M E M O R A N D U M

								December 17, 2012


TO:		Members of the Board of Trustees

FROM:	Nancy L. Zimpher, Chancellor

SUBJECT:	Naming of the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium – 
State University of New York College at Buffalo


Action Requested

	The proposed resolution approves the action of the Buffalo State College Council on October 16, 2012 in naming the new science and mathematics building at the College at Buffalo the “Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium.”

Resolution

	I recommend that the Board of Trustees adopt the following resolution:

Resolved that the action of the Buffalo State College Council in naming the new science and mathematics building at the College at Buffalo the “Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium” be, and hereby is, approved.

Background

	The proposed resolution approves the action of the Buffalo State College Council on October 16, 2012 in naming the new science and mathematics building at the College at Buffalo the “Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium.” The Council’s action was taken in recognition of a  $1,000,000 gift from an anonymous donor. The donor wished to recognize Whitmore Ferguson Sr. who provided funding to rebuild Buffalo State’s planetarium after a devastating fire in 1980. Since that time, Ferguson family members have been important supporters of Buffalo State. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, is on the Board of Directors of the Buffalo State Foundation. Buffalo State recently launched Transforming Lives: A Campaign for Buffalo State with a $20 million goal.