University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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President Flawn Urges Excellence When he took office as the University ' s 22nd President September 1, Peter T. Flawn pledged to lead a war on mediocrity to help the Univer- sity meet its goals of excellence and of being a first-rate institution. He urged increasing general educational requirements for undergraduate stu- dents, fighting grade inflation, eliminating ef fortless courses and providing financial incentives for University staff. In April, Flawn said he felt reasonably satisfied with the accomplish- ments of his first seven months. The administration has settled in well and relationships with the principal constituents of the University the students, faculty, deans, alumni and the UT System are good, produc- tive, working relationships, Flawn said. A University Council committee was reviewing his proposals concerning educational requirements and aca- demic standards, and the committee responsible for planning the Universi- ty ' s Centennial celebration in 1983 had just produced its four-month report. The number of top scholars entering the University was increasing and the award of the nation ' s major fusion center to the University provided a big boost to research and f undraising. There was also internally a good mood on campus, Flawn said. But the University is a community and it takes a community effort. One of the greatest problems facing the University was the affect of inflation on faculty and staff salaries and the operating costs of the Univer- sity, Flawn said. However, a package to be presented to the Legislature next session would provide significant cost-of-living salary increases and merit raises including a catch-up provision, he added. The University also has boosted its efforts to develop private support in the form of professorships and chairs, the number of which rose significantly in 1979-80. The need for reporting, complying and accounting thrust on the Univer- sity by outside agencies, both state and federal, was a serious diversion of resources, Flawn said. The University files 20,000 reports a year with vari- ous agencies in addition to the paperwork involved in financial aid applica- tions, admissions applications and reports concerning research grants and contracts. Flawn added, The paper flow in this office is such that if you don ' t keep up with it, you drown. Consequently, Flawn ' s typical work day consists of a series of meetings, phone calls and lots of paperwork. Early mornings are reserved for reading or meeting with University vice presidents on urgent business, and Flawn meets at lunch with groups who want to discuss a particular subject with him. Meetings fill most afternoons, and Flawn often takes home a briefcase of papers to work on during the evening. Wednesday afternoons in the spring he taught a graduate seminar on mineral resources, which was a welcome relief from administrative pressures, he said. During his first six months in the job, Flawn stayed home to work at his desk, but next year he plans to delegate more operational responsibilities so he can do more work meeting with alumni and major donors to the Univer- sity to show its need for private support. Flawn has met with various stu- dent groups since he assumed the presidency, and he held three coffees with approximately 70 students each invited by random computer selection. Meeting with students picked that way means the students are speaking for themselves, Flawn said, and their concerns, which included problems with the libraries, friendly reception by administrators and the quality of teach- ing, have consistency. Flawn ' s major goals for the future include continuing his war on medi- ocrity by raising the quality of performance at the University. He used the president ' s discretionary funds in 1979-80 to award $500 prizes to 500 out- standing University faculty and staff members as one way of improving performances. The University is the way society insures its future, Flawn said. I would like to make the University of relatively easy access but I do want to require a high degree of excellence so the degree will be recogni- tion for the individual. Kathy Shwif I President Peter T Flawn 210 University President Peter Flawn

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Until the late 1960s, it was ignored, hidden behind closed doors, or timidly whispered about. The public remained woefully uninformed about this sensitive and tragic subject. But the shocking sta- tistics have emerged: this year over one million children will be abused or neglected in our country, and of these, more than 2,000 will die. Efforts to combat the problem and educate society have also emerged, even on the University campus. Created by federal legislation in 1974, the Resource Center for Child Abuse and Neglect is housed in the School of Social Work. Serving the surrounding five-state region, the center is one of a network of ten cen- ters across the country federally funded to facilitate the development of child abuse and neglect services. The Resource Center is not involved in actual treatment but rather performs a variety of supportive services. As an information library, the center maintains an extensive selection of printed and audiovisual mate- rials. Staff members arc involved in research and also work with advo- cacy groups in lobbying for child-oriented legislation. In addition, the center aids in