Office of the Provost Records, 1958-1995
| Oberlin College Archives
Administrative/Biographical History
The earliest recorded usage of "Provost" in connection with American colleges and universities occurred in 1756. Despite the early usage of the term, the concept of the Provost in academia took hold slowly. Across the United States the Office of Provost more often than not, lacked consistently defined duties and responsibilities. This left the office-holder to define his or her role on the administrative chart. In 1940 there were only nine provosts serving in American colleges and universities. In 1950 the number increased to twenty-nine, and by 1960 the number stood at forty-six.
Oberlin College President Robert Kenneth Carr (1908-1979) first recommended the development of a Provost's Office to the Board of Trustees in 1960 (Board of Trustee Minutes 23 March, 1960). The Board unanimously approved Carr's suggestion and instructed him to draw up the specifications of duties along with the revised by-laws. The outcome of these deliberations is most succinctly stated in President Carr's "Annual Report" for 1959- 60, at which time he explained that this new senior administrative position was created "in order to secure the most effective and cooperative relationships among all the academic departments." The report further elaborated that the Provost would "work closely with the President in the administration of the Oberlin Academic Program and may be called upon to act as the President's deputy in handling academic matters affecting the three Departments." (The three departments consisted of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Conservatory of Music, and the Graduate School of Theology which disbanded in 1965). From time to time the Provost was also expected to conduct intensive studies of specific educational problems, and to make recommendations to the President, the General Faculty and the Board of Trustees.
The Provost's responsibilities, as detailed by Carr and approved by the Board, still contained a fair amount of administrative leeway. With respect to department or division-wide responsibilities, the Provost held direct supervisory responsibility over the Registrar, Librarian, and Director of the Allen Memorial Art Museum. The Provost was also briefly assigned supervision of the Office of the Secretary. Responsibilities not specifically prescribed to the Provost were covered under a blanket statement: the Provost shall have further duties and responsibilities as "delegated to him by the Board of Trustees or the President" (1960 By-laws, Article V, Section 1).
The Provost was given broad ranging but largely undefined responsibilities with the College's governing bodies. Although the Provost was excluded from membership on the Board of Trustees, he was ex officio a member of the Prudential Committee (abolished 1962) as well as the General Faculty and all subordinate faculties and divisional councils (By-laws, Article V, Sections 3 and 4). This Office's involvement with College governance has remained a highly interactive function of the Provost.
Thurston E. Manning (b.1926), a member of the Department of Physics at Oberlin College, was appointed as the first Provost. Manning's evolving duties primarily centered on faculty development. He lobbied for the development of faculty support programs--designed to promote continued research and scholarship. Largely through his efforts the research status program was started in 1962. The research status program allowed three or four established faculty members to focus on full-time research for a year. Younger faculty members were also given travel support through the expansion of the H.H. Powers Travel Grant Fund. Administration of both of these faculty development programs rested with the Provost. After serving as Provost for four years, Manning resigned.
Following an expansion of the Office's duties and a decision not to make the high-level administrative position a term appointment, John W. Kneller (b.1916) was named Oberlin's second Provost in 1965. The Provost was now asked to supervise the new Computer Center, Audio-Visual operations and Faculty Stenographic Services. Responsibility for nominations for General Faculty committees was transferred to the Office of the Provost, along with administration of the external grant application process.
Kneller served during a turbulent period marked by campus unrest and demonstrations. In response to the growing student dissatisfaction and changing campus environment, the General Faculty created the "4-4-2 Committee" (Student-Faculty Congress Steering Committee). Chaired by the Provost, the committee worked to integrate students into the governance of the College and promote educational change. The result was a thoroughly revised system of student government, which provided student access and input into Faculty deliberations on a scale not experienced before.
In 1967-68, Kneller served in the dual capacity of Provost and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. For a brief period in 1967 he was also acting President. The addition of numerous administrative duties to Kneller's main administrative responsibility contributed to the lack of being able to define or focus on tasks within the Office of the Provost.
