Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1944 [PAGE 359]

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356

BOARD O F TRUSTEES

[May 24

Pathology, Bacteriology, and Public Health, and was continued as Head of the Department on his appointment to the deanship. This does not necessarily imply that such an administrative organization should be followed in *he future. It is desirable that the Dean be free of departmental responsibilities in the administration of the affairs of the College as a whole. There are a number of possibilities to be considered, and the first which now suggests itself is the appointment of some member of the present faculty to the deanship, a practice not uncommon in medical schools. Such a step would undoubtedly mean appointing one of the present department heads, but there is an increasing tendency on the part of universities having colleges of medicine to appoint as deans men who have had training and experience in the general field of medical education and administration rather than those whose backgrounds of training and professional experience have been in one of the medical specialties. It would be wasteful of medical manpower during the war to elevate someone to the deanship unless he were fully qualified to discharge both administrative and professional responsibilities. Moreover, the appointment of a department head would necessitate replacing him in the department and it would be very difficult during the war to secure satisfactory replacements in any important positions. Another possibility is to secure a competent dean from another institution, but this prospect is not encouraging. A number of institutions have been seeking deans of medical schools. Because of the requirements of the war situation and particularly as they affect medical schools, it is doubtful that the University would be justified in attempting to dislocate anyone who is needed elsewhere. The University now has on its faculty a man who is eminently qualified to take over the responsibilities of the deanship of the College of Medicine—Dr. Raymond B. Allen, Executive Dean of the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy. At present, a large part of his time is devoted to matters related directly to problems in the College of Medicine. This situation may suggest that if a separate individual is appointed to the deanship of the College of Medicine, Dean Allen would have more time for other activities. No doubt after the war there will be increasing opportunities for such other activities, particularly the development of the Medical Center program, but during the war they are necessarily limited. It seems to me, therefore, that the logical solution to our problem is the appointment of Doctor Allen as Dean of the College of Medicine, as well as Executive Dean of the three Colleges. T h e University Statutes provide that the dean of a college shall be elected biennially by the Board of Trustees on nomination of the President of the University, who shall have the advice of the Executive Committee of the faculty concerned. I have conferred with the heads of all departments and other staff members of the College of Medicine. All of them are of the opinion that the University should select Doctor Allen, for the duration of the war at least, as Dean of the College of Medicine. Deans Series and Marjerison both concur heartily in this proposal. As a result of these conferences and my study of this problem, I recommend the appointment of Dr. Raymond B. Allen as Executive Dean of the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmacy, and Dean of the College of Medicine for two years from September 1, 1943, at an annual salary of $13,000 for the combined positions. It is also understood that this dual arrangement will be reviewed before the end of the coming biennium and a specific recommendation made to the Board as to its continuance beyond September 1, 1945. Submitted herewith is an outline of Doctor Allen's training and experience and a list of his scientific publications.

On motion of Dr. Meyer, this appointment was made as recommended. The President of the Board appointed Dr. Meyer and Dr. Luken to notify Dean Allen of his appointment and to escort him to the room. Dr. Allen, on being introduced, indicated his acceptance of the Deanship. At this point, Dr. Meyer withdrew; and the Board concluded the executive session.