is clear the governor wants "a hard-hitting report, not just something that's going to sit on the shelf and gather dust." He said the tight deadline indicates Spitzer's intent to use the report for setting the state's higher education budget for 2008.

"New York's public and private colleges and universities play a crucial role in educating citizens for the 21st century, in conducting research that extends the boundaries of human knowledge, driving economic development and performing vital public services," said Rawlings. "It is essential that the state develop a progressive strategy for strengthening its institutions of higher education and optimizing their effectiveness."

The State University of New York (SUNY) is the largest public university system in the United States. Founded in 1948, the 64-campus, 400,000-student system also is one of the youngest public systems in the country and works with a $3.5 billion budget. It includes research centers, comprehensive colleges and community colleges.

The New York Times reported on May 30 that Spitzer's goal, despite the work of major research institutions within the SUNY and the City University of New York systems, is to put New York's public universities on a par with those in California, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

In the same article, Rawlings was quoted as saying that while SUNY would be a primary focus of the commission, the governor also wants to assess private universities.

Rawlings said the governor also would address issues of governance, tuition policy and research excellence.

John Dyson, an emeritus member of the Cornell Board of Trustees, will serve as one of the organization's members.