Following Kneller's resignation in 1969, at the urging of President Carr and after consultation with the General Faculty Council, a careful and deliberate examination of the Office and its place in the College's administrative structure was once again undertaken (Carr to members of the General Faculty, September 12, 1969). During this reevaluation process Ellsworth C. Carlson (b. 1917) was named acting Provost. Carlson's appointment coincided with the nomination of thirty-four-year-old Robert Works Fuller (b. 1936) as Oberlin's tenth President.
During Fuller's brief presidential tenure (1970-74) the Office of Provost was expanded to meet the growing responsibilities of the Office. Two Associate Provosts (William Godfrey Davis and David Carey Montgomery) and a director of the Office of Institutional Research (Linda M. Delene) were appointed. The Office was further altered through the consolidation of budgetary and fiscal responsibilities under the Provost. In 1973 the Director of Finance and Business Operations (renamed Vice President for Business and Finance in 1976) was placed under the Provost's responsibility. The fiscal consolidation was intended to clarify administrative relationships and achieve better budgeting. Despite the expansion of the Provost's Office under Fuller, the Provost came under fire from the Faculty. Forced to act as an intermediary between the General Faculty and the President, the Provost was frequently forced into supporting Fuller's controversial reforms. Nonetheless, Ellsworth C. Carlson was able to sustain institutional stability during the stormy Fuller administration. Upon Fuller's resignation Provost Carlson was elevated to acting President in 1974. Neither repudiating Fuller's reforms nor proposing any of his own, Carlson choose instead to foster unity largely through maintaining the status quo.
In 1975 the Office of the Provost was renamed as Vice President and Provost to more accurately reflect the Provost's function. The administrative reorganization was an effort by President Emil C. Danenberg (1917-1982) to reduce the number of people reporting to him. The change in title was due in part to a decision not to replace Bayley Mason, the Administrative Vice President who departed at the end of 1974. A revision of reporting relationships accompanied the title change. New reporting offices included the Office of Admissions and the Office of Financial Aid. Gone were the responsibilities for the College Archives and Stenographic Services, which were placed under the Office of the Secretary and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, respectively.
James L. Powell was the first to hold the new title of Vice President and Provost. He previously served as chair of the Geology Department from 1965 to 1973, before being appointed associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Beginning in 1975, Powell's tenure stressed the importance of science instruction and represented an increased commitment to attract women and minorities to undergraduate science education. His administration grappled with means of improving student retention while upgrading faculty salaries and revising the tenure system. Powell also worked to develop a sense of community and shared purpose throughout the College. To this end in 1979 he helped found a staff newspaper (the Observer) on which he served as the first chairman of the editorial board. During the severe illness and eventual death of President Emil Danenberg, Powell served as acting president from 1981 to 1983. He was one of the leading candidates for the Oberlin presidency before withdrawing his name and accepting the same post at Franklin and Marshall College.
In 1983, coinciding with the first year of the presidency of S. Frederick Starr (b. 1941) and the earlier departure of Provost James Powell, a national search for a Provost was undertaken. After a lengthy search Professor of Psychology Sam C. Carrier (b. 1945), acting Vice President and Provost since 1981, was named. With Carrier's appointment the Vice Presidential designation was officially dropped and the title returned to Provost. This senior academic administrative position was now primarily viewed as the chief budgetary and fiscal officer, with responsibility for coordinating both short and long term development among the various divisions. The Provost remained responsible for the Office of Institutional Research and continued to serve as division head for the following offices: Office of Admissions; Office of Financial Aid; Office of the Registrar; Director of Libraries; Computing Center; Allen Memorial Art Museum; and Office of Sponsored Projects. Responsibility for the Observer briefly rested with the Provost before being placed under the Office of Communications (which reported to the Secretary of the College).
Beginning in 1987, responsibility for Admissions, Financial Aid and the Registrar was assigned to the newly formed Dean of Enrollment Planning. (In 1992 the Office was changed to Vice President for Admissions and Financial Aid under Thomas C. Hayden). Supervision of the College Archives was returned to the Provost after a ten year absence. The reorganization of the Office of Vice President for Business and Finance into the Office of Vice President for Operations gave the Provost responsibility for the Office of the Controller.
