[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. ROBERT HARRIS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2005

  Mrs. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in tribute to a man with a 
distinguished career in education. Dr. Robert Harris's vision and hard 
work have made Sacramento City College one of the preeminent junior 
colleges in Northern California. The longest tenure of any president 
since the college was founded in 1916; Dr. Harris will soon retire from 
the post of President of Sacramento City College after 18 years of 
wonderful service. As his family, friends, and colleagues gather to 
celebrate Dr. Harris' great career, I ask all my colleagues to join me 
in saluting one of Sacramento's most respected and successful 
educators.
  President Harris is well-known for his resolve to foster positive 
changes, which has resulted in many improvements to the Sacramento City 
College campus, including the restoration of the Auditorium, renovation 
of the City Cafe, and construction of a Child Development Center, 
Center for Physical Excellence, and the Learning Resource Center, ``a 
grand and gleaming hightech wonder.''
  Since the beginning of his presidency, he has had the vision and 
drive to push for the development of light rail directly to the City 
College Station; and under his leadership, Associated Student 
Government students presented a Resolution in Support of Regional 
Transit to the Los Rios Board of Trustees, which resulted in a student 
vote of the Universal Transit Pass fee and a Regional Transit Pass that 
allows students to use all public transit bus and light rail systems in 
Sacramento, Yolo, Folsom, EI Dorado and Elk Grove.
  During his presidency, Sacramento City College co-sponsored the 
annual Martin Luther King, Jr. event. In 1996 inaugurated an annual 
Capital Shrine Bowl to raise awareness and funding for Shriners 
Hospitals for children. It was also under Dr. Harris' stewardship that 
Sacramento City College, in partnership with Sutter Health Sacramento 
Sierra Region, expanded its Associate Degree Nursing Program and Sutter 
has committed more than $16 million through 2010 with the goal of 
educating 450 registered nurses.
  Dr. Harris also helped establish Beta Eta Psi, a campus chapter of 
the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. He helped to create a 
$7,500 scholarship to pay the induction fee for students who need 
assistance, and was one of only 24 college presidents honored with the 
prestigious Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction which recognizes 
college presidents for outstanding efforts in promoting the goals of 
Phi Theta Kappa at the chapter level. Also, a decade ago, President 
Harris supported the creation of Susurrus, the college literary 
journal, which has twice won first place in the national Community 
College Humanities Association Annual Literary Magazine Competition.
  President Harris deserves special recognition for his unwavering 
support of programs that provide services and encouragement to 
underrepresented and non-traditional students. It is fair to say that 
the Sacramento City College Classified Senate would not exist without 
his encouragement and his support. President Harris' views on 
participatory governance promoted an unprecedented level of 
collegiality on campus.
  In 2004, directly as a result of Dr. Harris' leadership, the Western 
Association of Schools and Colleges reaffirmed Sacramento City College 
accreditation without conditions--the highest level of accreditation a 
college can receive.
  Mr. Speaker, as Dr. Harris' friends, family, and colleagues gather to 
celebrate his great career, I am honored to pay tribute to one of the 
Sacramento Region's most successful educators. Dr. Harris' leadership 
is a true testament to making a positive impact to the lives of others. 
I ask all of my colleagues to join me in wishing Dr. Robert Harris 
continued success in all his future endeavors.

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