implementing volunteer programs. Through various com- munity agencies, volunteers may help by babysitting or providing trans- portation. A new and increasingly popular program places an elderly person in a one-to-one situation with an abused child. Missy Webb Center Provides Support Services Staff members of che Resource Center spend hours researching to fight child abuse SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK A $1.2 million funding cut threatened jobs, student stipends and support services in the School of Social Work in September, and Dean W. Joseph Hcf fernan Jr. announced his resignation in January after faculty members asked University President Peter Rawn to review the dean ' s work The School of Social Work lost funding when a Congressional ceiling on Title XX of the Social Security Act, which authon cd spending for social service training, forced the Texas Department of Human Resources to cancel pan of its financial contract with the school. Thirty-four staff members lost their jobs with the school, but the students ' field work program remained essentially untouched, Heffeman said. The University provided $6 000 to keep eight field instructors employed until May The dean resigned effective May 31 because of a basic disa- greement with a portion of the faculty regarding future dirci tions of the school. Some faculty members questioned Heffcr nan ' s leadership ability and said he took an extremist attitude in emphasizing research The problems of the ' 60s and ' 70s arc very much with us, the challenge of being a social worker is as great, or perhaps greater, than it has ever been, Hcf fernan said He cmphasi cd that the schix.l was in a growth state with regard to quality ami was in the process of acquiring faculty and adding new classrooms Enrollment was 190 undergraduates and I HO graduate students. Dean VC ' Joseph Hcffcrrunjr School of Social Work - 209

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7 ' ' 1 ' st-ntt , P with the , Piting costs of the Uniia| wed to tkLegislituremJ ig aliry incrases md BoiJ nthefomidp ntlyinl9?9. wnng thrust on il, TOI serious diversion o ' ,000 reportsi yen itnv W in fininoil lid iff k nceming reseirdignnts his office is such fa if UK ojss i pitticulu subject wk s often tikes horaeibnefase jynesdiy items in tht ml resources, s. he siii nstivedhotttowkitte s.indneheldthreecdfea Knndorj computer selen ihcUnivea ' id 01 Vice Presidents Oversee University Five men served in six University vice president positions during y l 9- 80 while consultative committees appointed by University President Peter Flawn reviewed candidates to submit for selection of a vice president for academic affairs and a vice president dean of graduate studies. Dr. Gerhard Fonken served as both vice president for research and act- ing vice president for academic affairs. In the first capacity, he was respon- sible for organizational research units on campus, and he coordinated research equipment and sponsored projects. In the second. Fonken was in charge of all colleges and schools in the institution as well as libraries, the measurement and evaluation center, the center for teaching effectiveness and institutional studies. Fonken replaced Dr. Eldon Surton and Dr. William L. Hays, vice presi- dents for research and academic affairs under University- President Lorene Rogers, who resigned to resume teaching and research September 1. An organic chemist. Fonken joined the faculty in 1959 and served as assistant and executive assistant to Rogers in 19 ' ' . Dr. William D. Livingston replaced Dr. Irwin C. Lieb, who also resigned as vice president dean of graduate studies when Rogers left. His responsibilities were to oversee the graduate school, the University Press, publishing and the University Research Institute. Livingston, a professor of government and chairman of Comparative Studies, has taught at the University since 1949. He has served as the dean of the Graduate School, chairman of the Department of Government, vice chancellor for academic programs of the UT System and five terms as chairman of the Faculty 1 Senate. G. Charles Franklin became vice president for administrative services in the early fall. He managed the Equal Opportunity Employment Office, office of personnel services, employment relation planning services. Special Events Center, Texas Swim Center and Winedalc Inn. Formerly vice president for business affairs at the UT Health Science Center at Houston, Franklin also served as business manager at UT-Austin and vice president for business affairs at UT-San Antonio. Dr. Ronald Brown, vice president for administrative services in WS- 7 9. was reassigned to vice president for student affairs after Dr. James P. Duncan left to become executive assistant to UT System Chancellor E.D. Walker. Brown is in charge of all student services including the Dean of Students. Health Center, housing and food, intercollegiate athletics, recrea- tional sports and financial aid. Brown served five years as vice president for student affairs before he was appointed vice president of administrative services in W6. James H. Colvin remained vice president for business affairs during 19 7 9-80. He was responsible for the Budget Office, business management, data processing, the international auditorium and physical plant and the University Police Department. .1 Univers.t V,cc Presidents G. Charles Franklin. James H Colvin. Ronald M Brown. William S Livingston, and Gerhard J Fonken University Vice Presidents 21 1