Position Paper of the Consultants based on information from the Co-Institutional Study Committee and Visits to the Campus Continued
Auxiliary Enterprises: Would be operated centrally under an appropriate administrative officer.
Preparatory Schools: These, as long as they are operated, would be operated as a single system administered by a superintendent responsible to the academic vice president.
6. Each of the sponsoring Orders would convey land, funds and other resources to the new institution and would at the same time assume responsibility for a proportional share of existing debt. Further, each order would agree to a continuing contribution of services and funds at some agreed upon level. Interest of the two orders in the new institution would be safeguarded by the combined two-thirds membership on the Board of Trustees. Board of Trustees by-laws would be so developed that interest of the Orders would be further safeguarded.
7. Property chiefly used by each Order and could be excluded from grants made to the new institution, however, those facilities of that nature but essential to the collegiate program, such as the Abbey Church, would be covered by separate agreement with use considered either as part of the contribution of the Order or as a contracted service.
8. Separate corporations such as the FM radio station or the Center for Ecumenical Studies would be provided for by separate negotiation; probably each is so significant to the future of the combined institutions as an intellectual center that some organic relationship should be established. However, those details are beyond the scope of this report.
9. In order for the merger to be accomplished, several phase points are suggested.
June 1, 1968 - Creation of a curricular and faculty coordinating agency with power to review and approve programs, courses of study and new faculty appointments.
June 1, 1968 - Creation of a development and campus planning agency with power to review and revise existing plans of either campus.
June 1, 1968 - Appointment of a committee to recommend details of combining each administrative activity.
June I, 1968 - Appointment of legal counsel to study and recommend the details of the legal and fiscal merger.
October 1, 1968 to December, 1968 - Discussion and decision by the two Boards of Trustees, the Associate Boards of Trustees and the administration of the two Orders regarding all details and recommendations.
April 1, 1969 - Final decision and request for incorporation by the State.
April to July 1969 - Actual reorganization of the new institution according to decisions earlier reached.
If this merger is to accomplish what is expected of it, i.e., make the two institutions viable, as major effort must be made to make the educational program and intellectual climate vibrant and unique. The two resources of the Art Center for Ecumenical Studies might well become the focus. To this end, a committee should be created at once to develop programs, which will bring these facilities to the attention of the state and regional community. Festivals of the arts and conferences on theological studies are just examples of what might be attempted. This matter, however, is perhaps the most urgent of all.
1. Prepared by Lewis Mayhew, Stanford University, with assistance of Associate Consultants, Robert Hassenger and James Fischer.
2. See Appendix B.
3. See Appendix C
4. See Appendix D and E for these first long range projections.
5. A summary of a joint meeting of the Boards of Trustees is presented as Appendix F to indicate the tone of opinion.
APPENDIX A
Departmental Strengths and Weaknesses
Art, music, theater - entire operation in this area should be centered at Saint Benedict's partly because Saint John's hasn’t much by way of facilities. These three departments have worked well together, and there will be no duplication of courses beginning next fall, only slightly overlapping at present. There is a surprising amount of interest in art by some of the best students at SJU.
Art
Host of the basic drawing and painting should be. done at CSB. SJU is wise to abandon architecture, as they are with this class (1968). There should be some kind of gallery and a few workrooms on the SJU campus. Both art and music should have some presence there. The present head would like to see an artist in a resident studio as they have now. It also seems that there will be no room for sculpture at CSB. So it seems to me we will have to keep sculpture at SJU, and perhaps there are good reasons for keeping art history over there, or at least teaching it there off and on. Most of the basic courses ought to be at CSB.
Music
Music should also primarily be kept at CSB, although there are a number of complications. For one thing, the high school band uses the SJU practice rooms and some instruments. They in turn use some of the ROTC instruments which are Federal property. Further, the band which performs at the football games must practice on a field. So, there should probably be some practice rooms and offices at SJU, just as there should be art work rooms. Host of the courses of a theoretical sort could be taught at CSB, with the more applied things (band, chorus, etc.) at SJU. There is no longer an orchestra at CSB; they can now join the Saint John’s orchestra or band.
One problem with combining in this department is that there would be too many of some types, for example, piano teachers. There are six in music at CSB, four at Saint John's. There may be an extra or two in a single department. These two departments are awfully expensive to teach right now, so much so that Saint John's uses a few seniors to teach piano. Each place needs the great saving which can come from doubling up. There is simply no reason to have two courses in music theory, each with six students in them, or so.
