A Finding Aid for the Committee on Instruction Records 1959-1978

Collection Summary

Collection Title: Committee on Instruction Records

Creator: Ferris State College. Division of Academic Affairs.

Dates: 1959-1978

Abstract: The Committee on Instruction advised the president on institutional policies and practices which affected the instructional programs. It was headed by the Vice President for Instruction/ Academic Affairs and membership included deans, the registrar, admissions and faculty representatives. Activities include the review of both curricula and policies.

Language: English

Quantity: 3.0 cubic feet; 2 records center boxes

Identification: UA 4.1.2

Repository: Ferris State University Archives and Records Management Program

Historical Note

The first mention of the Committee on Instruction in the available Ferris historical record is by President Victor Spathelf on 20 September 1956. He notes that along with a special committee, the Committee on Instruction was instrumental in providing orientation for new faculty members (Board Letters 1956-1957, p. 38). The committee at that time consisted primarily of instructional deans and appears not to be a new committee.

The committee served to advise the President on academic policy and programmatic issues. It predated the faculty advisory board RFAC (created in 1958) and the later Educational Planning Committee (created in 1970). This committee during the early sixties was headed by the Vice President for Instruction (later the Vice President for Academic Affairs), with an appointed membership. Members included instructional deans, the registrar, admissions, and assistant vice-presidents from Academic Affairs. Faculty representatives were nonvoting members. The registrar served as secretary for the organization.

The committee meet usually on a bi-weekly basis, and continued to have meetings during the summer. Typical meetings included reviews of curriculum proposals, programmatic changes, admissions, class scheduling, student registration policies and a wide variety of special topics such as academic probation or commencement. Curricula topic could be as small as a change in credit hours, or a revision of an entire program such as pharmacy. In the early years, student overloads were approved by this body as well as transfer credits.

In 1977, President Robert Ewigleben created a committee chaired by Thomas Cook, entitled the Committee on Instruction Subcommittee, to determine the best direction for the committee. At that time, the committee became the Academic Affairs Council, reporting to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs.

Scope and Content Note

The Committee on Instruction served as an advisory committee to the President on matters relating to academics. These matters included both policies and program evaluation.

This collection consists of materials found in various other archival collections, including records from the Academic Affairs office, miscellaneous boxes and the Representative Faculty Advisory Council (the RFAC had a non-voting seat on the committee). The collection is most complete for the 1965-1978 period, although some minutes date back to 1959.

The majority of the collection consists of meeting packets. A typical packet includes an agenda, and supporting documents for agenda items including course proposals, correspondence, and outside reports. For some meetings, only an agenda was available and that was filed separately.

In 1970, the Educational Planning Committee (an elected faculty body) was created as an advisory board to the Representative Faculty Advisory council which had an almost identical purpose to the Committee on Instruction. However, administrators never had voting rights or full membership.

The Committee on Instruction was dissolved and reconfigured in 1978 as an advisory board to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs (rather than a direct committee under the jurisdiction of the President's office).

Arrangement

The papers are divided into a single series.

Access Information

Conditions of Access

The Committee on Instruction Records are open for research to all users in accordance with University Archives and Records Management access policies. It is available in the reading room of the Ferris State University Archives.

Conditions of Use

Requests for permission to publish material should be directed to the University Archivist. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.

Copyright interests for this collection have been transferred to Ferris State University. For more information, contact the University Archivist.

Subject Headings

Below are a list of names, organizations and subjects relating to the collection. Names have been taken from Library of Congress Authority headings whenever possible.

• Curriculum planning
• Ferris Institute (Big Rapids, Mich.)- History- 1959-1963
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- Curricula
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- Committee on Instruction
• Ferris State College (Big Rapids, Mich.)- History- 1963-1978
• Instructional systems- Design
• Universities and colleges-Michigan-Curricula

Related Materials

Educational Planning Committee Records (UA 31.2.1)

Administrative Information

Citations

Footnotes and bibliographic references should use the following format:
[Item], Folder, Box. Committee on Instruction Records. Ferris State University Archives. Big Rapids, Michigan.

Provenance (Acquisition Information)

These records were donated in several segments by various offices and individuals. Most of the meeting packets were donated by Glendon Hynes, a former Representative Faculty Advisory Council official in 1991. Other materials in the collection were donated by Allen Puterbaugh and the Academic Affairs office at an undetermined date prior to January 1980. An additional two boxes of records belonging to Mahlon Herrick, Registrar and secretary for the Committee on Instruction was discovered in August 2006.

