OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
May 25, 2022
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1 transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Hopkins, Sadlowski-Garza, Silverstein, Waguespack, O'Shea, Tunney. Osterman, Cappleman, Martin, Mitts, Hadden, Ervin, Vasquez and Reilly, a resolution congratulating Morton Schapiro on his retirement as President of Northwestern University.
Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly youj
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, After more than a decade of transformative leadership, Morton Schapiro will conclude his tenure as president of Northwestern University on August 31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Schapiro began his term as the sixteenth president of Northwestern University on September 1, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Schapiro has also served as professor of economics in Northwestern's Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, holds appointments in the Kellogg School of Management and the School of Education and Social Policy; and is a fellow ofthe Institute for Policy Research; and
WHEREAS, Schapiro is among the nation's leading authorities on the economics of higher education, with particular expertise in the area of college financing and affordability and on trends in educational costs and student aid; and
WHEREAS, During Schapiro's tenure, Northwestern became one of only four US universities ranked in the top 20 across all graduate education categories and reached an overall #9 ranking among national universities; and
WHEREAS, Under Schapiro's leadership, Northwestern achieved several milestones, including doubling representation from underrepresented student groups and increasing the number of faculty with major national academy memberships from 95 in 2009 to 164 today; and
WHEREAS, Schapiro has led unprecedented growth of the Northwestern research enterprise, increasing sponsored research activity from $476.9 million in 2009 to $893 million in 2021, making Northwestern the largest academic research site in Illinois, and bringing important economic benefits to Chicago and the State; and
WHEREAS, During Schapiro's tenure, Northwestern invested $2 billion to renovate and open new facilities in Evanston and Chicago, including the Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Biomedical Research Center, a $475 million state-of-the-art facility in the Streeterville neighborhood helping drive the life-sciences economy in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Schapiro dedicated his tenure to recruiting a diverse cohort of students to Northwestern, increasing the number of Pell Grant recipients to over 21 percent of the student population, awarding $209 million in institutional aid in academic year 2021-2022, and growing the numberof Chicago Public Schools (CPS) student enrollees from just a handful in 2009 to over 500 in 2022; and
WHEREAS, Under Schapiro, Northwestern has strengthened its support for local communities in Chicago, serving as a proud partner with CPS, City Colleges of Chicago, and other educational institutions, as well as catalyzing, supporting, and conducting meaningful community and academic engagement to improve health and health equity for Chicago citizens; and
WHEREAS, Schapiro launched the acclaimed Northwestern Academy for Chicago Pubic Schools, which has helped hundreds of students from underserved Chicago communities to receive mentoring and college enrichment activities, and to go on to attend quality colleges and universities; and
WHEREAS, Northwestern partnered with Lake View High School and Mather High School, neighborhood CPS schools, to support academic enrichment and mentoring activities, teacher professional development, and college and career preparation; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, during the global pandemic, Schapiro contributed funding to My CHI. My Future., a revolutionary new initiative by the City of Chicago to connect youth to hundreds of activities in a digital space where they can interact with friends and mentors; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of Northwestern President Morton Schapiro and his service to our nation, the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twenty-fifth day of May, 2022, do hereby honor Northwestern President Morton Schapiro on the occasion of his retirement; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Morton Schapiro as a token of our esteem and good wishes.