Throughout the 1980s the Provost focused on financial forecasting and the assumptions upon which it is based. Among the key fiscal developments was Oberlin's adoption of a financial equilibrium model. Increasing reliance on computers and automation accompanied the shift toward long range fiscal planning. Studies of enrollment targets, student body composition, student retention, general budgetary parameters, endowment and compensation were conducted by the Provost as part of the overall planning process. Central to the planning process was the premise that Oberlin should strive to become the premier liberal arts college and the premier conservatory for the undergraduate study of music. In 1986 the Office of the Provost coordinated a conference on "The Future of Science in the Liberal Arts." The conference brought together college presidents from liberal arts colleges across the nation and resulted in the publication of a major conference report.
As the Provost was asked increasingly to devote more and more administrative time to budgetary and fiscal matters in the 1990s, the Office of the Provost underwent further changes. In 1991 the Provost served as Division Head for five offices: Allen Memorial Art Museum, College Archives, Office of Controller, Computing Center, and the Director of Libraries. Responsibility for Grants and Sponsored Programs was transferred to the Vice President of Development and Alumni Affairs in 1991. In 1992 responsibility for the Registrar was once again placed with the Provost.
Thus, after over thirty years the duties and responsibilities of the Provost continue to remain in flux. Operating with a flexible job description, the history of the Office of the Provost is characterized by how the men who held the post over time have shaped it.
The Office of the Provost was vacated and terminated in 1995, then reestablished from 2004 to 2008.
OBERLIN COLLEGE PROVOSTS:
1960-64 Thurston E. Manning, Provost
1965-69 John W. Kneller, Provost
1969-71 Ellsworth C. Carlson, Acting Provost
1972-74 Ellsworth C. Carlson, Provost
1974-75 Warren F. Walker, Acting Provost
1975-81 James L. Powell, Vice President and Provost
1981-84 Sam C. Carrier, Acting Vice President and Provost
1984-95 Sam C. Carrier, Provost
2004-05 Clayton Koppes, Provost
2005-08 Alfred MacKay, Provost
Forms of Material (links to similar genres) Administrative InformationThe records of the Office of the Provost were transferred to the Oberlin College Archives in two major accessions in 1987 and 1991. In 1987 twenty-four linear feet of administrative records were transferred under accession 1987/28. Following a major records management initiative in 1991, an additional sixty linear feet of general administrative files were added to the collection as accession 1991/120. In the course of processing the collection, approximately twenty-five linear feet of records, mainly of a miscellaneous or duplicate nature were eliminated from the collection. In 1992 records from the Justice Department's investigation into tuition price fixing were added to the collection.
In 2008 the records of Provost Alfred MacKay were transferred in accession 2008/041; these records are not yet processed and may contain restricted materials.
The records of the Office of the Provost chronicle the creation of this senior administrative position in 1960 and the subsequent development of this Office over three decades. The numerous changes in duties and responsibilities and the subsequent alterations in reporting relationships are well documented. The uneven character of the departmental and office records is attributable to these frequent changes in responsibilities. Recent records reflect an increasing use of computer technologies to compile budgetary data and produce statistical studies and reports. Symptomatic of this reliance on computer systems is the use of electronic mail ("E-mail") messages to communicate internally and externally. The majority of the Provost's "E-mail" is not recorded on paper and is therefore unavailable to the researcher.
Documentation in the Provost's records includes incoming and outgoing correspondence (not maintained as a separate correspondence series, but rather integrated within the general filing system employed by the Provost's Office), reports, technical papers, budget print-outs, and other records received or created in the general administrative role of the Provost. The five subgroups correspond to the Provost's major areas of functional responsibility, and they take into account the general alphabetic filing system employed by the Office of the Provost. The folders used by the Provost were retained (about one-half of them are of the expandable "accordion" variety). The five subgroups are as follows: I. Administrative Units Reporting to the Provost; II. Budgetary and Fiscal Records; III. Governing Bodies and Committees; IV. Grants and Foundations Files; and V. Administrative Records (General).
