History of the State University of New York Registrar's Association

On May 31, 1974 Robert D. Bailey, Associate Director of Admissions and Records at SUNY Buffalo, sent a memorandum to Registrars at all four-year SUNY schools proposing the establishment of a State University of New York Registrars' Association. After organizational meetings at SUNY Albany in August 1974 and at Glens Falls in November 1974, the SUNYRA constitution was submitted to SUNY Chancellor Ernest L. Boyer. His letter of response dated April 30, 1975 gave official recognition and support to SUNYRA as a Not-For-Profit Association of SUNY Registrars (Tax ID Number: 16-1271086).

From 1977 until 1982, the organization remained inactive until Herbert J. Riley of SUNY Binghamton convened an informal meeting of Registrars in July 1982. A Steering Committee was formed, a constitutional revision to include all SUNY schools was drafted, and a general membership conference was planned for April 1983 in Buffalo. At the Buffalo meeting, Executive Vice-Chancellor Donald O'Dowd gave enthusiastic support to the organization, and nine officers were elected with Herbert Riley as President. Except for minor modifications, the rewritten constitution, which was ratified at that meeting, continues to be the Constitution of the SUNY Registrars' Association (SUNYRA).        

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