Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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1965: Temple University Achieves State Status The Story Behind the Signing Outside, a stiff breeze was blowing and the temperature slowly crept into the upper 30's. The sun played games as shafts of light bounced off the capitol dome on this last day of November. Inside, underneath that dome and safe from the (hill. 100 men and women pressed closer to the long, dark wooden table in the middle of the Victorian-furnished room. Seated at the table were three leaders: one each in education, government and law. At exactly 1:50 p.m. the man in the middle reached over, picked up one of about 50 black ballpoint pens and started to affix his signature to a legal-looking document. And in that instant, the entire course and history ol an 81-ycar-old institution was changed. For the scene was taking place in Ifaiiisbmg on Nov. .HO. I%5, and Gov. William W. Scranton had begun to sign a bill transforming the school founded by a Baptist ministci into Temple University - of the Commonwealth System ol Higher Education. This was the climax — but it came as no surprise to those who had witnessed the consummate skill with A Pennsylvania student counts his money as tuition is reduced more than 50 percent. U which Temple officials had written the script. '1 he path towaid state-rclatcdncss taken by the nation's second largest private university was a long one. lull ol chutes and ladders. It could be traced with little difficulty back to the very founding of the University. Russell IT. Conwell was a Baptist pteachei in Philadelphia in 1881. One evening a young man asked his help to prepare loi the ministry. I)r. Conwell agreed and on the appointed night the young man and six of his friends came to get an education. Within a short lime, the gioup grew from seven to 5iM and staff and facilities were increased. In 1888 Temple College re ceived its charter. As lie stated in an often related and world famous speech. Dr. Conwell found Acres of Diamonds'' in Ins own back yard. He strongly believed that any young man or woman with the pro|»er determination and ambition should have the opportunity to get an education. The incteasing jxipulaiiiy of his “education foi all doctrine brought Temple an ever largo student body along with growing pains as officials looked around for classroom space. Governor Scranton starts to sign the bill making Temple state-related.

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Value exists in variety, learning in contrast.

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The new University constantly sought to fulfill Conwell’s credo of high |uality education at the lowest possible price. As early .is 1021 Dr. Gmtwcll offered to sell Temple to the Hoard of Education of Philadelphia. I he offer was never accepted. After being hit by the Depression anti World War II. the University administration seemed somewhat unsure of what path to follow. Some wanted to move to a suburban setting but the majority prevailed and in 1955 the University embarked on its multi-million dollar physical expansion program. Hut since the big decision had been made to follow in the Conwcllian tradition, it took herculean effotts just to remain abreast of the times. The post-war baby boom would soon be producing an unprecedented mint-bet of college-bound students. Construction costs were skyrocketing and the expansion program had to he curtailed. Tuition costs were also on the tisc, thus depriving many capable students o! a chance to get an education. It was in this atmosphere that a new idea began to take root among members nl the Hoard of Trustees. Why not have the University work closer with the state in a relationship which would be beneficial to both? fter much debate and consideration, action was initiated. In February. I IN I. the trustees sent to Gov. David Lawrence a Rationale for Aid to the University. This proposal once again cited the University's tradition of providing the highest quality education at the lowest cost. The proposal was a rcs] onse on the state level aimed at problems ol higher education in the Philadelphia area. The Governor’s office had asked each institution that was already receiving some funds from the state to indicate possible inter related policies which would be in the public interest. President Gladfelter and others are pensive while waiting to testify at the higher education hearings. The first jrositivc results came in 1962. President Gladfcltct asked the state to increase University appro-pi iatiems by at least 50 | cr cent. Gov. Lawrence rescinded by raising allocations SI.8 million. This enabled the University to reduce tuition for Pennsylvania undergraduates by SI00 while raising tuition for ottt-of-staters by si00. In return foi the aid increase, the Univeisity agreed to scat on its Board of Trustees six gubernatorial ap|x immenis and raise enrollment by 000. Gov. Lawrence also made it possible for such institutions .is the University to get full financing of its “The first positive results came in 1962.” buildings by the General State Authority. The construction pace quickened. Under Gov. William Scranton state aid continued to rise but not at a level sufficient to meet the University's needs. Also, the Governor was forced to put an end to free construction of Univeisity buildings and expansion was at a standstill. Because ol the pom financial situation students received the word in September, 1965, that tuition was being raised SI00.