Theatre
In theater, there is in effect a single department centered at Saint Benedict's, and no one seems to have any problem with this.
One of the curious things right now, however, is that a single department comprises Communication and theater, the former at SJU, the latter at CSB. There seem to be three sequences within each department: Public Address (SJU), Speech Education (both campuses), Theater (CSB). With Education located at CSB, we would probably be wise to keep the Public Address spread between the two schools, but center the rest at CSB. Except for the radio station, I see no reason why the whole thing could not be centered at CSB.
Economics
Economics is entirely at SJU now, with one Sister in the Department. She seems accepted, and willing enough to be there, so I see no problems for immediate merger.
Psychology
Psychology is entirely at Saint John's, with the exception of a couple of courses for people in Education at CSB (Learning, e.g.). It may be that this is one department which should be spread between the two campuses, particularly if Education is at CSB.
Education
Of all the SJU departments, this one seems the most eager to move everything over to CSB. The Chairman would have no problem stepping down. The Departments seem to fit together well, with SJU now concentrating entirely on secondary education, CSB on both elementary and secondary education." Ninety percent of the CSB students are involved somehow with the Education Department and it is one of the strongest at CSB. Thirty-two of 265 present Saint John's seniors are in the secondary education, with a couple more in elementary education, which they have been taking entirely at CSB.
One of the things CSB is concerned about is losing their NCATE accreditation, which they have had since 1964, and Saint John's does not have (they applied in 1959, before they were ready, and have not applied since they were turned down).
Sociology
Sociology is in effect a single department already, with two Sisters at SJU. There is no objection on either side to a joint department immediately, probably centered at SJU. This is perhaps the first department historically to have close cooperation, going back ten years. A merger might mean there is a person or two too many, but at least one (from SJU) is headed back to Graduate School in the Fall.
History
History will not be quite so easy, although there are no real antagonisms. There are two Sisters at CSB. Perhaps they could build to strength, and it does seem that there are several different focuses within Modern European History (German, Russian, etc.)
One of the problems in such areas as History and English is the two sets of requirements at the Colleges now: CSB's basic studies v. SJU's distribution requirements. It does seem to me that in a joint venture any SJU student who wants the basic studies approach will have to be able to take this, and the same goes for a girl wanting the distribution approach: I suspect that 80-90% of the men will prefer the distribution approach, and probably 70% of the women, the basic studies approach. And it does seem necessary to keep two approaches for now, since it would be demoralizing to CSB to abandon this basic studies after one year. And it would probably be too great an effect on individual Saint John's professors to force them into a basic studies mold.
There is a considerable overlap of courses now, although they are often of quite different enrollments, as far as size goes. A number of CSB people would fear losing things, either particular courses, or the chance to teach upper-classmen.
SJU tries to point their students toward Graduate School, while many at CSB are headed for secondary school teaching. There are a number of problems which would have to be worked out, such as the different semester lengths in some courses (one or two semesters required of, say, Nineteenth Century). And there is some duplicating of experts, in a joint Department, such as two people in Dante. Super-annotation would solve some of this problem. Several from the combined Department would be in their sixties or seventies. And SJU would like to reduce the sizes of some of their rhetoric and camp sections, which tend to have 70, compared to about 40 at CSB. Both senior groups recently took a cooperative English achievement test, and the girls did somewhat better. This makes it harder for SJU to accept the superiority they have been presuming. Merger can come off in this Department, but it may take a little longer than other departments.
Languages
Classics
Classics is not entirely at SJU, and declining in enrollments. Classics should be in a new combined language department (replacing the Modern Language presently existing in both places).
Spanish
Spanish is the largest concentration in languages at CSB. Faculty has not cooper8ted as much as the French and German people, however. This has been getting better in recent years. Saint John's orientation is more toward reading and the literature which the University of Minnesota will emphasize in Graduate School; the CSB people concentrate more on conversation.
There could be a single department and chairman immediately, with German and French concentrated at SJU, Spanish at CSB, for now. CSB has 25 language stations, SJU has two language labs, with about twice as many student stations. There seemed no objection at SJU to having Spanish at CSB, and they would welcome the French and German people from CSB, who are apparently pretty well qualified.
They could use all of the combined staff right now unless SJU should inaugurate entrance requirements in language, such as CSB has. They say they require it for admission, but in the bulletin it reads only that languages in high school are "highly recommended" and this is not often enforced. If it were enforced, they would have less need for a staff to teach those large introductory sections.