Processing Information

The Committee on Instruction Records were processed to the folder level by Melinda McMartin Isler in April 2006. After additional materials were located in August 2006, the collection was substantially increased (it went from 0.8 cubic feet to 3.0 cubic feet). The types of materials added were more minutes and meeting packets. Copies were also replaced within the collection when the official secretary's version was available. An additional addition of records was processed by Caitlin Hutchinson in April 2009. A finding aid was prepared in a word processing format and converted to EAD 2.0 utilizing the Archivist Toolkit. A collection level MARC-21 record was prepared and placed in the library online public access catalog. Description based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 2004).

Technical Requirements

This collection consists of typed and handwritten papers. There is no specialized software required for viewing.

Content Listing

Series 1. Subject Files. 1959-1978.

This series consists of approximately 3.0 cubic feet of records. This series consists primarily of the minutes and meeting packets (1965-1978) for the Committee. There are a few other records including correspondence, reports and a subcommittee concerning the future role of curricular development at the institution.

These records are arranged alphabetically by subject title and chronologically within titles.

Box	Folder	Contents
1	1	Advanced Planning Policy. 1970.
1	2	Agendas. 28 March 1973- 29 June 1977.
1	3	Correspondence; reports.
1	4	Dissolution. February 1978.
1	5	Meeting packet. 7 July 1960.
1	6	Meeting packet. 25 July 1960.
1	7	Meeting packet. 28 July 1960.
1	8	Meeting packet. 12 January 1961.
1	9	Meeting packet. 18 January 1961.
1	10	Meeting packet. 15 February 1961.
1	11	Meeting packet. 1 March 1961.
1	12	Meeting packet. 9 March 1961.
1	13	Meeting packet. 25 August 1961.
1	14	Meeting packet. 29 March 1962.
1	15	Meeting packet. 4 April 1962.
1	16	Meeting packet. 9 May 1962.
1	17	Meeting packet. 1 June 1962.
1	18	Meeting packet. 7 June 1962.
1	19	Meeting packet. 11 July 1962.
1	20	Meeting packet. 28 August 1962.
1	21	Meeting packet. 14 January 1963.
1	22	Meeting packet. 8 March 1963.
1	23	Meeting packet. 14 July 1964.
1	24	Meeting packet. 25 August 1965.
1	25	Meeting packet. 20 December 1965.
1	26	Meeting packet. 22 December 1965.
1	27	Meeting packet. 24 January 1966.
1	28	Meeting packet. 1 June 1966.
1	29	Meeting packet. 8 December 1966.
1	30	Meeting packet. 22 December 1966.
1	31	Meeting packet. 8 February 1967.
1	32	Meeting packet. 24 March 1967.
1	33	Meeting packet. 26 April 1967.
1	34	Meeting packet. 15 May 1967.
1	35	Meeting packet. 17 May 1967.
1	36	Meeting packet. 31 May 1967.
1	37	Meeting packet. 30 June 1967.
1	38	Meeting packet. 12 July 1967.
1	39	Meeting packet. 19 July 1967.
1	40	Meeting packet. 9 August 1967.
1	41	Meeting packet. 23 August 1967.
1	42	Meeting packet. 30 August 1967.
1	43	Meeting packet. 6 September 1967.
1	44	Meeting packet. 27 September 1967.
1	45	Meeting packet. 29 September 1967.
1	46	Meeting packet. 4 October 1967.
1	47	Meeting packet. 25 October 1967.
1	48	Meeting packet. 15 November 1967.
1	49	Meeting packet. 21 November 1967.
1	50	Meeting packet. 17 January 1968.
1	51	Meeting packet. 31 January 1968.
1	52	Meeting packet. 13 February 1968.
1	53	Meeting packet. 13 March 1968.
1	54	Meeting packet. 20 March 1968.
1	55	Meeting packet. 3 April 1968.
1	56	Meeting packet. 24 April 1968.
1	57	Meeting packet. 17 July 1968.
1	58	Meeting packet. 22 July 1968.
1	59	Meeting packet. 15 August 1968.
1	60	Meeting packet. 24 October 1968.
1	61	Meeting packet. 28 October 1968.
1	62	Meeting packet. 6 November 1968.
1	63	Meeting packet. 30 December 1968.
1	64	Meeting packet. 7 January 1969.
1	65	Meeting packet. 22 January 1969.
