University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Quiver Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

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.students are what the University is all about. ’ ’ R.Guiles by barb cherry

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For a man who has but one semester left after 14 years as the top administrator. Chancellor Guiles reflected in an interview on his position as though he is satisfied with the university’s condition in respect to the past, present and future. I do think that there are logical reasons this university will remain very strong,” Guiles said. We have good foundations to make that possible. This institution in the last early decade believed there should be a comprehensive university. Oshkosh's location is ideal and has brought a highly qualified staff, he said. Guiles went on to say that after 14 years he hopes the future will bring on desireable changes by looking on it with a degree of nostalgia and hopes for the future. We have to look on things with hind sight, he mused. “We have to work along with other state developments which in turn changes the direction of the university’s development. The enrollment decline I feel is a result of other institutions offerings for the students, Guiles said. But I do think that there are more things to be enthusiastic about rather than disappointed in. Guiles then delved into what he saw as a positive and brighter future for the university. “We’re going to move into a direction of more tailor-made courses for the students, he said. “Individual needs will be serviced through much more flexibility. Guiles went on to say, There certainly will be changes. These changes in the programs offered and preferences to the students in career goals will bring about a shift. Some programs will need more faculty and others will decline in areas where ■■ student interest is declining. He kept emphasizing that the university would be less rigid with more flexibility towards the student choices. He perceived that if a major field did decline, many courses affected this change. “But if a curriculum didn't go towards the interest of the student we wouldn’t be helping anyone, Guiles stated. How far should we go towards the students’ interest or curriculum is the question. Our first commitment is to the curriculum of the students. Three influences Guiles saw to maintain a strong future for Oshkosh were programs for higher education responding to a greater number of people beyond typical college age, Oshkosh maintaining its graduate school as one of the two graduate centers, and a multi-interdisciplinary approach where teachers in different fielas would work together and plan new programs. At present Guiles has an indefinite agenda for his retirement. Given the good health we’ve (he and his wife) been given so far we can do things we haven’t done before, he said. He still intends to be active professionally but on a different basis. Travelling and plain relaxing are the two major aspects he is looking forward to in planning his retirement. “The fun of retirement is to plan one’s own agenda, he mused. After all, retirement is a unique experience—it only happens once. n Quiver