There is some interest in Chinese at SJU, primarily because the CSCA schools are moving into Far Eastern Studies.
Philosophy
There are a large number of professors at Saint John's, perhaps 8 or 9, a reflection of the days when Philosophy was required in the seminary. Only two are in Philosophy at CSB. Again the approaches differ somewhat, with SJU trying to send people to Graduate School, and CSB putting Philosophy into the basic studies program. Some of the best students at each place go into Philosophy, and many do go into Graduate School but not in Philosophy. At CSB both Philosophy and Theology are being tied more closely to the basic studies sequence. Perhaps their people could go on doing this, with the SJU people doing pretty much what they are doing now. These departments can probably come together pretty soon. It may not be necessary to think of a combined Philosophy Department as being in one or the other place. If the basic studies distribution tracks persist, most of the former philosophy courses will probably be at CSB, the latter at SJU.
Theology
Presently one can major in Theology only at SJU. Like Philosophy, Theology at CSB is now primarily in the basic studies, while it is part of the distribution requirement at SJU. There are many men in Theology at SJU, only three Sisters at CSB. Might have to have the same kind of arrangement as in Philosophy.
Science
Physics and Chemistry
Physics is now entirely at SJU, with the one CSB Sister that they have teaching over at SJU and her SJU colleagues have no question about her competence. Chemistry is also largely at SJU. Again, there is only one CSB Sister in the area. She offers a course in biochemistry, and the SJU Chairman says she is good in this, and would welcome her. Both departments have small numbers of majors right now, and they could profit from merger. The problem might be that most of the women students are in such things as medical technology with the men in more graduate and professional school orientations. Perhaps a basic chemistry course could be taught at CSB for the time being, although it would seem in the long run all ought to be at SJU, which has much more space and equipment than they are using in that new building. In both Chemistry and Physics, enrollments have been very small. There are eight chemistry seniors this year, and five physics seniors.
Mathematics
Math is somewhat larger, with about 25 a year at SJU. They have six faculty, plus a former math man who heads Computer Science. CSB has two Sisters. They could use the eight people which would result from a joint department. The Chairman at SJU says the present CSB Chairman would welcome, and that she is well qualified. The other Sister is a former high school teacher, and is less well qualified but might be able to teach freshmen. SJU's thrust is now for Graduate School, secondary school teaching, and business and industry. Many at CSB are oriented toward elementary school teaching, with some in the other three areas. If most of the math were to be centered at SJU (and they have of course much better facilities, including a computer), the combination program fro teachers of math in elementary school might still have to be centered at CSB, where Education will almost certainly be. The strongest area of cooperation would be in secondary school mathematics.
Biology
Each separate department is fairly strong, and there are actually more people at CSB than SJU. Many of the present courses are duplicated on the other campus. Neither the SJU nor the CSB people have shown a great willingness to cooperate. Some areas are not covered at either school, and merger will mean duplication in some areas. This would be a very difficult merger, probably on of the very last to come off.
In all of the sciences, when we consider moving these to SJU, we have to think about residence facilities for women. When they are working with cultures or animals, they must be able to check on these things at midnight, and of course can’t be moving them around. Nor can girls be expected to do alt he traveling. By the time biology is located primarily there, there should be some living arrangements for girls.
Libraries
The libraries at Saint John's and St. Benedict are 172,000 and 64,000 respectively. The policies aren't too different, and they have been cooperating somewhat. They realize the great advantages, which would accrue to cross listing, although this would cost a great deal of money. If they could do it by the principal heading only, they could save considerably.
Extra room would be needed at CSB to store a complete listing for both schools. They are very crowded now. Perhaps they could use the old auditorium above the present library, now being utilized by one of the languages, I think one of the ones which would probably be moving to SJU. What they need to think of is in terms of something like Loyola in Chicago with an uptown and downtown campus, each of which has a complete listing. If one wants a book from the other campus, he can get it sent in 48 hours. Or something like the University of Chicago, with any number of libraries, such as Theology, Medical, Law, etc., but with all of the listings in Harper. I suspect that Spanish, Education, Theatre, Art, Music and perhaps some basic studies holdings should be at CSB, the remainder over at SJU.
