[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO DR. DAVID M. BARTLEY, PRESIDENT OF HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN W. OLVER

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Dr. David 
M. Bartley, President of Holyoke Community College, as he retires after 
twenty-eight years of service.
  Under President Bartley's tenure the College's enrollment, budget, 
and number of employees all doubled in size. He was the driving force 
in the College's transformation from a small, local college into a 
regional, academic institution with a strong focus on workforce 
development and continuing education.
  When he took office in 1975, President Bartley initiated a long-range 
plan to create a thriving and growing college. His persistence resulted 
in numerous accomplishments over the years, beginning with the 
establishment of the Holyoke Community College Foundation. The 
Foundation was the first of its kind in Massachusetts and has allowed 
the College to permanently endow 50 scholarships for needy students.
  The College has also created and expanded programs and services for 
traditional and non-traditional students that have received national 
recognition. They include Cooperative Education, Women in Transition, a 
comprehensive Learning Assistance Center, ESL support, Community 
Service Learning, a mentoring program for engineering technology 
students, and a successful, federally funded TRIO program.
  President Bartley is particularly proud of the fact that Holyoke 
Community College has done an outstanding job of serving minority 
students and the underrepresented in our society. Today, 25 percent of 
the college's graduates are minorities, 70 percent are women, and 30 
percent are men, the exact reverse from when he arrived in 1975.
  Holyoke Community College has developed a strong and positive image 
in western Massachusetts and beyond. President Bartley is in great part 
responsible for this evolution. He has brought consistent and healthy 
increases in enrollment and private sector support. He has forged 
winning partnerships with industry and mentored other educational 
institutions seeking to emulate his college's success.
  In assessing and accrediting Holyoke Community College, the New 
England Association of Schools and Colleges once remarked that they 
found the College to be ``dynamic, resilient and forward thinking''. 
Indeed, the exact same thing can be said for President Bartley and his 
years of leadership.
  I would also like to commend President Bartley on his distinguished 
career in government. Prior to arriving at Holyoke Community College, 
he served for twelve years in the Massachusetts House of 
Representatives. For eight of those years, he held the elected position 
of Speaker of the House. He was held in high esteem for his 
accessibility, his deep grasp of issues of public concern, and his 
sense of fair play.
  These qualities helped him make a dynamic transition to leadership in 
academia. He immediately put all his experiences and skills to work for 
Holyoke Community College and tens of thousands of graduates have been 
the beneficiaries.
  In recognition of an outstanding career in public service, I ask my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating President Bartley on his 
accomplishments and on his retirement.

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