Los Angeles Valley College - Crown Yearbook (Valley Glen, CA)

Page 69 text:

Its professor novv Teachers achieve Status The school year 1961-62 proved memorable to teachers as well as stu- dents, for at the beginning of the spring semester, Valley went into the academic ranking program. 4'Instructor was the official title for teachers in Los Angeles' seven junior colleges preceding February, 1962. At four-year colleges and uni- versities, instructor is a rank within itself-the lowest possible. Therefore, the following reasons were given by the Los Angeles Division of Extension and Higher Education for adopting the ranking system in the LA colleges: Establishment of academic rank would provide increased stature, greater community prestige and im- provement in personal welfare of the teaching staffs. Dr. Ernest W. Thacker, associate professor of history at Valley, was appointed by Dr. James E. Slosson, faculty president, to initiate steps for acceptance or rejection of the plan at Valley. Faculty president, Dr. James E. ' Slosson: Ranking enchances academic prestige of iunior college teachers. Dr. Thacker has been a member of the Committee of Academic Rank in the Affiliated College Faculty As- sociation for several years. The com- mittee studies details of ranking in other colleges and universities and helped set up the plan, which was approved by the Los Angeles Board of Education. Under the plan, all evening teach- ers are referred to as lecturer For the daytime program, the title instructor is given to a teacher when first hired. After three years of teaching and gaining tenure, he is able to apply for the position of as- sistant professor. Seven years' college teaching ex- perience, plus having earned '70 col- lege units, or after having earned a master's or doctor's degree, makes him eligible for the rank of associate professor. Criteria for the rank of professor, although not yet decided, will be de- termined by a committee consisting of Dr. Slosson, Dr. Thacker, and Pro- fessors George Hale, George Herrick, W. E. Jenks and Andrew Mason. The first time teachers will be granted the title of full professor will be Sep- tember, 1963. The history of academic ranking started in 1497 when Oxford Univer- sity first used the title Hprofessorf' In the next 400 years the titles mas- ter, doctor or Hprofessorl' were used synonymously when referring to a college or university teacher. Dr. Ernest W. Thacker spearheaded the movement which resulted in the new titles for iunior college teachers.

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Cooperation is the keynote of a successful school spirit It is easy lo see that work and fun can be combined. Ably assisting yell king Paflerson in keeping school spirif at its peak is Allan Bockal. Enlivening halftime al one of the football games are The high- kicking Monarchelles.

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f li 'H '11,-.,11r' r' , J, AL P. I it 11 5 -Lge ' . f , w 'ip' Vg self? ' in W NL? Jil: gn. I Dr. George Herrick, committee member on ranking, helped determine criteria for new ranking sysrem. PROFESSORS K continued j Ranking hits Valley The additional title of assistant professor was used at Yale Univer- sity in 1870. Sometime between 1900 and 1910, the present Widely accepted university hierarchy of titles was launched. Finally, after only 465 years, the tradition reached Valley in the spring semester of 1961-62. Sixty-nine teachers were made associate profes- sors, and 36 others were given the title assistant professor. Therefore, Va11ey's teachers now not only have the standards and abil- ities of university teachers but also are honored with the same titles. 5? was? .. ie W. E. Jenks: Ranking helps in publication George Hale, biology teacher: Ranking is of definite value to college teachers in applying for fellowship and grants.