From the Academy

Once upon a time, nearly all college presidents in America were clergymen. But as the liberal-arts colleges’ ties with religious denominations grew weaker, and as the state-supported universities and colleges increased in size and influence, the clergymen-presidents—and clergy man-trustees—dwindled in number. There came a time when scientists frequently were appointed to college presidencies. Economists and businessmen, too, attained such posts here and there. In very recent years, a number of humane scholars have become college presidents. But the great tendency in this century has been to put quasi-professional educational administrators in charge of universities and colleges: gentlemen with experience in fund-raising, budgeting, personnel management, and administrative procedures.

It has remained true, nevertheless, that most of these administrator-presidents have not been simply administrators. Many have had good records in some humane or scientific discipline before they turned to administration, and most have had at least some experience as professors before they became deans, administrative vice-presidents and presidents. Thus—with some barbarous exceptions, like that of Dr. Minard Stout, recently removed as president of the University of Nevada—the administrator-presidents have been tolerably-educated men, possessing some fellow-feeling with members of their faculties. Few of them have been mere doctors of education or glorified NEA-clique educationists.

RK

About the Author

Russell Kirk

Featured Tags

Once upon a time, nearly all college presidents in America were clergymen. But as the liberal-arts colleges’ ties with religious denominations grew weaker, and as the state-supported universities and colleges increased in size and influence, the clergymen-presidents—and clergy man-trustees—dwindled in number. There came a time when scientists frequently were appointed to college presidencies. Economists and businessmen, too, attained such posts here and there. In very recent years, a number of humane scholars have become college presidents. But the great tendency in this century has been to put quasi-professional educational administrators in charge of universities and colleges: gentlemen with experience in fund-raising, budgeting, personnel management, and administrative procedures.

It has remained true, nevertheless, that most of these administrator-presidents have not been simply administrators. Many have had good records in some humane or scientific discipline before they turned to administration, and most have had at least some experience as professors before they became deans, administrative vice-presidents and presidents. Thus—with some barbarous exceptions, like that of Dr. Minard Stout, recently removed as president of the University of Nevada—the administrator-presidents have been tolerably-educated men, possessing some fellow-feeling with members of their faculties. Few of them have been mere doctors of education or glorified NEA-clique educationists.