For his 15 years of service to Union College and the greater Schenectady community, departing President Roger H. Hull received several honors.
Last month, the College's Board of Trustees voted to rename Library Plaza as “Hull Plaza.” This area of the campus, located between the Nott Memorial and Schaffer Library, is where commencement is held.
“Roger's accomplishments over his 15-year tenure were truly remarkable, and even transformational, and we are indebted to him for his contributions,” said Chairman of the Board of Trustees Stephen J. Ciesinski '70.
The trustees also established the Roger H. Hull Community Service Award for the senior who has rendered the greatest sustained service to the Schenectady community, and the Roger H. Hull Summer Community Service Internship to assist a student interested in pursuing a career in community or non-profit service.
In April, Schenectady Mayor Brian U. Stratton announced the renaming of a Huron Street block as “Roger Hull Place” and presented Hull with an official Schenectady city street sign bearing his name. The street name was made official by legislation adopted by the Schenectady City Council.
Stratton noted Hull's “vision, leadership and all he has done to forge a more productive and lasting connection between Union College and the city of Schenectady.”
The Schenectady County Public Library also recognized Hull's commitment to the community with the announcement of a collection of material about Schenectady by local authors and artists. The Roger Hull Schenectady Collection will be part of a proposed $5 million wing at the library's main branch on Clinton and Liberty streets in Schenectady. The addition will be constructed next year.
Hull was also honored at the College's Prize Day on May 7 by the Board of Governors of the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research with a special commendation. The Board cited Hull as a national leader in supporting undergraduate research and scholarly and creative activity, noting that his support has made Union a prominent participant at NCUR. It lauded Hull for initiating the Steinmetz Symposium, based on the NCUR model, and for encouraging three faculty members to serve on NCUR's Board of Governors.
Hull made Union's hosting of NCUR in 1995 a signature event of the College's Bicentennial Celebration, the commendation said.
Undergraduate research is a hallmark of the Union experience. A charter member of NCUR, Union consistently sends one of the largest contingents to the national conferences. The College has twice hosted NCUR, in 1990 and 1995.