Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

Page 16 text:

Accreditation is vital to a college and President Cunningham has zealously guarded this seal of approval. He points with pride to full recognition by national agencies. Administrative problems increase as a college grows. Enrollment rose to nearly 2,000 by the end of the first decade of the Cunningham era, then continued to spiral, reaching 5,469 in the fall of 1968, with 250 faculty members. ABOVE: Gov. Robert Docking and LOWER RIGHT: the State Board of Re- gents represent the relation of the State of Kansas to the college. ABOVE RIGHT: On the local level, the Pres- ident works with his little cabinet, Mrs. Dollie Thomas, his secretary; Dr. Richard Burnett, his administrative as- sistant. FAR RIGHT: The President ' s re- ception, rehearsal for commencement and the event itself represent the cul- mination of a year— another milestone for students and the college. 12

Page 15 text:

The Students ' President His interest in students is genuine. He seeks their friendship and acquaints himself with their problems. He has written uncounted numbers of letters of congratulation and sympathy, sharing bits of their lives. Perhaps their attitude toward him is best illus- trated by the student who remained after Com- mencement to tell him: President, I just want you to know what you have meant to me at Fort Hays State. Never have you failed to speak to me when you have seen me on campus nor to show an interest in me and my progress. Twice when I was at wit ' s end to know how to manage to stay in school, you encouraged me with assur- ance that ' somehow I could manage. ' I stayed in town to tell you how much I appreciate you. LEFT: Queen candidates waited the moment when the winner was announced and the President placed a crown on her head. ABOVE: An annual custom has been the pre- sentation of the President ' s Christmas Card Tree, bearing greetings from organizations.

Page 17 text:

He Measures the Task Like milestones, the college programs expand each year and at year ' s end the ceremonies of Commencement mark completion of another cycle. It ' s a time of pageantry and pomp, looking ahead and back and appraising the record. Man is a measure of all things, and his measure is judged by his peers. A former member of the Kansas Board of Re- gents has said, The head of a great college must be a benevolent despot, an autocrat. It is his personality, his qualities, his dreams that must shape to a large extent the future of an institution of higher learning.