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

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VOLUNTEER: What are some of the goals that you set to accomplish in your term of Presidency? Do you feel that you have satisfactorily accomplished some or all of them? Holt: Well, I hesitate to say that Ihave accomplished any of them-satisfactorily at least. My primary goal was to enhance the standing of UT as a statewide institu- tion. This obligation has been realized through the establishment of the Univer- sity of Tennessee at Chattanooga, a stronger Nashville program, a significant enrollment increase at Martin, enrichment of the Medical Units, creation of the Space Institute, new programs at Oak Ridge, and a significant Center at Kings- port while continually improving and en- larging the Knoxville campus. In addition, many new academic programs hereefor- estry, communications, biomedical sci- ence, planning, and others-have been established. Another goal was to bring about qual- ittItive irrimpro'vements throughout UT. I believe that we have made headway even though considerable more money is need- ed to be successful. All colleges at the Medical Units are now accredited. The Knoxville campus obtained a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for its College of Liberal Arts. The library now has more than 1,000,000 volumes. UT is among the firstl 200 universities in the nation as a major research center. UT is one of the 20 largest graduate centers in the country. Faculty members are eminently well- qualified. The ability levels of students have risen significantly. Another objective was to put together a truly outstanding administrative staff, and this has been accomplished. A major goal was to meet the physical facility needs of a rapidly expanding stu- dent body and faculty. While state funds have not enabled the type of expansion we would like to see, the physical plant has grown tremendously in size and beau- ty. The value of the physical plant has grown from $61,954,941 in 1959 to $208,358,498 in 1969. Another goal was to insure that the institution served persons and organi- zations throughout the state that are not directly involved in the University. We are well on the way to meeting this ob- jective with MTAS, GILC, TIRAS, The Center for Career Development and Train- ing, and a strong centinuing education program. Naturally, our Agricultural Ex- tension Programs play a vital role in achieving this goal. The final goal was to achieve excel- lence in a well-balanced athletics pro- gram, and this has been done, as I am sure you will agree. VOLUNTEER: In view of your forth- coming retirement, do you have any per- sonal highlights you would like to share with the University community? Holt: All of the things that have hap- pened have been highlights as far as I am concerned, and the things that were hap- pening at the time were the most impor- tant of all of them, of course. Some of the highlights as I recall them were the establishment of the Pi Beta Kappa Chap- ter here, for which we have been working many years, and our acquired recogni- tion. I got a great thrill out of the estab- lishment of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga-rather the merger of the University of Chattanooga into the Uni- versity of Tennessee at Chattanooga. And the new Nashville centerithat is going to be a tremendously beautiful installa- tion-gave me a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. The system reorganization which was accomplished a year ago has been a source of satisfaction to me, andI think it ought to work well. We reorga- nized the Board, and I think this was needed;l got satisfaction out of that. One of the finest things that has happened to all higher education in Tennessee, as far as I am eoncerned, was the establishment of the Higher Education Commission, whose major purpose was to coordinate all of our higher education institutions and programs in the state and to arrive at a fair formula for distributing the money among all institutions of higher learning. We are fortunate in obtaining the services of an outstanding person, Dr. John Fol- ger, as executive director of the Commis- sion-the Commission itself is composed of truly outstanding and respected men and one lady. I think that the committee has gotten off to an excellent start. Then, 22 of course, I get great satisfaction out of the fact that of our three children, two have already graduated and one we are hoping will graduate next spring. Then, I have gotten a tremendous thrill out of the Pride of the Southland Band; everytime it has performed I have been so happy that they represent our institution. No matter how the games turned out in score, we always won at halftime! Then, UT Singers are among my favorites of all people. I like them individually, and I certainly like them as a group. They can really sing. And they have brought a great deal of recognition to this institution through their concerts at home and abroad. Of course I had a tremendous thrill when Mr. Clarence Brown, one of the most out- standing movie producers and directors of all time, decided that he would like to build us a theater. It was quite appropri- ate that we name it after him, and I think we will enjoy this through the years. Then the new approaches to student housing in the Presidential complex has brought us a great deal of publicity, and, as far as I know, it has been favorable. I know that a lot of people from other institutions have visited our campus to see our Presidential Complex and see how it was working. And then old Mc- Clung Tower won an architectural award, as you know, in New York City. I believe it was one of the three most beautiful school buildings constructed in the United States at Institutions of higher learning. That gave us a thrill, and the Extensions and Communication Building, in my way of thinking, deserves another award because it is a lovely building-and extremely functional. And of course, I have gotten a great thrill and tremendous satisfaction out of every athletics victory we have won, and I have even enjoyed the games that we have lost. I have gotten a big thrill out of all of them. All of the things that have happened since I have been here have been thrilling to me. VOLUNTEER: What are your plans for the future? Do you see further involve- ment in the university in the future? Holt: I am glad you asked that question because I have to do a little commercial- izing here. After retirement I shall hit the

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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.

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speech making circuit, giving speeches at conventions of all sorts all over the coun- try. And I hope I will get some invitations to Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Nassau. I have been doing some of this through the years, actually more than I should, but I have enjoyed it. Now I can devote full time to speeches out of the state, and if you happen to hear of any conventions which want to have a mediocre speaker and is willing to pay a modest fee, let me know about it. I shall continue to do everything I can for the University of Tennessee as well as for all of education in Tennessee. That is where I have spent my life and everytime I make a speech anywhere, I will be putting in a commer- cial for education in general and for the University of Tennessee in particular. And then too, I should certainly be at- tending all football games and concerts and anything else. Youlll see my homely mug everywhere I go to participate in all UT events. VOLUNTEER: How does it feel to have a 23 camera pointed at you all the time? Holt: You become oblivious to it after a while. You donlt pay much attention to it. Its according to the skill of the pho- tographer. If the photographer can go ahead and take his picture when youlve got the right pose, its all right. Instead, he can aggravate you to death, saying, uD0 this, do that? Theyjust donlt catch you when youlve got a natural grin on your face! -In terview conducted November 6, 1969.