Brigham Young University - Banyan Yearbook (Provo, UT)

Page 32 text:

HKfttiiaiiir.j ' . ' : u . . ADMINISTRATION Dr. Ernest L. Wilkinson, President THE PAST YEAR JL | ineteen hundred and sixty-five was the year at BYU when a large portion of the University ' s destinies became realities. While the school will con- tinue to improve its facilities and grad- ually increase enrollment, the year marked a plateau of which many aspects have been in the planning stages for some 14 years. Newly opened for opera- tion were the new Wilkinson Center (comparable to a student union build- ing), five seven-story Deseret Dorms, the Harris Fine Arts Center, an exten- sion to the George Albert Smith Field- house, already the largest in the West- ern Athletic Conference, and the all steel 26,000 seat football stadium. Still under construction was the new Stephen L Richards Physical Education Build- ing, with four gyms, three swimming pools and many other useful facilities. It was in 1950, with the appoint- ment of a dynamic attorney-educator. Dr. Ernest L. Wilkinson, as President of Brigham Young University, that much of today ' s reality began. It has been under President Wilkinson that the BYU campus, faculty, studentbody, curriculum, and academic organization were integrated into one of the world ' s important universities. Eighty of the present 100 buildings of the spacious campus were built during his adminis- tration. Because of the great emphasis he placed on scholarship. President Wil- kinson was instrumental in completely revising the curriculum: the original five colleges were expanded into 12; an Air Force ROTC unit was organized; and the two year certificate and doc- toral programs were inaugurated. In January of 1964, Dr. Wilkinson re- signed his office at BYU to seek the Utah Senate nomination; a close defeat was followed by his reappointment as 28

Page 31 text:

Gordon B. Hinckley Joseph Fielding Smith 27

Page 33 text:

President in December, 1964. During the first semester of 1964-65, Dr. Earl C. Crockett, with a background in various fields of education, filled the office of Acting President. With ap- parent ease and confidence, he showed a keen insight into the problems of a progressive university, and with the reappointment of President Wilkinson, assumed his former duties as Academic Vice-President, a post newly created for him eight years ago. The title of Acting Chancellor was held by Dr. Harvey L. Taylor until the president ' s return. His duties consisted of over-seeing the Uni- fied Church School System and partici- pating as an active member of the Church Board of Education. His second semester post was that of Administrator of all Church schools except BYU. BYU ' s future has an even rosier tint. While the studentbody growth is intentionally being slowed down, there are tentative plans for a Life Science Building and an addition to the Jesse Knight Building. The principle of seek- ing out the best of faculty and students for the University will endure as fu- ture destinies become realities. Dr. Earl C. Crockett, Academic Vice-president Dr. Harvey L. Taylor, Church Schools Administrator H 29