The Campus Chat (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 63, Ed. 1 Friday, August 2, 1968 Page: 2 of 4
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PAGE 2. EDITORIALS
Friday. August 2, 1968
Matthews Cautious, Regents Concerned on UT Plan
hditur'H note: North Tnia State
President J. 0. Matthews iiturd the
following statement after the Univer-
sity of Texas regents announced a
plan for a North Texan branch of the
University of Texan including the Uni-
versity of Texan at Arlington, South-
western Medical School and the South-
went Center for Advanced Studies.
One. We need to analyze the needs
of the residents of the greater Dallas-
Fort Worth metropolitan area and
evaluate new proposals in light of thoae
needs.
It in a good thing that some leaders
in the City of Dallas are now showing
a concern for the regional needs for
further development of public higher
education. Their sup|H>rt for a total
regional effort, as op|H>sed to a purely
municipal concept, is moat welcome.
All of us can agree to these ideas:
1. There is no questioning the fact
that graduate education development,
both public and private, is needed.
2. There is no questioning the fact
that metropolitan population gri*wth
and changing patterns of college at-
tendance require expansion of public
facilities for higher education.
The real iaaue at question is how
the metropolitan area can best be
served in the development of responses
to these needs. There is some danger
that tremendous growth to date is l>e-
ing loat sight •>f. The rise of outstand-
ing junior college systems has been a
welcome, long-needed response to the
expansion of opportunities for all. In
recent years, Dallas support for exist-
ing public institutions of higher edu-
cation has been heartening and help-
ful. Dallas support for a major expan-
sion of doctoral education helped lead
to the creation of the existing I'h. D.
programs at North Texas State Uni-
versity in biology, chemistry, physics
and business administration. The Coor-
dinating Board, created by the legisla-
ture in a wise move for the efficient
development of service to all Texas citi-
zens, has followed through by adding
Ph.D. programs in mathematics, Eng-
lish and history and a doctor of musical
arts degree.
The Coordinating Board emphasized
that the development of doctoral pro-
grams lies within the role and scope
of North Texas State University. Simi-
larly, Dallas and the rest of the metro-
politan area have been served well by
the other two metropolitan public in-
stitutions, Texas Woman's University
and the University of Texas at Arling-
ton. Although located outside of the
immediate metropolitan area, Kast Tex-
as State University has also rendered
valuable service,
In view of the impressive effort and
investment by Texans in the metropoli-
tan area to date all the junior col-
leges, along with the three existing
state-supported university campuses—
it is especially regrettable that the Uni-
versity of Texas regents utilized a move
in their own internal reorganization as
a means for creating a system within
their system as a "North Texas sys-
tem." It is unthinkable that the name
of this institution, North Texas State
University, should be pre-empted by
such a proposal. There is already in ex-
istence a North Texas State University,
so designated by the legislature and
given the role first by the Texas Com-
mission on Higher Education and more
recently by the Coordinating Board,
Texas College and University System.
There are already in existence three
other state university campuses in the
region giving major service to the
metropolitan area.
We believe Dallas citizens at this
point will want to ask themselves
several carefully considered questions:
1. Can we not obtain the best higher
education facilities through coopera-
tive endeavors of institutions already
located within the metropolitan area
and traditionally oriented to serving
its needs ?
2. Could we ever gain as much for a
subsystem of the University of Texas
under a "North Texas" university label
as we could by supporting the strong
efforts of our own regional universi-
ties ?
3. Can the urban population of Texas
best be served by efforts of the Uni-
versity of Texas system to establish
branch units in every major urban area
of «the state ?
4. Could not greater creativity and
flexibility in continued development of
programs to meet our needs be achieved
by existing institutions unburdened by
a bureaucratic hierarchy? Would not
the needs of a subsystem always be
studied with a conscious or unconscious
awareness of the needs of the parent
institution? It would be well to consider
that the independence of the existing
metropolitan area universities gives
them an initiative and a freedom of
movement that could never lie achieved
by a cumbersome system within a sys-
tem.
Two. We need to keep in mind the
goals of the state of Texas in develop-
ing consistent regional plans for high-
er education.
