Monro to Resign July 1 as Dean of College; Glimp Will Be Recommended as Successor

NEW YORK, March 9--John U. Monro '34 will resign as Dean of Harvard College July 1 to become director of freshman studies at Miles College, Birmingham, Ala.

President Pusey will recommend Fred L. Glimp '50, Dean of admissions and financial aid, to the overseers Monday as Monro's successor.

Lucius H. Pitts, president of Miles, announced the appointment here today at a press conference and added that Monro will also serve as chairman of the faculty curriculum revision committee.

Ever since Pitts first asked Monro to visit Miles as a consultant on General Education in 1963, the 54 year old Harvard dean has devoted his summers to developing Miles's instructional program in writing for students who would be entering their freshman year of college.

His efforts have centered around the fact that Miles has a 25 per cent dropout rate each year because of inadequate high school training in basic skills. "I found that I was putting more and more time into Miles until I reached the point that I could not do that and continue at Harvard," Monro said. "I made my decision to leave last spring," he added, "and gave Harvard a year's notice to arrange for a successor. I couldn't be happier with the man who will be recommended to the overseers as my successor."

"My impression of the dean's office here is that after six or seven years it becomes a custodial position," said Monro. "This is a good time for a turnover to get a younger fellow with fresh ideas."

Monro has been Dean of the College for nine years. He first joined the Harvard administration after World War II as assistant counselor, and then counselor, for veterans at Harvard. In this position he helped advise some 9000 veterans returning to college under the G.I. Bill. At this time he also served as assistant to Provost Paul H. Buck.

In 1950 Monro became Director of the financial aid office. In this position he helped develop Harvard's student aid programs which combine scholarships with part-time work and correlate financial assistance with family need.

He was the founder and first chairman of the College Scholarship Service, in which about 200 colleges share financial data on student applications for aid.

During these years Monro taught General Education Ahf. He has been a proponent of extention of tutorials, freshman seminars, and a more flexible Gen Ed program. Since he became Dean in 1958, Monro has placed himself in the position as a spokesman for student ideas in Faculty meetings. "During the last few years," Dean Ford said Wednesday, "Monro's reports to the Faculty on student attitudes has provided an essential interpretation of what is the best and most responsible student opinion."

President Pusey remarked that the same characteristics which have led Monro to go to Miles have also made him "a great Dean of the College."

At today's press conference, Whitney B. Young, director of the National Urban League, said that "at a time when most of our academic liberals are more interested in self-determination 10,000 miles away than one mile down the block, the Dean of the greatest University in the world is making a significant sacrifice."

Monro's formal involvement with Miles began in 1964, when he prompted Jon Clifton '63 to organize and run a summer reading program for 10-year olds. Monro himself directed a pre-college English program in the summer of 1964 and then led a larger workshop of 300 students the next year. In 1966 he ran the whole summer program, including English, Math, and Upward Bound. At the same time he advised the Faculty at Miles on curriculum changes, and organized and recruited new staff.

Dean Monro and his wife will live on the Miles College campus.

Monro is a trustee of Phillips Academy and Tougaloo College in Mississippi, a former trustee of the College Entrance Examination board, the National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students. While Dean of the College, Monro has also served on the admissions board. "I plan to continue some kind of admissions work with Harvard while I am at Miles," he said.

HUC Officers

The Harvard Undergraduate Council has elected the following officers for the coming year: Daniel B. Magraw Jr. '68 of Winthrop House and St. Paul, Minn., president; Thomas S. Williamson Jr. '68 of Kirkland House and Piedmont, Calif., vice-president; and John D. Kelly '68 of Ediot House and Crookston, Minn., secretary-treasurer.