Indiana University. Vice-President and Dean of the Faculties

Herman T. Briscoe was the first Dean of Faculties at Indiana University. The new position assumed some of the responsibilties once overseen by the university president.

The position of Dean of the Faculties was created at Indiana University in 1940 to assist the president in the academic administration of the university. After administrative re-organization in 1969, the dean came to report to the chancellor of the Bloomington campus, with responsibilities for faculty matters, including appointment, leaves, promotion and tenure, and grievances, and review of curricular and degree program proposals for the campus.

The Dean of the Faculties Office was created in May 1940 with the purpose of overseeing the administration of academic affairs. Previously these duties were performed by the President's Office. In creating this office, university president Herman B Wells hoped to distribute his duties, particularly during his absences, by giving the Dean of the Faculties responsibility for undertaking some of the public appearances, acting on academic problems and proposals, and serving as a member of all university faculty groups. Budget control was the primary responsibility assigned to the Dean of the Faculties. In this, the Dean controlled all academic budgets and played a key role in the development of annual budgets.

Herman Thompson Briscoe (1893-1960) earned the reputation as one of Indiana University’s most capable, talented, and valuable educators and administrators. Born in 1893, his long association with IU began in 1912 as a student. He went on to receive his A.B. in chemistry in 1917, his M.A. in 1923 and his PhD in 1924. He went on to remain at IU in various capacities within the Chemistry Department: Instructor in Chemistry, 1922- 24; Assistant Professor, 1924-26; Associate Professor, 1926-28; Professor, 1928-1960, and from 1938-1941 he served as chairman of the department.

Briscoe moved into University administration when he participated as secretary on the Self-Survey Committee appointed by President Wells. The report of this committee helped reorganize the university's administration. In 1939 President Wells created the Office of Student Guidance. He named Briscoe Director of Student Guidance as a Special Administrative Assistant to the President from 1939-1942, which he did simultaneously with his duties as Chemistry Department Chairman, 1938-1941. As part of his counseling duties, Briscoe travelled to the regional campuses and served as a member of committees concerning students such as the Committee for Residence Halls and the Scholarships and Student Aid Committee. In 1940 Briscoe was appointed the first Dean of the Faculties, his title one year later changing to Vice President and Dean of the Faculties.

In December 1942, Briscoe was called upon by Paul V. McNutt to serve with him on the War Manpower Commission, representing the institutions of higher education which hosted military training programs and had responsibility for postwar educational planning. By 1943 he was spending most of his time in Washington D.C., which prompted I.U. to appoint an acting Deans of the Faculties. In 1944 Briscoe was promoted to the Director of the War Manpower Training Bureau, a position he held until he retired in 1959.