Pacific Lutheran University - Saga Yearbook (Tacoma, WA)

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as teaching in a very definitely de- fined Christian environment. The byword of that day was education with a plus. Although the academic quality of the school was nowhere near what it is today, its church re- latedness and concomitant dedica- tion and support from persons both within and without the institution added a truly valid and continuingly useful dimension to the educational process. Administration in those days was nowhere near as complex as it is today. The President truly ran the institution with the as- sistance of the Dean. Decisions on nearly all matters whether large or small emanated from the desk of the President, and policies or proced- ures were largely unquestioned. Although some did say that this style was too autocratic or authoritarian, it was appropriate for its time in history, for the ties and simplicity of structure of the institution, and for maintaining good relations be- tween the institution and the or- ganized church. PRESENT AND FUTURE Time and the efforts of many dedicated individuals have worked tremendous changes in the physical appearance of the Pacific Lutheran campus. While the change from College to University status was at- tained well in advance of most of the current additions to the plant, it was only these additions which allowed the full implementation and realiza- tion of true University status. Ex- panding from a minute campus of only approximately five major build- ings to one of more than thirty beautiful and functional structures, the University has similarly experi- enced marked growth in its financial status. Its operating budget has in- creased from a figure which proba- bly did not even meet three-quar- ters of a million dollars in the late 1940's to a current level of more than eleven and one-half million dollars per annum. The increases in buildings and in operating funds have been made possible by careful long-range planning which has al- lowed for the development of an exceedingly beautiful campus. The landscaping, maintenance and planning for appropriate care of all of the physical aspects of the cam- pus have made it a place of beauty and attraction above lbut not in replacement ofj the splendor of its native setting. Commensurate with this in- crease in the size and capability of the campus there have been in- creases in the numbers of students. Now approximately 3,000 students. instead of just a few hundred, bene- fit from Pacific Lutheran University. Not only is the number of the stu- dents increased but the academic quality of the student has also been enhanced. In addition, there is a definite talthough as yet smalll trend toward having many students who are much older than the traditional post high school individual. Indeed, one of the growing roles for Pacific Lutheran in the future will be to serve the person in the middle decades of his or her life in seeking educational renewal. It appears that the students who live on campus are even more open, warm and friendly today than were those of many years ago. While the simple increase in numbers of students has inevitably tended to decrease some of the closeness that comes with the small family the general attitude among the students is still one of mutual respect and concern. Students seem much more aware of their external lnon-campusl world than before, and are very much in tune with cur- rent events. Their topics for discus- sion and concern then are not just local issues such as cost of tuition, the role of the Liberal Arts as versus preprofessional education or co-ed as opposed to segregated housing, but include much more pragmatic issues which derive from the ex- ternal world of day to day reality. In general, however, all of these concerns of students seem to be handled by students in appropriate fashion with enthusiasm and vigor and yet under the constraints of the channels which are appropriate both to the University and society. Academic Programs have de- veloped comensurate with the in- crease in student body and en- larged campus. While emphasis remains with the College of Arts and Sciences, strong schools have now developed in a number of prepro- fessional and professional areas. This is as it should be in a changing society. It also, however, poses a problem for the future in that the balance between traditional liberal arts education and preprofessional education must be determined.The faculty at Pacific Lutheran University have increased in numbers to ap- proximately 200, and with this in- crease there has come both a much greater diversity and depth of talent available to the students. While some would express concern that the faculty are less personally con- cerned with their students than they were two and one-half decades ago, it appears that the element of per- sonal concern and dedication to stu- dents still remains as the hallmark of the great majority of the instruction- al staff at the University. As would be expected with the increases that have occurred over time in all other areas, so also there have been en- largements in the administrative staff and the complexity of admini- stration. While the Office of the President remains the final author- ity, subject to the Board of Regents, the functions that were in the past accomplished by the President have largely been delegated to other line officers. This is as it must be. Chan- nels of communication through these line officers must, however, be open and freely accessible to stu- dents, faculty and staff. In addition, there must be horizontal communi- cation among all of those in admini- stration and vertical communication between administration and the many external constituencies of the University. The mission of Pacific Lutheran University remains most important for it must continue to develop its academic excellence while at the same time preserving the oppor- tunity to attain firstrate education in a Christian context. The precepts and doctrines of Christianity will give direction and meaning to the intellectual training that is available at the University and these precepts must continue to be emphasized by all. The University in its Christian role is not simply a place to se- quester individuals from a secular world for a period of four years. Rather, it is a place where indi- viduals can come to grips with the interaction between the knowledge of the world and the meaning, directions and validity of this knowl- edge which derive from Christianity. The juxtaposition of Christianity and the best academics provides the student with the opportunity to do more than simply be educated. He can emerge educated with a pur- pose and a commitment toward service to God and his fellowmen that will set him apart from col- leagues who have not had such an opportunity. For the future, then it will be most important for Pacific Lutheran University to maintain and further develop the interaction be- tween Christianity and the best of man's learning and attainment in all fields of human endeavor. Only by studying and understanding this interaction can students be best pre- pared forthe life of tomorrow.

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