University of Iowa - Hawkeye Yearbook (Iowa City, IA)

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THE DEAN OF MEN 1HE office of Dean of Men is of fairly recent origin. It has come into existence because of the great number of varied problems in the life of a school the size of the University of Iowa. When the University was young the professors were personally acquainted with the students and a great amount of personal service work was not necessary. But now with the several thousand students that there are here, it is necessary to have someone who is trained for this work and who can devote full time to it. Hence, the Dean of Men. The title Dean of Men was not used at the University previous to 1913, when it was granted to Dr. F. C. Ensign, then Registrar. Any personal work done among the men was done by Dr. Ensign. His duties as Registrar, however, were so extensive that it was impossible for him to devote much time or effort to this other duty. At this time President John G. Bowman became convinced that as the University grew in size, it was quite necessary that machinery be established to keep in touch with the personal and social relations of the students as well as their academic training. With this thought in mind, he looked about for some institution where this work had been carried on and found that at the University of Illinois, where Thomas Arkle Clark held the position of Dean of Men, the work had progressed splendidly and was exercising a worth while influence on the lives of the students. This method appealed to President Bowman so strongly that he called Robert E. Rienow to the University to devote all his time to personal work among the men. He came as Assistant Professor in the Department of Education, but all his time was devoted to student relations under Dr. Ensign, who still retained his position as Registrar. His title was soon changed to Advisor of Men and later to Dean of Men. At the time that Dean Rienow came to the University there was no provision made for personal service by any of the colleges on the campus. A few delinquency Old Capitol, since its reconstruction, houses the main administra- tive offices of the Uni- versity. Said to be the most perfect piece of architecture in the middle west. Page Twenty-six

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ON July 1, 1909, the management and control of the State University of Iowa was assumed by the Iowa State Board of Education. This board consists of nine members, who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. Three of the members of the board were appointed for two years, three for four years and three for six years. Offices are maintained by the board at the state capitol, as well as at each of the institutions under the control of this board. The board is required to have four regular meetings each year and may hold additional ones on the call of the president or secretary. The state board of education is vested with the power to elect a president and treasurer for each of the institutions under its control, and professors, instructors, officers and employees; to fix the com- pensation to be paid to such officers and employees. It is the duty of this board to make rules and regulations for the government of these schools ; to manage and control the property belonging to these institutions, and to direct the expenditure of all appropriations the general assembly shall make to these schools. The finance committee, composed of three members, is chosen by the board from outside its own membership. The board appoints one of the members of the finance committee as chairman and one as secretary, and the secretary of board. The secretary has charge of the general offices and of all books and papers of the board. The members of this commission visit each of the institutions once a month and familiarize themselves with the work being done there. Page Twenty-five

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?K KOBKRT E. RlENOW Dean of Men reports were sent out from time to time and absence regu- lations did not require reports by the instructors. Little attention had been paid to group life. Practically no time had been found to look after rooming conditions or the health conditions of the students. The only assistance offered self-supporting students was that given by the Y. M. C. A. Since that period, that is during the past twelve years, the work of the office of Dean of Men has grown to very larg? proportions. So great is the amount of work that there is now a corps of four office assistants besides Air. Carl Morrow who is Assistant to the Dean. The office of the Dean of Men is in no way a disciplinary office. On the contrary, its purpose is to advise and assist the men students in the problems that are bound to come up in their college life. The Dean acts as advisor to Freshmen and Sophomores in the matter of registration. The office looks after attendance and investigates cases of repeated absence from classes. The office grants excuses for absence and looks after the academic work of the men students as a whole. It does a great work as an employment bureau, rinding jobs for those men who find it necessary to put themselves through school. The office also takes a general interest in student health and its relation to academic work. It attends to the administration of dormitory, fraternity, and other student groups and exercises a very great influence in the administration of social regulations. Dean Robert E. Ricnow was born at North McGregor, Iowa. He received his preliminary education in the schools of Marquette, Iowa, and Praire du Chien, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1894, receiving a B. A. degree. After his graduation from Wisconsin Dean Rienow taught in several High Schools and was Superintendent of Schools at Independence, Iowa, when he was called to the University. He is a member of Beta Theta Pi and of the Masonic order. Office of the Dean of Men, the guiding cen- ter of student campus life and activity. Dean Rienow has an active interest in every phase of campus problems concerned with men. n B Page Twenty-seven