Penn State University Archives
Penn State History
Significant
Events in the Development of
The Pennsylvania State University - 1970s
1970
- Renaissance Fund for disadvantaged students established.
- Behrend Campus expands offerings to four-year baccalaureate
programs.
- Seven students dismissed for campus disruption on recommendation
of Woodside Commission.
- Dr. John W. Oswald begins administration as thirteenth
President of the University on July 1.
1971
- Final issue of Faculty Bulletin (vol. 59, no. 11, September
10, 1971) published. To be succeeded by Intercom. First issue of Intercom,
September 23.
1972
- Dr. Russell E. Larson appointed provost of the University.
- Concept of University-operated bookstore approved by
trustees.
- Campus bus service inaugurated.
1973
- Affirmative Action Office opened.
- Behrend Commonwealth Campus designated Behrend College
of The Pennsylvania State University.
- Alumni Fellows Program established.
- Name of Ordnance Research Laboratory changed to Applied
Research Laboratory.
1974
- Division of undergraduate studies established.
- Woman elected chairman of the University Faculty Senate
for the first time (Dr. Helen I. Snyder, associate professor of educational
psychology).
- Program to name chairs, professorships and faculty fellows
established.
- Long-life rechargeable heart pacemaker developed at The
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with assistance of College of Engineering
personnel. Implanted in first patient, a 76-year-old Harrisburg woman.
1975
- Office of governmental affairs established as part of
the office of the President; position of vice president for public affairs
discontinued.
- University trademark policy adopted.
- President authorized by Board of Trustees to invite one
student and one faculty member to participate in board meetings.
- Alumni Vacation College initiated.
- President John W. Oswald assumes national presidency
of Association of American Universities.
- Trustees on July 19 authorized open meetings of the Board
of Trustees, starting with the September 20th meeting. Twenty-five visitors,
including representatives of news media, attended.
1976
- ** BICENTENNIAL EVENTS **
- "Be Glad Then America," with Sarah Caldwell, of the Opera
Company of Boston, presented February 6, 7 and 8 as a Penn State bicentennial
project. Composition written by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John
LaMontaine on commission of the Institute for the Arts and Humanistic
Studies.
- Faculty Club opened August 30, 1976.
- Dr. Edward D. Eddy, Jr., named provost, effective August
1, 1977.
- Penn State conferred 200,000th degree, August 28.
- Policy on confidentiality of student records, complying
with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, approved.
1977
- Faculty reject unionization in election held March 30-31
by Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Vote was: no representative,
1,712; Pennsylvania State University Professional Association -- PSEA-NEA
(PSUPA) 642; and American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
500.
- Five-year cyclical planning and budgeting process adopted
for Penn State.
1978
- Heart assist pump designed by interdisciplinary team
at Hershey and University Park can help save hundreds of lives of heart
surgery patients annually.
- Coal strike and resultant electric utility shortages
lead to lengthening of March term break by two weeks and shortened spring
term. Class action suit filed by students for refund.
- Pam Davis, psychology major from Philadelphia, first
graduate of Black Scholars program.
- King of Prussia Graduate Center moved to Radnor, redesignated
Radnor Center for Graduate Studies and Continuing Education.
- Expanded air commuter service to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
and Baltimore initiated at University Park Airport.
- Six-week strike by Teamsters' Local 8, representing Penn
State's technical services workers concluded with signing of three-year
contract. Expanded benefits including dental and vision insurance apply
throughout University.
1979
- University Scholars Program, initiated by Faculty Senate,
to coordinate existing honors programs and foster an increased level
of commitment to academic excellence in undergraduate programs.
- GO-60 program established providing free tuition for
credit classes and reduced tuition for correspondence courses for retired
persons 60 years of age or older.
- Benner Case challenging constitutionality of the composition
of the Board of Trustees, specifically the agricultural, industrial
and alumni trustees being illegal by virtue of denial of students' rights
to participate in selection, decided in favor of University by U.S.
District and Appellate courts.
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