Records in the first subgroup consist of files of administrative offices and units for which the Provost served as Division Head. The first nine series document offices that have at one time reported to or currently report to the Provost. Included are files from the Admissions Office, Allen Memorial Art Museum, College Archives, College Library, Computing Center, Financial Aid Office, Institutional Research Office, and the Registrar's Office. The final series contains records of units which did not directly report, but are related to the Provost's work as a whole (e.g., Dean of Students, Office of the Secretary). These records further document the ever-changing reporting relationships resulting from the periodic administrative reorganizations.
The documentation on the administrative units reporting to the Provost offers a means of comparing and contrasting the operation of these units with one another in a divisional framework. Extensive documentation exists for the Admissions Office (1961-86), Office of Financial Aid (1965-90) and the College Library (1961-90). The Provost's documentation includes annual reports, personnel requests, correspondence and memoranda from directors, and budgetary information. As the chief budgetary officer, these records provide the basis for planning and preparing budgets. Thus these records are a natural extension of those found in the second subgroup, budgetary and fiscal records. Less well documented at this time are the activities of the Offices of the Controller and the Registrar.
Budget requests and supplemental requests from units reporting to the Provost comprise a large percentage of the budgetary documentation. Efforts to forecast the College budget within a financial equilibrium model are chronicled here as well. A computer printout of the 1985 budget offers insight into how the individual parts of the budgeting process are brought together as a whole. Salary figures and documentation on faculty support programs attest to ongoing efforts by the institution to maintain a diverse and productive faculty.
Owing to the Provost's ex officio membership in the General Faculty and all subordinate faculties and councils, the records of governing bodies and committees are extensive. The records series are arranged on the basis of the governing hierarchy, beginning with the Board of Trustees and ending with individual committees. These records underscore the Provost's wide-ranging responsibilities in both the College and Conservatory divisions. The Conservatory of Music records provide a source for comparing and contrasting the government of the College of Arts and Sciences division. Records of the faculties and councils, which include minutes and supporting documentation, dating primarily from the 1970s and 1980s, provide a rich complement to the records found in the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Of particular note are the committee files relating to long range planning (LRPC), which contain a complete set of area reports (College of Arts and Sciences; Conservatory; Academic and Instructional Support; Student Support Services; Admissions and Financial Aid; Administration and Finance; and Plant Financing, Operation and Maintenance). The LRPC files, 1976-80, document the long range planning process, the decision-making process, the financial equilibrium model, and the goals and objectives of the College.
Files relating to the development of grants and the institution's work with foundations documents the College's recent reliance on external sources of funding for curricular and program innovations. Documentation includes completed grants and correspondence between the college and granting agencies (public and private). The bulk of the documentation pertains to applications submitted to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Specific programs include CAUSE (Comprehensive Assistance to Undergraduate Science Education) and COSIP (College Science Improvement Program). Records date from the 1960s through the 1980s. Included among the grants files are records of the SEOP (Special Educational Opportunities Program), which provided funds to elevate minority concerns, including the creation of the Asian American Coordinator position in 1972.
General administrative records (Subgroup V) represents documentation varied in nature and content. These records detail the administration of programs and academic departments within the Provost's wider oversight. The chronological file (1961-86) is a rich source for gaining insight into the routine, day-to-day operation of the Provost's Office. Likewise, the personnel records provide additional information on budgetary issues, many of which are better documented in subgroup II. Individual files received from other colleges were gathered to assess Oberlin's competitive position in relation to peer institutions. Records of professional associations and organizations also attest to Oberlin's interest to remain abreast of developments in academia.
Some of the most varied records are found in the subject file, the final series of Subgroup V. The subject file contains documentation on subject as diverse as the YMCA/YWCA and telecommunications. Arranged alphabetically, these files indicate the broad supervisory scope exercised by the Provost.
