University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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Tennesseels leading educator, Dr. Andrew David Holt received his education primarily at Memphis State Teachers College, with con- tinuing work at Emory University in Atlanta, Peabody College in Nashville, and New York's Columbia University. Dr. Holt began his career as an elementary school teacher in Humboldt. He was then a high school visitor and supervisor in West Tennessee until becoming the executive secretary of the Tennessee Education Association in 1937. He was elected president of the National Education Association in 1949. Before the end ofhis NEA term, Dr. Holt was named administrative assis- tant to UT President C. E. Brehm. In 1953 he was appointed vice-president of the University; he became U T's sixteenth president in 1959. In the 10 years since Dr. Holt became presi- dent, enrollment has tripled and U T has grown into the 22nd largest university in the nation. The size of the Universityls faculty and staff has similarly increased, from 4,000 in 1959 to 9,200 in 1969. Under the Holt Administration, University expenditures for research have more than tripled; state funds have increased more than fourfold. With such accomplishments in his term of . office, Dr. Holt humbly gives the majority of credit to his staff. Speaking of his forthcoming retirement, Dr. Holt merely said, The Univer- sity of Tennessee deserves a younger presi- dent. VOLUNTEER: What do you see in the future of UT in the way of expansionv physical, geographic, academic, popula- tion, etc.? Dr. Holt: Our plans for the Knoxville camfius call for a leveling of enrollment at about 27,500 day students, compared with about 21,000 at the present time. Major enrollment growth within the Uni- versity system during the next few years will be at UTC and Martin with gradual growth at Knoxville. The Knoxville campus currently has enough space to construct buildings to accommodate 27,500 students because of the excellent planning of Vice President Boling and his staff. This campus will be confined to the area between Neyland Drive and Lake Avenue with married stu- dent housing located in surrounding areas. UTC will be a downtown urban campus while Martin is in a rural area and has tremendous space to expand. ANDY! VOLUNTEER: In View of your past ex- periences, do you have any suggestions for your successor concerning student in- terest in all phases of the University? Holt: Yes, he should have a staff and faculty members who seek and consider carefully student opinions, recommenda- tions, and suggestions. He should have an open door policy for students. He should encourage meaningful involvement of stu- dents within the maximum number of areas of the University. He should truly like students and should seek to under- stand their concerns. VOLUNTEER: One of these concerns that has been of major interest to stu- dents is seeking open hours for coeds. In View of the recent extension of open hours to sophomores, do you think it is conceivable that soon freshmen will have open hours, or that everybody will with- out a grade requirement or parental per- 20 mission? Holt: Thatis one thing that has baffled the systems staff, and I am a member of the systems staff. I think this is a problem that properly addresses itself to the var- ious campuses. What one campus does may not be a good thing for the other campuses. This is the kind of thing that would be determined on the respective campuses and by the appropriate authori- ties with student involvement and faculty involvement. VOLUNTEER: How do you think the open speaker policy, another of student concerns, is working now? Holt: I think it is working fine. Ihavenlt heard one word of criticism. I think that the committee has tried to secure a well- balanced array of speakers. This is very important. The students themselves, from all reports I have heard, welcome the dif- ferences of opinion and have conducted themselves like ladies and gentlemen; they have listened to what every speaker has had to say. I think that,s as it should be done. VOLUNTEER: Do you think it is worth all of the controversy it caused? Holt: Of course, you never know. This was a matter of major importance, not only to the students, but to the faculty as well; also to the public, to the parents and to everybody else. In these groups, there was some difference of opinion on the matter. I think that where such is the case, you should not be very deliberate in making a decision. I believe that is what happened on this campus. Although the court rendered its decision at the same time a committee had been appointed by the Board of Trustees to consider the same problem, I believe that the commit- tee tTrusteesi would have come to the same conclusion. There was no doubt about it. But itis working out very well as far as I am concerned.