1	66	Meeting packet. 5 February 1969.
1	67	Meeting packet. 10 February 1969.
1	68	Meeting packet. 13 February 1969.
1	69	Meeting packet. 26 February 1969.
1	70	Meeting packet. 12 March 1969.
1	71	Meeting packet. 20 March 1969.
1	72	Meeting packet. 6 April 1969.
1	73	Meeting packet. 16 April 1969.
1	74	Meeting packet. 30 April 1969.
1	75	Meeting packet. 2 May 1969.
1	76	Meeting packet. 7 May 1969.
1	77	Meeting packet. 4 June 1969.
1	78	Meeting packet. 11 June 1969.
1	79	Meeting packet. 9 July 1969.
1	80	Meeting packet. 16 July 1969.
1	81	Meeting packet. 23 July 1969.
1	82	Meeting packet. 7 August 1969.
1	83	Meeting packet. 22 August 1969.
1	84	Meeting packet. 8 September 1969.
1	85	Meeting packet. 9 October 1969.
1	86	Meeting packet. 5 November 1969.
1	87	Meeting packet. 19 November 1969.
1	88	Meeting packet. 26 November 1969.
1	89	Meeting packet. 19 December 1969.
1	90	Meeting packet. 14 January 1970.
1	91	Meeting packet. 21 January 1970.
1	92	Meeting packet. 28 January 1970.
1	93	Meeting packet. 4 February 1970.
1	94	Meeting packet. 10 February 1970.
1	95	Meeting packet. 20 March 1970.
1	96	Meeting packet. 25 March 1970.
1	97	Meeting packet. 22 April 1970.
1	98	Meeting packet. 13 May 1970.
1	99	Meeting packet. 15 May 1970.
1	100	Meeting packet. 20 May 1970.
1	101	Meeting packet. 26 May 1970.
1	102	Meeting packet. 28 May 1970.
1	103	Meeting packet. 22 July 1970.
1	104	Meeting packet. 12 August 1970.
1	105	Meeting packet. 2 September 1970.
1	106	Meeting packet. 18 November 1970.
1	107	Meeting packet. 2 December 1970.
1	108	Meeting packet. 18 January 1971.
1	109	Meeting packet. 3 February 1971.
1	110	Meeting packet. 3 March 1971.
1	111	Meeting packet. 14 March 1971.
1	112	Meeting packet. 31 March 1971.
1	113	Meeting packet. 21 April 1971.
1	114	Meeting packet. 2 June 1971.
1	115	Meeting packet. 16 June 1971.
1	116	Meeting packet. 23 June 1971.
1	117	Meeting packet. 30 June 1971.
1	118	Meeting packet. 14 July 1971.
1	119	Meeting packet. 21 July 1971.
1	120	Meeting packet. 4 August 1971.
1	121	Meeting packet. 1 September 1971.
1	122	Meeting packet. 29 September 1971.
1	123	Meeting packet. 13 October 1971.
1	124	Meeting packet. 20 October 1971.
1	125	Meeting packet. 27 October 1971.
1	126	Meeting packet. 10 November 1971.
1	127	Meeting packet. 24 November 1971.
1	128	Meeting packet. 2 December 1971.
1	129	Meeting packet. 8 December 1971.
1	130	Meeting packet. 22 December 1971.
1	131	Meeting packet. 21 January 1972.
1	132	Meeting packet. 26 January 1972.
1	133	Meeting packet. 9 February 1972.
1	134	Meeting packet. 23 February 1972.
1	135	Meeting packet. 6 March 1972.
1	136	Meeting packet. 15 March 1972.
1	137	Meeting packet. 29 March 1972.
1	138	Meeting packet. 5 April 1972.
1	139	Meeting packet. 12 April 1972.
1	140	Meeting packet. 26 April 1972.
1	141	Meeting packet. 3 May 1972.
1	142	Meeting packet. 5 May 1972.
1	143	Meeting packet. 10 May 1972.
1	144	Meeting packet. 17 May 1972.
1	145	Meeting packet. 21 June 1972.
1	146	Meeting packet. 12 July 1972.
1	147	Meeting packet. 26 July 1972.
1	148	Meeting packet. 2 August 1972.
1	149	Meeting packet. 16 August 1972.
1	150	Meeting packet. 18 September 1972.
1	151	Meeting packet. 27 September 1972.
1	152	Meeting packet. 4 October 1972.
1	153	Meeting packet. 11 October 1972.
1	154	Meeting packet. 18 October 1972.
1	155	Meeting packet. 8 November 1972.
1	156	Meeting packet. 22 November 1972.
1	157	Meeting packet. 29 November 1972.
1	158	Meeting packet. 6 December 1972.
1	159	Meeting packet. 13 December 1972.
1	160	Meeting packet. 10 January 1973.
1	161	Meeting packet. 17 January 1973.
1	162	Meeting packet. 24 January 1973.
1	163	Meeting packet. 31 January 1973.
1	164	Meeting packet. 14 February 1973.
1	165	Meeting packet. 21 February 1973.
1	166	Meeting packet. 28 February 1973.
1	167	Meeting packet. 7 March 1973.