The records of the Office of the Provost are arranged in the following subgroups, series, and subseries:
Subgroup I. Files Relating to Administrative Offices/Departmental Units
Series 1. Admissions Office Records
Series 2. Allen Memorial Art Museum Records
Series 3. Archives Records
Series 4. College Library Records
Series 5. Computing Center Records
Series 6. Controller's Office Records
Series 7. Financial Aid Office Records
Series 8. Institutional Research Office Records
Series 9. Registrar's Office Records
Series 10. Other Administrative Units (not Directly Reporting
to the Provost)
Subgroup II. Files Relating to Budgetary and Fiscal Matters
Series 1. Budgetary Records
Series 2. Compensation Records
Series 3. Faculty Support Program Files
Subseries 1. Curriculum Fellowship Files
Subseries 2. Research Status Files
Subseries 3. Travel Grant Files
Series 4. Salary Records
Series 5. Tuition Records
Subgroup III. Files of Governing Bodies and Committees
Series 1. Board of Trustees Records
Series 2. President's Staff (President's Council) Records
Series 3. General Faculty Council (GFC) Records
Series 4. General Faculty Records
Series 5. College Faculty Council (CFC) Records
Series 6. College Faculty Records
Series 7. Conservatory of Music Faculty Council Records
Series 8. Conservatory of Music Faculty Records
Series 9. Committee Files (Arranged Alphabetically)
Subgroup IV. Files Relating to Grants and Foundations
Series 1. Grants Files
Series 2. Foundations Files
Subgroup V. Administrative Records of the Provost (General)
Series 1. Chronological File
Series 2. Academic Departments and Program Files
Subseries 1. College of Arts and Sciences
Subseries 2. Conservatory of Music
Series 3. Buildings and Grounds Records
Series 4. General File
Series 5. Personnel Records
Subseries 1. Name Files
Subseries 2. Personnel Evaluations
Subseries 3. Personnel Searches
Series 6. Other Colleges
Series 7. Professional Associations and Organizations
Series 8. Publications
Series 9. Subject Files
Series 10. Tuition Probe Records
SUBGROUP AND SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Subgroup I. Files Relating to Administrative Offices/Departmental Units, 1960-95 (14.2 linear feet)
Subgroup I documents the Provost's responsibilities as a division head. The bulk of the documentation is centered on units reporting directly to the Provost. The last series in this subgroup, however, contains records of administrative units which did not directly report, but bear some relation to the Provost. A few administrative units which no longer report to the Provost but did at one time report are also filed here (e.g., Field magazine). The uneven character of the file units is owing more to administrative reorganizations occurring over time than to actual gaps in the records. The records series are alphabetically arranged. The Provost participated in personnel searches for many of the units reporting to him. These search files are segregated as part of subgroup V due to their confidential nature.
Series 1. Admissions Office Records, 1961-86 (1.2 l.f.)
This record series, which covers admissions activity, contains studies, annual reports, a chronological file and topical files alphabetically arranged. The chronological file consists of correspondence (incoming and outgoing), memoranda, reports and other documentation received from and sent to the Admission's Office.
Series 2. Allen Memorial Art Museum Records, 1961-86 (0.8 l.f.)
Consists of documentation pertaining to the Art Museum, particularly issues such as staffing and the status of curators. The chronological file contains documentation relating to topical reports and studies as well as the equipment needs of the program.
Series 3. Archivist, Office of the, Records, 1962-86 (0.4 l.f.)
Documentation relates to program guidelines, document preservation initiatives and efforts to secure outside funding for the College Archives. Administrative responsibility for the College Archivist was placed with the Secretary's Office from 1977 to 1986. Records are arranged chronologically.
Series 4. College Library Director's Office Records, 1961-90 (3.0 l.f.)
Records of the College Library document the main library as well as the branch libraries and audio-visual operations. Files include separate chronological files for the library and audio-visual facility in addition to topical files. Among the more substantial subjects covered are budgeting, planning for a new library to replace the Carnegie Library, and the development and implementation of an automated circulation system during the late 1970s and the 1980s.
