University of Texas at Arlington. Office of the President

Dr. Jack Royce Woolf was affiliated with The University of Texas at Arlington from 1957, when he became Dean of Engineering, until his retirement in 1989. He served as acting president from November, 1958 until February, 1960 and as president of the university from February 27, 1960 until his resignation from that position on August 31, 1968. During his term as president of the college, the school became a four-year college, graduate degree programs were instituted, and the school joined the University of Texas System, changing its name from Arlington State College to The University of Texas at Arlington.

Frank Harrison served as president of the University of Texas at Arlington from September 1968 to October 1972. His term was marked by student unrest generated by objections, primarily by African American students, to the school's Rebel theme. To end the dissension, Harrison recommended to the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System that "Rebels" be replaced by "Mavericks." This was instituted in June 1971. Harrison oversaw the university's transition from a four-year school to a graduate university. During his tenure as president, twenty-two master's degree programs were instituted and doctoral programs in engineering and psychology were begun. Buildings erected during Harrison's presidency were, Carlisle Hall, the Business/Life Science Building, University Hall, and Davis Hall.

Wendell Nedderman served as president of the University of Texas at Arlington from February 1974 to July 1992. It was a particularly interesting period in the history of UTA to quote Nedderman, "During my tenure in the President's chair, change has been the order of the day. A somewhat unique aspect of my tenure has been that associated with a relatively new, rapidly growing university whose role and scope has been in a constant state of evolution toward graduate programs and research as well as with other facets associated with a comprehensive, maturing university. Enrollment has increased from 13,500 in 1972, to 25,271 in 1991. Graduate student enrollment has increased from 936 to over 4,200. We have added twenty baccalaureate, twenty-three masters, and seventeen doctoral degree titles during the same period of time. Furthermore, a School of Architecture, a School of Nursing, and a Center for Professional Teacher Education have been added. The physical plant inventory shows some twenty new buildings or major additions to buildings."

He had served the University of Texas at Arlington in many capacities prior to his work as president. He was the first Dean of Engineering, a post he held, 1959-1969, while concurrently serving as vice president for Research and Graduate Affairs, 1967-1968, and as the Graduate School administrator, 1967-1969. He also was vice president for Academic Affairs, 1968-1972.

The University of Texas at Arlington underwent significant changes between the years of 1957 and 1973. Two presidential administrations spanned the 1957-1973 period. Enrollment figures had jumped from 4,926 in 1957 to over 14,000 by 1973. Prior to the college entering the UT system in 1965, it had been a part of the A&M system with the moniker of Arlington State College (ASC). Arlington State College was a state-supported junior college until the Texas Commission on Higher Education advanced ASC's application for senior status for the fall of 1959. The Texas legislature later authorized the change with Governor John Connally's signature of the bill on May 5, 1959.

In 1962 ASC dropped its segregationist policy by allowing African-American students into the college. The structure of the college was divided into two schools between 1959-1965: the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering. In 1965 the college divided the School of Arts and Sciences into three separate schools: the School of Liberal Arts, School of Business, and School of Science. Due to squabbles about money and status, ASC broke from the A&M system to join the UT system. Issues of dispute included A&M's reorganization that neglected ASC's requests to award graduate degrees as well as the system's reluctance to appropriate more revenue to accommodate a growing ASC enrollment. However, Dr. Jack Woolf, president of ASC at the time, was reluctant to leave the A&M system. The switch was authorized by Governor John Connally's signature on April 23, 1965. Also during this period social organizations and student clubs increased on campus, and their policies were administered by the Dean of Student Life office.

Jack Royce Woolf was an influential proponent in pushing ASC to senior level college. Woolf became president of Arlington State College in June of 1959. He previously had earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Texas A&M and his doctorate in engineering from Purdue. He later was appointed dean of the Engineering College of ASC in 1957. During Woolf's administration, he created the position of Dean of Students who oversaw student issues at the college. He also increased the size of faculty and pushed for an increase in pay and benefits for the college's faculty. Effective August 31, 1968, Woolf resigned as president and subsequently a search committee was organized to fill the vacancy.

On June 20, 1969, Frank Harrison officially became president of UT Arlington. In his short administration Harrison faced a number of controversial issues. Harrison's background consisted of earning his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Southern Methodist University, later getting his master's and doctoral degree at Northwestern University. The contentious issue of race relations surfaced with the changing of the University's traditional Rebel theme and symbols. He was proactive in expanding the size and quality of the University. He placed importance on increasing academic programs and finding faculty to teach in these programs. As associate dean of graduate studies at Southwestern Medical School in Dallas--part of the UT system--Harrison was directed by Chancellor Ransom to start up the graduate program at UT Arlington in 1966. Before becoming president of UT Arlington in 1968, Harrison had created six graduate departments. The graduate programs were approved by the Texas College and University Coordinating Board (formerly called the Texas Commission on Higher Education). As president he continued his agenda of increasing graduate programs. By 1973 Harrison oversaw the complete transference and elimination of associate degree programs. The style of management of Harrison's administration emphasized collaboration and public openness to the University's organization.