Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VN K VOL. LXV No.."42 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COLUMBIA. S.C. 29208 January 28, 1974 Jon Dr. Thomas F. Jones wants to resign as USC president effective June 30, 1974. Jones, president since 1962, announced his intentions in a letter last week to T. Eston Marchant, USC Board of Trustees chairman. The 57-year-old educator said he plans to devote his future to teaching and learning research and to continue his 12-year association with the University and the people of South Carolina. "In a very real sense the purpose of my career as an educator has been set aside during my tenure as President. I am a teacher and I now ask to be relieved of my ad ministrative duties so I might give full time and thought to the teaching-learning processs," Jones said in the Jan. 24 letter to Marchant. Marchant praised Jones' record of service to the University saying "Dr. Jones has been an effective catalyst for change in South Carolina. One only has to look at the University and its graduates today to understand what this man has brought to South Carolina. I can understand his decision to want to get back to teaching and researching basic educational needs and am delighted that Dr. Jones has indicated his desire to stay in South Carolina and at the University." Marchant has called for an executive session of the Board of Trustees in Columbia Wednesday to consider Jones' request. As University president, Jones' emphasis has been on curriculum I es Asi 'I am a teacher ask that I be rel my administratih so I might give I and thought to' teaching and le process. Thom< development, with particular His stress in the area of creative the sct teaching and learning, special on six opportunities for honors students, on nin service to the state and graduate growtl studies. Jones Jones, a Tennessee native, came the sI to Carolina July 1, 1962 after than serving four years as head of the faciliti Purdue University School of buildii Engineering. preset (S To Res and I now eased fromr te duties Full time Fhe arning is F. Jones years at Carolina have seen projects in excess of $21 million iool grow from 7,295 students under design on the main campus. campuses to 26,342 students New facilities have been built at e campuses. The physical the Aiken, Conway and Lancaster i of the University under the Regional Campuses. New regional administration has changed campuses have been established in :yline of Columbia. More Allendale, Spartanburg, Sumter $60 million worth of new and Union, while the Florence es have been added, with Regional Campus has become a igs valued at $24 million four-year institution, Francis itly under construction and Marion College. 'The JoLn W e FFROM STAFF REPORTS USC President Thomas F. Jones decision to resign was met withE great deal of surprise amon adUnirionfwhilsh loec Re"It has been a fabulous o years," said Vice President foi Business Affairs Harold Brunton in relation to his association wit Jones. "I don't want it to end. The years have been just in credible." tc "I was looking forward ti anohe Precde ahoas BF.oe dcsontined Tese have ee wth great extaordinarypris ao gotancneteUniversity ficas "has eenhpdtgn a nfabu o andaneve sid Vie eidten rod. inTh resgation whicssocitomwit Sefectes "Iudn30a if tBoardd. Trustees ave coen justein 12-yea loknu forwardesta a notherst resdent hetd Bruto ader e tthe t eds of in oa. ign Since 1962, the University has met the needs of a changing state by expanding its curriculum to more than 140 programs of study and by making this education available statewide through in novative television classes, ex tension courses, wide-spread graduate classes, military base programs and the regional campus system. Doctoral degrees are offered in 23 areas compared to seven programs in 1962. In May, 1963, 71 graduate degrees were awarded by the University (no doctorates, 37 master's and 34 law) and ten years later, 756 advanced degrees were awarded---56 doctorates, 454 master's and 246 law degrees. Growth of academic offerings on the master's and bachelor's degree level has been great also with the University now offering master's degrees in 84 areas and 52 programs of study leading to the bachelor's degree. Under Jones' leadership the USC faculty has grown to over 1,200 with 581 on the Columbia campus holding the doctoral degree. Particularly distinguished departments of English, chemistry and history have been developed and the professional schools have developed phenomenally, both educationally and in service to the state. Accreditation of all professional schools within USC by their respective associations has been effected. The University's library collection has grown from (See JONES,Page 12) es Years ibulous' novative education as the reason for his decision. "He has become, in the past six months, extremely interested in University 101, a form of in novative teaching, and media arts," Brunton said. "Those two things can change the way education is taught. It would mean a world of change for academia." USC Provost William Patterson confirmed Brunton's opinions. "I have seen in the President a growing interest in the field of innovative education," Patterson said. "Hp wants to devote tull time to it." Patterson said the Board could follow one of three routes as a result of the resignation. First, it Scan either accept or reject Jones' rdecision. If it is accepted, the Board can then appoint an interim Spresident , or the most likely Spossibility, it could form a search - "mmittee to find1 a replacement while the interim official serves.