Series 5. Computing Center Records, 1967-87 (2.4 l.f.)
The gap in the computer center chronological file (1981-84) is offset by the abundance of topical files which relate to issues of academic computing ranging from personal computers to mainframes. The organization and reorganization of this unit is reflected in the alphabetically arranged topical files as well.
Series 6. Controller's Office Records, 1970-89 (0.4 l.f.)
The bulk of the documentation consists of financial reports and summaries of operations. Undoubtedly the lack of documentation from this office is partially attributable to the computerized nature of the budgetary process and overlap with the records in subgroup II. Other records used are on microfiche and are not currently held by the Archives.
Series 7. Financial Aid Office Records, 1965-90 (1.2 l.f.)
Records of the Financial Aid Office primarily document the tenure of James White as Director. Records include a chronological file and topical file. The topical files relate to the Financial Aid Planning Group, loan programs and minority targeting. Topical files are arranged chronologically.
Series 8. Institutional Research Office Records, 1972-87 (0.8 l.f.)
A unit within the Office of the Provost between 1972 and 1991, the Institutional Research Office produced statistical studies relevant to admissions, financial aid, salaries and faculty promotion. The bulk of the documentation represents the tenure of David Davis-Van Atta and is arranged chronologically. Some special projects and reports produced by this Office can be found within committee files and subject files series.
Series 9. Registrar's Office Records, 1969-87 (0.4 l.f.)
Records of the Office of the Registrar consist solely of a chronological file which documents activities of the Registrar from 1969 to 1987.
Series 10. Other Administrative Units (not Directly Reporting to the Provost), 1960-95 (3.6 l.f.)
This series consists of files of administrative units which did not have a direct reporting relationship to the Provost. Include are files from the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean of Students, Associate Provost and Development Office. These files have been retained for their relevance to the Provost's overall institutional responsibilities. The records are arranged alphabetically by office or unit name.
Subgroup II. Files Relating to Budgetary and Fiscal Matters, 1961-87 (6.2 l.f.)
Records within this subgroup provide evidence of the Provost's role as chief budget officer of the College. Although the Provost handled budget matters prior to 1983, it was not until this date that the Provost was given particular responsibility for budgetary policy. The five series represent specific aspects of the budget, including planning, compensation, faculty support, salary and tuition. The five series, alphabetically arranged are: 1. Budgetary Records; 2. Compensation Records; 3. Faculty Support Programs; 4. Salary Records; and 5. Tuition Records.
Series 1. Budgetary Records, 1974-86 (1.0 l.f.)
Records primarily relate to budget planning in the mid-1980s. Included in the documentation is budget information solicited from other colleges and universities, departmental requests, forecasting documents, and financial equilibrium models. A 1985 budget (computer printout) offers evidence of the amount of detail and attention required in preparing a budget at a private liberal arts college.
Series 2. Compensation Records, 1962-87 (0.8 l.f.)
Compensation records consist of an alphabetical subject arrangement, which includes information on benefits, retirement, leave policies and other matters relating to the Oberlin College faculty. Other files included here, such as the Faculty Guide and faculty housing, provide context for the remaining records and an illustration of the extent of the benefits.
Series 3. Faculty Support Program Files, 1961-87 (3.0 l.f.)
Consisting of three subseries, this records series contains information on faculty support programs, including curriculum development fellowships, faculty teaching grants, travel grants and research status (e.g., McCandless Curriculum Enrichment Fund and H. H. Powers Travel Grant Fund). The files include faculty applications to the support programs containing a brief outline of the need for support. Files are chronologically arranged within subseries: Subseries 1. Curriculum Fellowship Files; 2. Research Status Files; and 3. Travel Grant Files.
Series 4. Salary Records, 1963-86 (1.0 l.f.)
Consisting primarily of salary lists, reports and surveys, this records series documents the salary budgeting process at Oberlin College. Names are removed from a few of the lists. Access is by permission of the Archivist.
