A Statement of Commitment

I am writing on behalf of the Board of Trustees to offer assurance that the quality of the educational experience our students receive will remain our top priority in this transition period and for the future. Cooper’s vice president for finance and administration, William Mea, will assume interim leadership responsibilities on July 1. We expect to begin a series of campus meetings in coming weeks to reengage with the community about the next chapter for The Cooper Union. In the fall, the board will form a presidential search committee that will include representation from the faculty, students and alumni.

Our faculty continue to attract classes of top students who demonstrate exceptional talent and preparation. I invite you to see the recently released data on the class to enroll this fall, as well as the recent online “snapshots” of new graduates in each of art, architecture and engineering. Cooper’s students are the best reason we can work with confidence for its future.

We continue to confront the lawsuit stemming from the change in the scholarship policy. The need to avoid public comment about the litigation has been frustrating, but we remain hopeful about an outcome that can serve Cooper well. It is worth underscoring that speculation on social media about potential outcomes in the case are conjecture and do not necessarily accurately reflect the facts.

I want close by assuring you of our commitment to the students. Our budget provides for the maintenance of all scholarships at the level provided to students when they first enroll, ensuring one of the best educations in America. It assumes annual tuition increases to cover inflation only.

We look forward to greater community engagement and I invite you to direct any questions to communications@cooper.edu. We will do our best to respond meaningfully.

Richard S. Lincer

Chairman, Board of Trustees

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.