The Eighth Tribe, 1977 (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1977-01-01 / 1. szám
January, 1977 THE EIGHTH TRIBE Page 3 Dr. I. S. Tuba: ACADEMIC NEWS Introducing DR. JOHN G. KEMENY John G. Kemeny, President of Dartmouth College, is a distinguished mathematician-philosopher, teacher, and pioneer in the development of computer time-sharing. A member of the Dartmouth Faculty since 1953, he was inaugurated thirteenth president of the 200- year-old institution on March 1, 1970, at the age of 43. President Kemeny is co-author of BASIC, a versatile computer language now widely used in timesharing systems. He is also a co-developer of the Dartmouth Time-Sharing System, a major “software” breakthrough facilitating the simultaneous use of the computer for educational purposes and research. As chairman of Dartmouth’s department of Mathematics from 1955 to 1967, he rebuilt the department into one nationally recognized for the distinction of its faculty. A man who draws deep satisfaction from teaching, Dr. Kemeny has continued since becoming president to teach two courses each academic year. In late 1971, less than two years after his appointment, he began guiding the College in implementation of the Trustees’ decision to adopt both coeducation and the Dartmouth Plan for year-round operation, which he described as a significant new venture in higher education. Both the Dartmouth Plan and coeducation were initiated in September, 1972, accompanied by a greatly expanded program of off-campus study for undergraduates. He has also initiated a program of continuing education in the liberal arts and sciences for business and professional persons and their spouses, known as the Dartmouth Institute, which opened for the first time in July, 1972. As a teaching president, he gives at least two courses each year ranging from experimental seminar on the utilization of the computer to meet human or social needs to honors mathematics courses. He has introduced several innovations in the important area of communications with students, alumni and faculty. For instance, he periodically holds a live radio press conference with the editors of four campus media. He has also set aside office hours each week reserved solely for students. Sensitive to alumni concerns, he periodically uses The Bulletin and the Alumni Magazine for personal messages to Dartmouth’s 36,000 alumni, and also makes himself available for question-and-answer sessions whenever there are significant numbers of alumni in Hanover, such as at home football games. In an effort to improve the capacity of the faculty to function effectively in the affairs of the College, President Kemeny instituted a study of the organization of the faculty decision-making structure, resulting among other changes in the creation of a General Faculty. At his request, faculty-administration groups have redesigned the budget reporting system for easier monitoring and forecasting, while also introducing greater use of Dartmouth’s computer capacities in dealing with administrative problems. These efforts were reinforced in *1971 by a study of the college’s administrative organization and practices by the consulting firm of Cresap, McCormick and Paget to assure not only current efficiency, but future effectiveness. Prior to becoming president, Dr. Kemeny served as chairman of the Foundations Committee of the Third Century Fund which achieved nearly $2-mil- Iion over the quota in the College’s $51-million capital gifts campaign in 1968-70. He was also the first i