Series 5. Tuition Records, 1961-86 (0.4 l.f.)
Files relating to tuition include documentation on costs, fees, tuition remission plans and student reactions to tuition increases.
Subgroup III. Files of Governing Bodies and Committees, 1959-94 (16.1 l.f.)
The Provost's senior status on the administrative chart results in the Office receiving numerous files relating to governing bodies and committees. By virtue of his Office, the Provost also holds membership in the General Faculty as well as all subordinate faculty bodies and councils. Included in these files organized in terms of hierarchy, are minutes, reports, and memorandum concerning the business of each committee or body. The nine series are: 1. Board of Trustees Records; 2. President's Staff (President's Council) Records; 3. General Faculty Council (GFC) Records; 4. General Faculty Records; 5. College Faculty Council (CFC) Records; 6. College Faculty Records; 7. Conservatory of Music Faculty Council Records; 8. Conservatory of Music Faculty Records; and 9. Committee Files (Arranged Alphabetically).
Series 1. Board of Trustees Records, 1974-94 (2.8 l.f.)
With the exception of Board of Trustee Investment Committee records, the majority of the documentation relates to meetings of the Board of Trustees attended by the Provost between 1983 and 1986. As chief budgetary officer, the Provost is responsible for reporting on the College budget and providing statistical analysis at Board meetings. Records are chronologically arranged by the meeting date.
Series 2. President's Staff (President's Council) Records, 1981-87 (0.8 l.f.)
Consists of the Provost's record of the business conducted by the President's Staff. Topics covered include personnel issues, enrollment projections, long range planning and objectives. Records consist of meeting agendas, memoranda, and other documentation brought before the President's Staff. Arranged chronologically by year.
Series 3. General Faculty Council (GFC) Records, 1979-87 (1.0 l.f.)
Includes minutes and working papers of the General Faculty Council. Minutes are chronologically arranged. Working papers include agendas, memorandum and supporting documentation.
Series 4. General Faculty Records, 1965-75, 1981-89 (0.8 l.f.)
Includes the files of the General Faculty Planning Committee (chaired by the Provost), lists of faculty members, and minutes of the main body. Records are arranged chronologically.
Series 5. College Faculty Council (CFC) Records, 1984-87 (1.5 l.f.)
Included in the working papers 1984 through 1987, are scattered minutes and miscellaneous supporting documents.
Series 6. College Faculty Records, 1981-91 (0.4 l.f.)
Consists of minutes and other supporting material chronologically arranged.
Series 7. Conservatory of Music Faculty Council Records, 1975-87 (0.4 l.f.)
Includes minutes, working papers, summaries of Council personnel actions, and Educational Policy Committee minutes. In addition to illustrating the Provost's broad supervisory role, the Conservatory records provide a source for comparing and contrasting the government of the two divisions.
Series 8. Conservatory of Music Faculty Records, 1960-86 (0.2 l.f.)
Consists solely of minutes of the Conservatory Faculty arranged chronologically from 1960 to 1986.
Series 9. Committee Files (Arranged Alphabetically), 1959-89 (8.2 l.f.)
This series is comprised of files of the numerous committees served on by the Provost. The files represent committees administered by each of the various faculty bodies and councils as well as ad hoc and special policy committees. Committee files are arranged alphabetically by committee name.
Subgroup IV. Files Relating to Grants and Foundations, 1960-87 (6.4 l.f.)
The records document the Provost's responsibilities in the area of seeking external means of financial support for the College through grants and appeals to foundations. Consists of two series: 1. Grants Files and 2. Foundations Files.
Series 1. Grants Files, 1968-87 (4.8 l.f.)
Consists of actual grant applications as well as information regarding the disbursement of grant monies and the granting institution itself. Records are alphabetically arranged by the name of the granting agency or office.
Series 2. Foundations Files, 1960-86 (1.6 l.f.)
