The name remains the same: A judge has rejected Paul Smith's College's request to adopt a new name.
The name remains the same: A judge has rejected Paul Smith's College's request to adopt a new name.
The name remains the same: A judge has rejected Paul Smith's College's request to adopt a new name.
The name remains the same: A judge has rejected Paul Smith's College's request to adopt a new name.
The name remains the same: A judge has rejected Paul Smith's College's request to adopt a new name.

Judge rejects renaming of college in New York state

Oct. 7, 2015
Paul Smith's College in Paul's Smith, N.Y., wants to change its name to honor a donor.

A judge in New York has ruled that Paul Smith's College cannot change its name.

Trustees for the school, which is in the Adirondack State Park about 100 miles south of Montreal, want to rename the institution Joan Weill-Paul Smith's College in honor of philanthropist Joan Weill. Weill and her husband, Sanford Weill, former chief executive officer of Citigroup Inc., had pledged to donate $20 million to the school if it were renamed.

The Plattsburgh Press-Republican reports that Judge John Ellis rejected the college's request to override the terms of the will of Phelps Smith, drawn up in 1928, which established the institution in honor of his father, hotelier Paul Smith. The will states that the school's name must remain Paul Smith’s College of Arts and Sciences in perpetuity.

Deciding that the Weills' donation would provide a needed boost to the school's finances, Paul Smith's College trustees voted this summer to accept the couple's offer, but needed a court order to carry out the name change.

After the ruling, college president Cathy S. Dove issued a statement:

"While we are disappointed in the court’s decision, the Board of Trustees and I truly appreciate the enduring connection our people feel to the college and our traditions. We look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders as we address the challenges that we along with many other colleges face in this environment, consider our options and shape our future.

Sponsored Recommendations

How to design flexible learning spaces that teachers love and use

Unlock the potential of flexible learning spaces with expert guidance from school districts and educational furniture providers. Discover how to seamlessly integrate adaptive ...

Blurring the Lines in Education Design: K–12 to Higher Ed to Corporate America

Discover the seamless integration of educational and corporate design principles, shaping tomorrow's leaders from kindergarten to boardroom. Explore innovative classroom layouts...

Room to Learn: Furniture Solutions for Education

Preparing students for the future. Utilizing our experience in the education market, we offer a dynamic selection of products that pair technology with furniture to help stimulate...

Transforming Education: A Case Study in Progressive Classroom Design

Discover how Workspace Interiors and the Baldwin School District reshaped learning environments in Long Island, New York, creating pedagogically responsive spaces that foster ...