Box	Folder	Contents
2	1	Meeting packet. 14 March 1973.
2	2	Meeting packet. 19 March 1973.
2	3	Meeting packet. 28 March 1973.
2	4	Meeting packet. 4 April 1973.
2	5	Meeting packet. 16 May 1973.
2	6	Meeting packet. 23 May 1973.
2	7	Meeting packet. 13 June 1973.
2	8	Meeting packet. 21 June 1973.
2	9	Meeting packet. 27 June 1973.
2	10	Meeting packet. 11 July 1973.
2	11	Meeting packet. 18 July 1973.
2	12	Meeting packet. 8 August 1973.
2	13	Meeting packet. 17 August 1973.
2	14	Meeting packet. 24 August 1973.
2	15	Meeting packet. 19 September 1973.
2	16	Meeting packet. 26 September 1973.
2	17	Meeting packet. 3 October 1973.
2	18	Meeting packet. 10 October 1973.
2	19	Meeting packet. 24 October 1973.
2	20	Meeting packet. 31 October 1973.
2	21	Meeting packet. 14 November 1973.
2	22	Meeting packet. 21 November 1973.
2	23	Meeting packet. 5 December 1973.
2	24	Meeting packet. 12 December 1973.
2	25	Meeting packet. 19 December 1973.
2	26	Meeting packet. 30 January 1974.
2	27	Meeting packet. 6 February 1974.
2	28	Meeting packet. 6 March 1974.
2	29	Meeting packet. 13 March 1974.
2	30	Meeting packet. 27 March 1974.
2	31	Meeting packet. 3 April 1974.
2	32	Meeting packet. 17 April l974.
2	33	Meeting packet. 1 May 1974.
2	34	Meeting packet. 12 June 1974.
2	35	Meeting packet. 31 July 1974.
2	36	Meeting packet. 14 August 1974.
2	37	Meeting packet. 25 September 1974.
2	38	Meeting packet. 16 October 1974.
2	39	Meeting packet. 23 October 1974.
2	40	Meeting packet. 6 November 1974.
2	41	Meeting packet. 13 November 1974.
2	42	Meeting packet. 8 January 1975.
2	43	Meeting packet. 22 January 1975.
2	44	Meeting packet. 29 January 1975.
2	45	Meeting packet. 12 February 1975.
2	46	Meeting packet. 19 February 1975.
2	47	Meeting packet. 26 February 1975.
2	48	Meeting packet. 26 March 1975.
2	49	Meeting packet. 7 May 1975.
2	50	Meeting packet. 28 May 1975.
2	51	Meeting packet. 18 June 1975.
2	52	Meeting packet. 28 June 1975.
2	53	Meeting packet. 2 July 1975.
2	54	Meeting packet. 16 July 1975.
2	55	Meeting packet. 30 July 1975.
2	56	Meeting packet. 13 August 1975.
2	57	Meeting packet. 10 September 1975.
2	58	Meeting packet. 29 October 1975.
2	59	Meeting packet. 10 December 1975.
2	60	Meeting packet. 17 March 1976.
2	61	Meeting packet. 24 March 1976.
2	62	Meeting packet. 7 April 1976.
2	63	Meeting packet. 12 May 1976.
2	648	Meeting packet. 29 June 1976.
2	65	Meeting packet. 21 July 1976.
2	66	Meeting packet. 4 August 1976.
2	66	Meeting packet. 11 August 1976.
2	68	Meeting packet. 3 November 1976.
2	69	Meeting packet. 10 November 1976.
2	70	Meeting packet. 12 January 1977.
2	71	Meeting packet. 31 January 1977.
2	72	Meeting packet. 16 February 1977.
2	73	Meeting packet. 16 March 1977.
2	74	Meeting packet. 23 March 1977.
2	75	Meeting packet. 13 April 1977.
2	77	Meeting packet. 27 April 1977.
2	77	Meeting packet. 18 May 1977.
2	78	Meeting packet. 8 June 1977.
2	79	Meeting packet. 27 July 1977.
2	80	Meeting packet. 10 August 1977.
2	81	Meeting packet. 21 September 1977.
2	82	Meeting packet. 28 September 1977.
2	83	Meeting packet. 5 October 1977.
2	84	Meeting packet. 9 November 1977.
2	85	Meeting packet. 12 January 1978.
2	86	Meeting packet. 1 February 1978.
2	87	Meeting packet. 15 February 1978.
2	88	Minutes. January 1959-August 1965.
2	89	Minutes. September 1965-August 1967.
2	90	Minutes. September 1967-August 1969.
2	91	Minutes. September 1969-June 1971.
2	92	Minutes. July 1971-December 1972.
2	93	Minutes. January 1973-December 1973.
2	94	Minutes. January 1984-December 1976.
2	95	Minutes. January 1977-February 1978.
2	96	Nearprint. 1974-1978.
2	97	Proposal for Uniform Credit System. Report. June 1970.
2	98	Subcommittee on Program Change. 1967.
2	99	Subcommittee on the Role of Committees on Instruction. 1977.