University of Michigan. Assistant to the President.

The office of Assistant to the President was created by President Burton in 1921 in conjunction with a reorganization of the Board of Regents committee structure. The Regents had operated with a series of subcommittees overseeing individual colleges or units. Burton persuaded the regents to focus on broader issues facing the university as a whole. The board reshaped itself with committees on the budget, on salaries, promotion of research, student welfare, educational policies, libraries, and buildings and grounds.

One result of the restructuring was that the deans, without a designated central committee to report to and work with, were forced to report their needs and plans directly to the president. Burton insisted on hiring an assistant to help with the increased workload. Frank R. Robbins, professor of Greek, was appointed to the post and served under four presidents through 1953.

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