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All students are at least indirectly related to each department of Student Affairs except the Student Counseling office, which is directed by Dr. R. L. Nash. The counseling center is staffed with four other professional psychologists, seven graduate students under supervision (all working on a doctorate degree), and three student assistants under supervision, all of whom are well-trained to help the student with any problem. Typical problems include midterm and final pressures, tension of going home to Mom and Dad, lack of confidence, marriage and quitting school. About 1000 students visit the center on an average of three times each during cycles between October and May. although the center is open all year. Several different approaches to these problems are taken. A student could find himself obtaining individual counseling, or he could be in a counter-group of about six people with two counselors. The center also helps residence hall assistants to relate to their floor residents and to listen effectively to their problems. In short, free help on problems is offered at 804 Volunteer Boulevard, and only one twenty-fifth of the student body takes advantage!

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VOLUNTEER: Do you think that there are enough students participating in the student speaker policy? Holt: Do you mean in the selection of Speakers? VOLUNTEER: No-in just going to hear the speakers. Holt: Well, Fll tell you. I think perhaps that the number of students who partici- pate will depend on the kind of speakers you get. If you get speakers that people want to hear, they will go. If you donit, they wonit go. I think this is something that you should always consider. If you get a speaker, and donit have many peo- ple to hear him, then it is fairly good evidence that you havenit gotten the right speaker. If you get the right speakers they will come. That is the way I feel about it. I donit think you can force students to go to hear speakers they donltwant to hear. But the committee is charged with the responsibility of selecting speakers; it should evaluate whether or not they are getting the kinds of speakers that stu- dents want to hear. VOLUNTEER: Do you feel that the atti- tudes of students have changed since you first took office? Were they faced with the same concerns and, if so, did they react in a similar way? Holt: I believe that students have changed their attitudes and concerns since I have been President of the University of Ten- nessee, even though an overwhelming majority of our students have always had one primary concern-the acquisition of the best possible education for a richer life and career development. Students have become more interested in the con- tent of courses, teaching methods, pol- icies involving their non-class activities, and social-political affairs external to the institution. This change can be a whole- some one so long as students direct their concerns through constructive efforts to bring about improvements. I feel that vir- tually all University of Tennesse students are working diligently for the enhance- ment of the University and fellow stu- dents. VOLUNTEER: Do you foresee student governing bodies becoming more influen- tial in administrative decisions concerning the student side of the University? Holt: It is my impression that students, through their student governing bodies, are already becoming influential in the decision-making process. Students now serve on the faculty senate; they partici- pate in committees which formulate and propose all types of policies and pro- cedures tspeakere policy, student rights and responsibilities, and student judicial bodiesl; they are members of a large num- 21 her of college and departmental com- mittees which influence curricula, and they are involved in the planning of stu- dent-related buildings. There is increasing contact among students, faculty and ad- ministrators. The Board of Trustees Committee on Student Affairs will in- volve student leaders in its discussions. I believe strongly that most decisions are made in committees and decision groups by reaching understanding and agreement. Hence, the student governing bodies will become even more influential as additional students are active at the level at which most decisions are made. It seems that faculty members and adminis- trators are committed to more student input. However, the ultimate source of authority and final decision maker is the Board of Trustees. VOLUNTEER: It might be said that the characteristic mode of the ttSixtiesll has been student involvement. What do you predict as the image of the University of the ItSeventiesT, Holt: 1 think it will have the same image of student involvement, faculty involve- ment, administrative involvement, Board involvement, legislative involvement, alumni involvement, and public involve- ment. I think that all facets of the people in the state should be involved. I hope they will be, and I believe they will be. The big problem, as I see it, for the next decade would be the same problem of this decade or any other decade, and that is trying to make certain that the Univer- sity is meeting the needs it is supposed to for a particular society at any particular stage in its development. And when civili- zation changes as rapidly as it is, we need to make changes in our educational pro- gram to meet the needs. I think that is in view of every decade and will be true in the next decade.