Humboldt State University - Sempervirens Yearbook (Arcata, CA)

Page 18 text:

OUR PRESIDENT Both students and faculty of Humboldt State College know well the friendliness and power of the personality of our school's president. Arthur S. Gist. Students, many of whom he knows by name, are familiar with President Gist's warm smile in the halls or in the coop. They appreciate his firmly held policy of hearty support and cooperation. without interference, o: student organizations and student government. The faculty is well able to attest to President Gist s application toward realization of the policies he so enthusiastically supports: smoothly running student-faculty realtionships. improvement of our campus and its facilities, and a general raising of Humboldt State’s standards. In return for his untiring efforts President Gist deserves the firm support of Humboldt State College. its students and faculty. ARTHUR S. GIST. President MR. MAURICE HICKLIN MR. HARRY E. GRIFFITH DR. ALBERT GRAVES DR. BURTON HENRY Oireelor of the Director of Elementary Education Director of Secondary Education Doan of Men Division of Language and Literature

Page 17 text:

ADMINISTRATION

Page 19 text:

A few days before our final deadline, we received word of the resignation of our president. Arthur S. Gist. Throughout his twenty years in office. President Gist has made his administration at Humboldt State College outstanding for the high degree of friendliness that he strived to maintain. Constantly promoting warm relations between students and faculty, he has maintained a general hands-off' policy in both student and faculty affairs: yet he has been responsible through his remarkable diplomacy and strength of character for a unique student-faculty relationship. The high degree of informality between instructors and students is a feature almost entirely lacking in other colleges of the nation. Ever-mindfu! of the welfare of the students. President Gist has sponsored both scholastic and social improvements. In the scholastic field, he has seen the 194 course offerings when he came in 1930 enlarged to 591 today: the bachelor degrees that were offered in three fields then are now available in twenty fields: any one of the eleven teaching credentials are now obtainable; the faculty has grown from twenty-seven to forty-seven, and the Tittle' college on the hill has really grown up. In 1948 Humboldt State College was granted permission to offer the general secondary credential to its students. In 1949 the college was authorized to confer the Master of Arts degree. Indicative of the success of the academic program is the enrollment increase from 399 when President Gist arrived at Humboldt State to over 100 per cent of that, or 738 students last year. And it was President Gist again who instigated the excellent counseling system so that each student might obtain guidance and advice relative to his chosen field from an appropriate faculty instructor in that department. There can bo no doubt that Arthur Gist loved his students—which is proven in the warmth and attention he has shown them. During the past war President Gist carried on an extended personal correspondence with every student or alumnus of Humboldt State Col'ege in the service of whom there was any record. He has always been vitally interested in the sports program carried out here. Even during his prolonged illness which kept him from his job several months last fall, he always had a radio at his side to keep him informed of the progress of his boys. For years he has attended all the games and practice sessions he possibly could. It won't be the same without that sturdy figure in the overcoat sitting on the bench. Ever prominent in the student co-op and in the halls of his college where he hod a never-foiling greeting of warmth and sincerity for all whom he met. President Gist stood for Humboldt State College, the friendly, warm-hearted college. Campus improvements have been another goal toward which President Gist has strived. The expansion of the physical facilities at the college have included tennis courts, the Redwood Bowl, a property building. nine classroom huts. Humboldt Village, and a health unit. It was largely through President Gist's efforts that funds were secured to acquire the site and structure of Nelson Hall, the only permanent dormitory at any state college in California. A master expansion program has been put into effect by President Gist and will include many new buildings and classrooms. Jenkins Hall, the new industrial arts building, has recently been completed.