Regional History Center University Archives Vice President and Provost Vice President and Provost Finding AidTitle: Vice President and Provost, 1939+
Predominant Dates:1939-2005
ID: RHC/UA/16/
Extent: 138.25 Linear Feet
Date Acquired: 00/00/1965
The records of the office of the Vice President and Provost fall into four series and document the evolution of the office from 1941 forward.
The first series, Administrative Papers, includes correspondence of the various officeholders and the records of the Council of Academic Deans (1959-1969). The most comprehensive files are those for Romeo M. Zulauf (1941-1957), J.R. Hainds (1957-1963), Francis R. Geigle (1963-1970), and John E. La Tourette (1979-1986).
Series two consists of the office's Financial Records (1952-1967) including internal budgets (1952-1967) and research grant proposals (1960-1969). Budget documents subsequent to the 1960's for the Academic Affairs Division are found in UA5, Office of Budget and Planning.
The third series, Academic Programs, provides excellent documentation on the growth of Northern from a small teachers college to a multi-purpose university (1951-2001). Types of records include departmental program proposals, curriculum changes, annual reports of the colleges and departments, planning documents, and an extensive file of departmental program reviews.
Selected personnel documents concerning Northern's faculty (1924-1980) comprise the fourth series. The bulk of the material consists of faculty manuals, staffing plans, reports of academic staff, and recommendations for salaries, promotion, and tenure.
In June 1996 two departmental name changes were made. The Department of Theatre Arts became the School of Theatre Arts and the Department of Human and Family Resources was renamed the School of Family, Consumer, and Nutrition Sciences.
As Northern grew over the years there was a continuing need to modernize the administrative structure of the institution. Until 1941 all the academic and non-academic units directly reported to the president. In September of 1941, with the approval of the Teachers College Boards, President Adams installed Romeo M. Zulauf as Northern's first Dean of the Faculty with direct responsibility for the activities of department heads. Since that time the office has undergone several changes in function and title: Dean of Instruction, 1953-1959; Vice President in Charge of Instruction, 1959-1961; and Academic Vice President, 1961-1963.
In 1963 the position of Academic Vice President was abolished and its duties merged with the Executive Vice President's, creating the position of Executive Vice President and Provost. Francis R. Geigle held this position from 1963-1969. Late in 1968 President Rhoten Smith decided to separate the two positions and, in September, 1969, Geigle became Executive Vice President while Richard C. Bowers became Vice President and Provost. Both men continued in these positions until they retired in the summer of 1974, Bowers in July and Geigle in August. James E. Heald succeeded Bowers as Acting Provost for one year beginning in July, 1974. Heald then returned to his position as Dean of the College of Education and was succeeded by Emory G. Evans who served as Acting Provost from July, 1975 until William R. Monat became Provost in 1976. With the resignation of President Nelson in February, 1978, Monat was appointed Acting President. In July, Monat's appointment as President became permanent and he appointed Wendell V. Harris Acting Provost in September, 1978. Harris had been Associate Provost since September, 1969. In June, 1979 Harris retired and President Monat appointed John E. La Tourette as Provost. La Tourette served in this position until 1984 when Northern's Board of Regents appointed him Acting President: Monat had left NIU to become Chancellor of the Board system. La Tourette served in a dual capacity until the Board hired Clyde Wingfield as President in July 1985, and then he returned to full time duty as Provost. When President Wingfield resigned in the spring of 1986, the Board named La Tourette President.
Dean James Norris (L.A.S.) served as Acting Provost (1986-1987) until President La Tourette named Kendall Baker, Dean of the Graduate School at Bowling Green State University, Provost in 1987. La Tourette had also come to NIU from the Graduate Dean's position at BGSU eight years earlier. Baker resigned in 1992 and longtime History Professor J. Carroll Moody took the position as Acting Provost: President John La Tourette made that appoint-ment permanent in the spring of 1994. Moody retired in 1999 and was succeeded by interim Executive Vice President and Provost Lynne M. Waldeland. J. Ivan Legg was named Executive Vice President and Provost during the spring of 2001. Following Legg’s retirement in April 2006, Raymond W. Alden was chosen for the position, beginning his duties on July 1, 2006.
Repository: Northern Illinois University
Access Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to the records.
Use Restrictions: Literary rights are dedicated to the public.
Acquisition Method: The University Archives acquired the records of the office of the Vice President and Provost in regular installments beginning in the mid-1960's.