Alphabetically arranged files of foundations, both public and private, which make available financial awards to higher education. Files include applications and proposals as well as documentation regarding the disbursement of foundation monies.
Subgroup V. Administrative Records of the Provost (General), 1958-95 (20.0 l.f.)
This subgroup, which is the most general of the five subgroups, encompasses many of the diverse functional and administrative duties of the Office of the Provost. The records cut across the spectrum of academics, from instruction to personnel and the physical plant. The nine series are organized as follows: 1. Chronological File; 2. Academic Departments and Programs Files; 3. Buildings and Grounds Records; 4. General File; 5. Personnel Records; 6. Other Colleges; 7. Professional Associations and Organizations; 8. Publications; and 9. Subject Files.
Series 1. Chronological File, 1961-86 (2.0 l.f.)
Files consist of six chronologically arranged "accordion folders," which deal with the everyday operation of the Office of the Provost. Although it is not a comprehensive file, documentation includes memoranda relating to budgetary matters, personnel decisions, the scheduling of meetings, travel plans, and equipment needs and purchases.
Series 2. Academic Departments and Program Files, 1960-89 (2.5 l.f.)
Consists of materials relating to the Provost's dealings with individual academic departments representing both the Arts and Sciences and Conservatory of Music divisions. Subject matter varies widely, but generally includes budgeting and staffing issues. Files are alphabetically arranged by department or program name in separate subseries for the two divisions: 1. College of Arts and Sciences, 2. Conservatory of Music.
Series 3. Buildings and Grounds Records, 1960-95 (2.5 l.f.)
Documentation concerns both renovation planning and the routine operation of the College's physical facilities. Information on specific uses, for example, is evident in the files of Asia House and Barrows. Records are alphabetically arranged.
Series 4. General File, 1962-89 (0.4 l.f.)
This partially complete file contains correspondence (incoming and outgoing) on a variety of general subject matters, ranging from the acquisition of computer equipment to student academic performance. The letters "D" through "O" and the letter "S" are present. The remaining files, presumably semi-active or active, are still filed in the Provost's Office. Correspondence of Ellsworth Carlson, Acting Provost and Provost, is included.
Series 5. Personnel Records, 1962-91 (3.0 l.f.)
Consisting of three subseries, this records series includes name files for employees supervised by the Provost as division head. The records, consisting of evaluations and personnel searches, are directly related to the documentation in subgroup II. Name files contain salary information in the form of appointment letters and correspondence between the individual and the Provost.
Series 6. Other Colleges, 1963-91 (0.8 l.f.)
This documentation received and solicited from other colleges and universities is comparative in nature. Materials deal with how issues of retention, enrollment and budgeting are handled at peer institutions, and are indicative of the institutional research character of the Office. Files are alphabetically arranged by institution name. Printed materials such as catalogs and bulletins have been eliminated from the files.
Series 7. Professional Associations and Organizations, 1958-87 (1.0 l.f.)
These files document Oberlin's involvement in the business of higher education over a thirty-year period. Documentation includes questionnaires, conference programs, and information on dues and expenditures. Files are alphabetically arranged.
Series 8. Publications, 1979-80, 1982-91 (0.4 l.f.)
Consists of publications produced under the auspices of the Office of the Provost. Included in the publications files are newsletters: "A Modest Proposal" and "A Modest Proposal...Update" which provide information on how faculty and staff may apply for academic grants and fellowships.
Series 9. Subject Files, 1958-88 (7.4 l.f.)
This is an alphabetical arrangement of diverse subjects and topics relating to the Provost and the College as a whole. File topics range from student organizations to licensing of nuclear material. Key subjects include documentation of the science conferences ("The Future of Science at Liberal Arts Colleges") and planning for the Lorain County Regional Airport.
Series 10. Tuition Probe Records, 1989 (0.4 l.f.)
Consists of affidavits, interrogatories and other documentation gathered during the Department of Justice inquiry into tuition price fixing. These records include testimony from Provost Carrier, President S. Frederick Starr and other top administrators. These files are CLOSED through January 4, 1994.