September 10, 2003

To:              Members of the Proprietary School Advisory Council
                   Licensed Trade and Business Schools/Computer Training Facilities
                   ESL Schools
                   Other Interested Parties

From:          Johanna Duncan-Poitier
                   

Subject:        Organizational change in the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision

I want to let you know an important organizational change that will be taking place in the Office of Higher Education (OHE).   Howard Goldsmith, the Chief of the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision (BPSS) and Director of the Office of School Personnel Review and Accountability (OSPRA), will be moving to the Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education as the Coordinator of Operations in the Office of State Assessment.    In that capacity, Howard will be overseeing the day-to-day operations of that office and implementing the administrative and organizational changes that will be made in the office.

          Howard has been with the Bureau of Proprietary Schools Supervision for 14 years, serving as Bureau Chief since 1996. Working in collaboration with the schools, Howard has provided leadership in ensuring that the proprietary school sector became a vital component of the postsecondary system in New York State. I am grateful for his leadership and his unending belief in the important role of proprietary schools in meeting the education and training needs of our State's residents.

Howard was also instrumental in setting up the OSPRA office and systems while at the same time continuing to direct and oversee BPSS.  His ability to manage two very complex and different operations within OHE has been an important component of the success those two offices have experienced. While I know that his education, experience and expertise will serve him well in his new endeavor within EMSC, Howard will be missed by his colleagues in OHE and OP and by those individuals and organizations he has worked with in the field

We are fortunate to be able to appoint Hector Millan, a seasoned manager with experience in both the Office of Higher Education and the Office of the Professions to the Bureau Chief position in BPSS.   For the last four years, Hector has held the position of Assistant Director for the Office of Teaching.  Prior to that, he served as Manager of Prelicensure Services in the Office of the Professions. In both of these assignments, Hector has had experience in managing multi-faceted programs, focusing on licensing, customer service, computer applications and has worked extensively with advisory groups in both higher education and the professions. Hector will work under the supervision of Joseph Frey, Assistant Commissioner for Quality Assurance in the Office of Higher Education. Hector will assume his new responsibilities in BPSS on September 22^nd.

Hector has expressed to me his eagerness to work closely with all of our schools and continuing the good work of the Bureau which has taken place under Howard’s leadership. I know you join with me in welcoming Hector to his new assignment in the Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision.