Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1950 [PAGE 1290]

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1282

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[June 22

With respect to the case of Professor Blodgett, it is clear: ( i ) That his academic freedom has not been impaired. (See the first part of my report.) (2) That differences in ideology between him and administrative officers, if they exist, are not involved. (See the second part of my report.) (3) That his responsibility for graduate teaching and research supervision had been reduced. ( I n view of the growth of the Department and of Professor Blodgett's major interest in textbooks and general economics, I would approve this change.) (4) That his salary has not been adversely affected by recent events. (This is shown by the following facts: Academic Year 1945

1946 1947 1048

Professor Salary $S,ooo

Blodgett

5,000 (adjusted to $5,800, 2/27/47) 7,000 7,250

1949 7,5oo 1950 7,800 (recommended by Dean Bowen) Professor Blodgett's Florida offer apparently was slightly higher, but not significantly so in view of dislocation expenses and a possible loss in retirement funds.) (5) That Professor Hagen probably erred in not sharing with the Executive Committee of the Department Professor Blodgett's first indication of an interest in going to the University of Florida. The word, "probably," is used advisedly here, as no doubt it was in the Report of the Fact-finding Committee. Normally there would be another opportunity for discussion when the Florida offer was clarified. When, as the Report states, "on May 4, Blodgett informed Hagen that he had received a definite offer from Florida and that he had accepted it," there was, in fact, no need to go further. At that time, Professor Blodgett had entered into a contract with the University of Florida, as was his privilege. Hence the subsequent staff meeting, while of interest, was not of consequence in the matter of retaining Professor Blodgett. Professor Blodgett was already under contract to serve elsewhere. (That is precisely what is meant by "accepting an offer.") The motion in the staff meeting, therefore, must have been somewhat involved, for it included the taking of steps to keep Professor Blodgett and a "note of censure" for Professor Hagen. It lost by a vote of 25-19. (6) That clarification is needed with respect to the duties of the chairman of a department. (The University Statutes say: " ( d ) In each department organized with a chairman, there shall be an executive committee composed of men of the rank of assistant professor or above, elected annually by the voting members of the department. The chairman of the department shall be ex-officio a member and the chairman of this committee. The chairman and the executive committee shall be responsible for the preparation of the budget and for such matters as may be delegated to them by the voting faculty of the department. In a department which has a voting faculty of five members or fewer the executive committee shall consist of all persons of the rank of assistant professor or above. " ( e ) In each department organized with a chairman, that officer shall be responsible for the formulation and execution of departmental policies and the execution of university and college policies in so far as they affect the department; he shall have power to act independently in such matters as are delegated to him by the executive committee; he shall report on the teaching and research of the department; he shall have general oversight of the work of students in the department; he shall collaborate with the executive committee in the preparation of the budget and be responsible for the expenditure of departmental funds for the purposes approved by the executive committee; he shall have general charge of departmental property; and he shall call and preside over all meetings of the department and of the executive committee. The chairman together with the executive committee shall be responsible for the organization of the work of the department, and for the quality and efficient progress of that work.