North Texas State University from
the beginning has enthusiastically en-
dorsed the action of the Texas Legis-
lature and the governor in establishing
the Coordinating Board. This was done,
in the words of the legislature, "to pro-
vide leadership and coordination for
the Texas higher education system, in-
stitutions and governing hoards, to the
end that the state of Texas may
achieve excellence for college educa-
tion of its youth through the efficient
and effective utilization and concentra-
tion of all available resources and the
elimination of costly duplication in pro-
gram offerings, faculties and physical
plants. *'
The conclusion seenw inescapable
that the North Texas region and its
fast-growing Dallas Kort Worth metro-
politan area can best attain this goal
for the state and for its own residents
through the utilisation of its own in-
stitutions within the scope of the Co-
ordinating Board, Texas College and
University System and not through a
North Texas subsystem of the Univer-
sity of Texas system and of the Texas
College and University System.
The zeal of one group of Dallas men
in seeking the improvement of higher
education is understandable. A thorough
public examination of the alternatives
will no doubt reveal more desirable
methods of reaching this goal. Institu-
tions close at hand and methods in
keeping with the aims of the legisla-
ture in the Higher Education Coordi-
nating Act of lytifi hold the key to
achieving this goal.
Subsystem Required?
l®i®
UT Program
Needs Study
The University of Texas regents, with their plan
for a four-limbe<i North Texas branch of the Uni-
versity of Texas system, have put forward a sound
theory, but it is a theory hampered by a program
that could lead to a bureaucratic monster if followed
in its present form.
That the region's educational needs be coordinated
to promote efficiency and preserve resources is in-
deed a worthwhile suggestion. However, the assump-
tion that this system should become a subsystem of
the University of Texas is questionable.
The expense, manpower and paperwork needed to
coordinate a subsystem of the University of Texas
system would seemingly warrant a separate regional
organization. Even more issues are involved.
There is a danger that existing educational facili-
ties in the North Texas area may be ignored at the ex-
pense of the already established institutions and tax-
payers.
The proposed complex would cover four institu-
tions. The University of Texas at Arlington, the
Southwestern Medical Center and the Southwest Cen-
ter for Advanced Studies are already established. The
fourth branch would be either a four-year institution
or a third- and fourth-year institution aimed at gradu-
ates of area junior colleges.
The weakness of this four-school organization
would lie in the fact that the three branches already
established are all technology oriented. UTA is known
best for its work in engineering, the medical center
provides medical training and the Southwest Center
for Advanced Studies originated as a graduate re-
search center.
To provide liberal arts education in the system,
such a program would have to> be started virtually
from scratch at one of the three existing branches or
at the planned fourth branch. This would present no
difficulties were it not that an abundance of liberal
arts universities already exist in the I)alIas-Fort
Worth area.
To ignore the foundations for advanced study at
NTSU in mathematics, English, music, biology, chem-
istry, physics or business administration in favor of
building a new foundation 30 miles away would seem
to be a wasteful duplication—especially at a time
when universities are hard pressed to keep up with
the growing number of students.
The chief response thus far of North Texas State
administrators, faculty members and regents has
been one of questioning. President Matthews has
posed a series of questions to North Texas area resi-
dents. The regents are concerned over the effect the
plan could have on area institutions.
Little has been made public on the system aside
from the original plan. Little mention has been made
of the types of programs to be offered.
The plan is still just that—a plan. It must, be acted
on by the Coordinating Board and the legislature. But
before it is endorsed by any group the questions that
have been posed should be answered and further study
should be made, involving not just the four institu-
tions but all area institutions.
Of specific concern to such a study should be the
litv nf s more inclusive system and the ad-
advisahit
h iJBtHih
tern to be run from
—Mel Tittle
1
tarr
GRAZIN' LM
6
0
0 .
%
$10 Million Facility
Regional System Ideas Include
Dallas Scholar Community'
When the University of Texas regents Foundation has agreed to organize a research organization designed to cre-
agreed last Friday to attempt to extend campaign to raise at least |3 million to ate a "community of scholars" by at-
another arm eastward from their al- construct and equip additional buildings trading top scholars to the North Texas
ready sprawling system they included on the 260-acre tract. area.
the Southwest Center for Advanced The faculty at the center consists of In January 19«7 its name was changed
Studies based in Piano. 378 scientists and scholars from 16 for- to Southwest Center for Advanced Stud-
The other three parts of the proposed eign countries and the United States. ies. It is among Texas' top five institu-
North Texas system would be the Uni- THE CENTER was founded in 1961 tions in the size of its research program
versity of Texas st Arlington, already as the Graduate Research Center of the with 90 major projects under way and
a member of the UT system; the South- Southwest. It wan billed as a nonprofit sponsored research exceeding $r> million,
western Medical Center, also an adjunct
of the University of Texas, and another _« .
