Rutgers University Vice Provost and Dean of the University (Albert E. Meder)

The Vice Provost and Dean of the University was a new position when Albert E. Meder assumed the title in July 1958. This position was one of several created in the anticipation that the next decade would bring an increase in the number of students attending Rutgers. The position evolved out of Meder's previous position of Dean of Administration and his status as a Vice Provost.

According to a job description of the postion, the Vice Provost and Dean of the University was responsible for "developing and formulating educational plans and programs for the future development of the University." (1) His primary duty was described as implementing the policy of forming the university departments into sections or faculties. This meant that he would be working to reduce a duplication in operation by departments for the same discipline at different colleges. For example, members of the English departments at the various colleges would be part of a larger universitywide "section." Many of his other job duties related to the operations of the sections and faculties. He was also expected to be aware of the activities of other universities and developments in the academic world, make recommendations regarding academic jurisdicional disputes. It was also expected that his office be a "clearinghouse for studies of the educational and research needs of Rutgers University and the State of New Jersey." (2) The position of Vice Provost and Dean of the University ceased to exist after Meder's retirement in 1968. Although many of the papers in this collection predate Meder's tenure as Vice Provost and Dean of the University, the diversity of topics and people reflected in Meder's papers from that time display the many responsibilities and obligations of this position.

Albert Eugene Meder was born March 19, 1903 in New York City. He was married to Janet Davis. He received his A.B. and A.M. degrees in mathematics from Columbia University in 1922 and 1923 respectively. He stayed at Columbia as a mathematics instructor from 1923 to 1926.

In 1926, Meder came to Rutgers as a Professor (instructor) of Mathematics at the New Jersey College for Women (later renamed Douglass). In 1929, he became assistant professor; he was made associate professor in 1932 and full professor in 1943.

Meder held several administrative positions at Rutgers. From 1932 to 1934 he was Acting Dean of the New Jersey College for Women (NJC). He was Chairman of the Committee on Admissions at NJC (1933-1944), and Secretary of the Rutgers Board of Trustees (1947-1953). In 1944, he entered the administration as Secretary of Rutgers University, a position he relinquished in 1950.

In 1945, Meder became the Dean of Administration for Rutgers University. His title became Dean of the University in 1948. As Dean of the University, Meder was responsible for overseeing many offices. In 1952, his title changed back to Dean of Administration, and some of his responsibilities changed as a result of a reorganization that followed a report by the management engineering firm of Cresap, McCormick, and Paget. In their report, the firm noted that the Dean of the University carried an "extremely excessive workload," (3) and suggested that some of these responsibilities be shifted to other positions. As Dean of Administration, Meder was responsible for "inaugurating and furthering a program of research with respect to University educational services." (4) He was responsible for university records, including faculty personnel records, student and alumni records, and for university publications. He was also given general supervision over university public functions. Meder was named to both the President's Cabinet and the "Provost's Cabinet" at this time and was made Vice Provost although this was not added to his formal title.

In 1958, Rutgers reorganized its administration in response to an anticipated increase in enrollment expected over the next decade. (5) During this time, Meder, who had been on leave in 1957 and 1958 to serve as executive director of the Commission on Mathematics, an agency of the College Entrance Examination Board, was made Vice Provost and Dean of the University. He remained at Rutgers in this capacity until his retirement in 1968.

After leaving Rutgers, Meder held several positions at academic institutions. He was named Executive director of the Lehigh Regional Consortium for Graduate Teacher Education in Bethlehem. He stayed active in the world of education.

In addition to his professional duties, Meder was Chair of the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the Middle States Association, of the Board of Trustees of Bloomfield College, and first chairperson of the Federation of Regional Accrediting Commissions of Higher Education. He served as Treasurer and Trustee of the American Mathematical Society, and as a Trustee of Union Junior College. He has been a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Pi Mu Epsilon. Fairleigh Dickinson recognized him with an honorary LL.D. in 1956, and Bloomfield College gave him an honorary L.H.D. in 1961. Meder died on December 3, 1998 in Vermont.

(1) See Job Description "Vice Provost and Dean of the University," April 1958. Records of the Vice Provost and Dean of the University (Albert E. Meder). (Box 20, Folder 7) Rutgers University, Special Collections and University Archives, New Brunswick, NJ (hereafter cited as SC/UA).

(2) See Job Description "Vice Provost and Dean of the University," April 1958. Records of the Vice Provost and Dean of the University (Albert E. Meder). (Box 20, Folder 7) SC/UA

(3) See Cresap, McCormick, and Paget. Administrative Survey, Rutgers University, (New York: Cresap, McCormick, and Paget), October 6, 1952 p. II-5, item 6. SC/UA

(4) See Faculty News-letter. "University Organization," July 1953 p. 483. SC/UA.

(5) See "Rutgers Makes 9 Staff Changes in Move Preparing for Expansion," New York Times . July 3, 1958, p. 27.

From the guide to the Inventory to the Records of the Rutgers University Office of Vice Provost and Dean of the University (Albert E. Meder), 1917-1968, (Rutgers University. Special Collections and University Archives)