University of Kentucky - Kentuckian Yearbook (Lexington, KY)

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President McVey 'R»X %AST June G°vernor Stanley appointed a joint committee of trustees and professors to recommend to the board a new president for the university. After much correspondence, consultations with educational authorities, and interviews with desirable men, the committee recommended to the h board Dr. Frank L. McVey, President of the University of North Dakota. On August 15 the Board of Trustees unanimously elected Dr. McVey to the presidency of the University of Kentucky. Dr. McVey is a native of Ohio, and celebrated his forty-eighth birthday Novem- ber 10. He attended the public schools of Toledo, Ohio, and Des Moines, Iowa; is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and later the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. He received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Yale, where he pursued graduate work for three years, specializing in Economics. Later he further pursued his studies in England, Dr. McVey has had educational experience as a teacher and director in high schools, normal schools, and universities. For a lime he was an instructor in history in Columbia University Teachers College; later was Professor of Economics at the Uni- versity of Minnesota. He resigned the professorship in the Minnesota institution to accept the Chairmanship of the Minnesota Tax Commission. His services in this position were notable, and the resulting law of such sound value as to be adopted or adapted by many other States, the basic principles of our own new tax law being taken from the Minne- sota law. Two years after his services on the Tax Commission, Dr. McVey was made Presi- dent of the University of North Dakota, which position he held until he resigned to accept the presidency of our own university. Dr. McVey was married in 1898 to Miss Mabel Moore Sawyer, a graduate of the University of Minnesota. They, with their three children, will make their home in the historic old Mulligan home, “Maxwelton,” which has been purchased by the university and is being extensively remodeled as a home for its president. Dr. McVey was in no sense a candidate for the position, having known nothing of the matter until he was sought out by the committee, and in a short time asked to accept the position. He had been President of the University of North Dakota for eight years, and during that time had transformed that institution from the small college type of State institution to one of intense and diverse activities, striving to fulfill its mission of service to all people of the State. He organized it into a smooth working, efficient institution, gained the good will of the people and the financial support of the State, and won for it recog- nition and respect from the educational world. He came to Kentucky, not because he was disappointed with his treatment and his results at North Dakota, but because he saw here greater possibilities for the future in this State of two and one-half million, with its vast natural resources just beginning to be developed. Dr. McVey is ideally qualified to take up his new work among us. He is a gen- tleman of unimpeachable character, of scholarly attainments, an author and authority in

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the field of Economics, experienced in the practical applying of theory, prominent in educational societies, interested not only in the classical and cultural work of the university, but also intensely interested in the newer fields of agricultural and mechanic arts. He is in the prime of life, with both mind and body trained to hard work, drilled to careful analysis of problems, and skilled in presenting convincingly the great cause of the univer- sity in its relation to the people of the State. It was not until the first of the year that Dr. McVey was able to come to the university and take up his duties permanently, having been in Washington preparing, for government use, a monograph on the Financial System of England. Dr. McVey’s wide knowledge of economics and finance and, in addition, the pursuit of his studies in England, fitted him peculiarly for this study. Although not here, Dr. McVey had assumed active control of the university, directing its activities and reforming its administration. The University of Kentucky has always worked under a great financial handicap. Money was the first thing that was needed. The buildings were out of repair, the heating plant was thoroughly inadequate, and every department suffered from lack of space, equip- ment and instructors. Circumstances had compelled a process of inbreeding in the uni- versity faculty, which tended to narrow its outlook and cramp development. The legis- lature convened in January and Dr. McVey laid out before it the facts as they were, and the immediate necessity of financial assistance. This necessity was planned to be met by a bill reapportioning the tax, in which more income was provided for the university. The bill passed, and the income of the university was practically doubled. Furthermore, it was through the instrumentality of Dr. McVey and the university interests that the bill accepting the provisions of the Smith-Hughes Act for Vocational Education, and the bill accepting the provisions of the Smith-Lever Act, providing for Extension Work, were made into laws. Two other bills directly affecting the university were also passed. Upon the recommendation of Dr. McVey and university authorities, a bill was passed reorganizing the Board of Trustees. The influence of the university was exerted through Dean Lafferty of the 'College of Law in securing the passage of the bill establishing a higher standard for admission of attorneys to the bar. These acts are great strides in the development of the university, and are more gratifying because of the awakening of the people of the State to the necessity of cen- tralized educational effort. Every college on the campus has felt the beneficial influence of an energetic and vigorous administration. The College of Agriculture and the Experiment Station have been greatly benefited by the appointment of Dr. Thomas Cooper as its new Dean and Director, and the preparation of plans for a temporary stock judging pavilion. Upon the granting of an indefinite leave of absence to Dr. Miller, Dean of the College of Arts and Science, Dr. Paul Boyd, head of the Department of Mathematics, was made Dean of the college. The Arts and Science College will in the future comprise the following new departments, Department of Art and Design, Department of Music, Department of Economics and Sociology, and Department of Bacteriology. Agricul- tural and Vocational Education are among the new courses offered. The Colleges of Mechanical and Electrical, and Civil Engineering, and the College of Mines and Metallurgy will probably be combined under a single administration, the Colleges of Engineering. Able professors and instructors of other universities will be added to their efficient faculties. The College of Law will profit by the addition of a professor and an instructor in in law. Dean Lafferty is greatly gratified by the success of his efforts in securing a (26)