lh" w°u"11">"10 """ The Campus Chat
THK PROPOSAL must still be acted
__ ... ., . ;_i_. , ., ,, ... hi*!. NT Station. Denton. Tnu 78101 Telephone: SH7-4ft 11. extension 8M
on by the legislature and the Coordinat- I'ACKMAKKR 8 TIMKM Soulhwetlern Journalism Coninu A 1.1. A M KltlCAN 49 t1mk8
ing Board of the Texas College and
University System. RANDY CAMERON, editor
If the proposal is approved, the South- r««* Editor. Kditoriab Hoard
west Center will carry to the UT ays- kathi bo yd new* stkvk iiavih. michahi. Hopkins, dave
tern approximately $10 million in land tittle editorial* smith
and facilities and about $700,000 yearly sahah scott imuummti
w.1, — A A .. I / ' HARDIE DAVIS .port* lliulneu Office
in research and development grants. MIKE Marsai.Is bu.i„« m.na.er
The centers land value is about hoto*rapher bl dunn hhkkky mr kef. circulation
$3,375,000. The building**, facilities and The Campua Chat, student ft wapftp«r of LJCTTKHM FROM READERS The Chut
equipment arc valued at $4,965,000, and T*but
• - .jjui _ i • . . , asitilwaekly (every Wninwdiy and Friday) th# right to Hit wh#r nec#«nary letters
an additional $1,200,000 in equipment durln* the Ion* terms September through must h* slvnsd Mall to: Boa NT
held under government contracts or %££?££*. XnVJXSV^
grants is for use at the center. r" ,t <,ul",n« ■"•*' examination period.
TBiNOdD OD . . . *B,, J/A\ Second rla po*ta*r paid at Den Ion, Teiaa
IRANSFER OF research contracts or , , , Jb/j9&*Xj
grants from the center to the University
of Texas system would involve mutual witorial atatemeata of U« Canpu* Chat wwaa Repnwnted by National Educational Ad-
ru* • the •pinion or student writers and vertlslng fierrtcsa
u':' ! ♦ <v «arlly that of the North Texas
In addition, the liiaduate Research sut* Administration. hijhhchii'TIon RATE M annuail
MATTHEWS: "We need to analyie . . ."
☆ ☆ ☆
The Regents Say...
By RANDY CAMERON
Chat Editor
At least two members of the North Texas Hoard of Regents
would like to take a closer look at the recent proposal sug■
genting that the North Texas area be included in the Uni-
versity of Texas system.
1 he two, Chairman Hen H. Wooten and Vice-chairman
E. C. Pannell. indicated to the I'hat Tuesday that a number
of questions needed to be answered concerning the U'l regents'
plans.
The following interview points out some of the questions
at> well as possible answers.
What it your reaction to the propotal by the UT regenti
that the North Texai area be included in the UT y tem?
Wooten : We need to know a lot more about it. What will
the cost be to the state? In other words, what is it going to
cost the taxpayers? How will this new research differ from
that being done in Austin?
Pannell: I am studying the plan and I'm sur« that all of
our regents (North Texas State) are. 1 don't know and I'm
not saying that the plan is meant to curtail our enrollment or
anything of that nature. 1 don't know the full import of the
plan yet, but I take the University of Texas regents at their
word when they say they have nothing like this in mind. Of
course 1 am strongly against curtailing our enrollment, but
it is a possibility at all state schools if the plan goes into
effect.
Do you think the reasoning behind the proposal is sound?
Wooten: If the new system goes into effect and is left for
graduate work and advanced research, it -would be understand
able. However, the history of the state institutions has been
for them to broaden out to cover everything, including liberal
arts.
Pannell: Our own institution is perfectly capable of hand-
ling any research in the area if we have the funds, and the
same is true of other existing state universities. Hut if there
is a need for these advanced programs and research aimed
at helping higher education that existing schools can't handle,
then I'm all for it.
If the proposal becomes a reality, what do you think it
will mean to North Texas State University?
Wooten: Of course that is difficult to say. Hut let me say
that a North Texas complex should be just that centered in
the North Texas area without dictation from Austin, or from
any other area for that matter.
Pannell: I'm not sure what It would mean at this point, but
I am sure that we can install any program that anyone else
can if we have the money.
WOOTEN PANNELL
No dictation from Auitin." "NT capable of research."
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Cameron, Randy. The Campus Chat (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 63, Ed. 1 Friday, August 2, 1968, newspaper, August 2, 1968; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth307429/m1/2/?q=%22~1%22~1: accessed July 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.