Appendix B
United States of America, State of Minnesota, Department of State
I, JULIUS A SOHMAEL, Secretary of the State of Minnesota do hereby verify that I have compared the annexed copy with record of the original instruments in office of Order of St. Benedict, maintaining and operating St. John’s Seminary, located at Collegeville, provide for in Chapter 46, Laws of 1857; Chapter 89, of 1861; Chapter 133, 0f 1869; Chapter 121, of 1872; which by Chapter 85of Laws of 1883, changes the name of St. John University, and that said copy is a true and correct transcript of said instruments an d of the whole thereof.
In Testimony Where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State, at the Capitol, in Saint Paul, this eighteenth day of March A.D. nineteen hundred and nineteen.
(Seal of State) (Signed) JULIUS A. SOHMAEL
Secretary of State
Chapter XLVII
An Act to Incorporate the St. John Seminary.
Section 1 Incorporation and name of Society
2 Object of the Society
3 Officers of the Society
4 Powers of the Corporation
5 Management of Donations
6 Power to expand for Erection of Buildings
7 Power to enact By-Laws
8 Exemption from Taxation
9 Right of Inspection
10 Take effect.
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Minnesota:
Section 1. That the members of the religious order of St. Benedict, Demitri Marogna, Cornelius Wittman, Brun Riss, Alexius Roetzer, and their associates and successors in office, which order is instituted for scientific, educational and ecclesiastical purposes, be a body corporate and politic, to be known by the name and style of “Order of St. Benedict” and by that name shall have perpetual succession.
Section 2. The principal object of this polite and corporate body shall be the promotion of the instruction and education of youths, to the acquirement of which end the corporators named in this act shall be hereby authorized to establish and erect an institution, or seminary, in Stearns county, on that portion of St. Cloud City, surveyed, platted and recorded as Rothkopss’ Addition to St. Cloud, to be known by name and style of “St. John Seminary.”
Section 3. The institution shall be under the supervision of said order of St. Benedict, in Minnesota, and shall be conducted by a president, secretary and procurator, which offices the corporators shall hold for the first time themselves, after whose retirement from office the new officers shall be appointed by the superiors of said order in Minnesota. The herein named officers shall also always act as trustees of said seminary.
Section 4. This politic and corporate body shall be empowered, by its representatives, with the rights as such, of suing and being sued, of contracting and being contracted with, of purchasing, holding and selling real and personal estate, of making and using a common seal, and altering the same at pleasure: Provided, That such property, including real, personal and mixed, shall not exceed in the aggregate the sum of one hundred thousand dollars.
Section 5. The above named corporators, and their successors in office, shall be managers of said sum of money, real estate or goods, that may be donated or willed for the purposed of this corporation.
Section 6. The Proceeds of all donations of whatever nature and whatever source, shall be and remain a perpetual fund, and shall be called “The St. John’s Seminary Fund.” The trustees of this seminary are authorized and empowered to expend such portions of the fund as may come under their control, in the erection of suitable buildings, and for the purchase of every kind of scientific apparatus, such as they may deem expedient for the object of said institution.
Section 7. The said trustees shall have power to enact by-laws for the government and regulation to the said seminary, to appoint and employ teachers, to define their duties, and to determine the amount of their respective salaries; and no student shall be required to attend he religious worship of any particular denomination, except as specified by the student, his parent or guardian.
Section 8. That the real estate and personal property of said corporation shall be exempt from taxation, as along as they shall be used, conducted and employed for the purpose defined in this act.
Section 9. That the Catholic Bishop, Cretin, of St. Paul, and his successors in office, shall exercise according the rules of the Catholic church the right of inspection of said institution.
Section 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
APPROVED- March sixth, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven.
Chapter LXXXIX
An act to amend an act to incorporate St. John’s Seminary, approved.
March Sixth, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven
Section 1. Amendment to section two. Object of said institution.
2. When act to take effort
Be it enacted by the legislature of the State of Minnesota:
Section1. That action of two of an act to incorporate the St. John’s Seminary be and the same is amended so as to read as follows:
Section 2. The principal object of this politic and corporate body shall be the promotion of the instruction and education of youths, to the acquirements of which end the corporators named in this act shall be hereby authorized to establish and erect and institution of seminary in Stearns county, to be known by the name and style of St. John’s Seminary.
Section 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from end after its passage.
APPROVED -February 6, 1864
Chapter CXXXIII
An Act of the Trustees of Saint John’s Seminary to confer degrees and grant diplomas.
Section 1. Board of Trustees to have the power to confer degrees and grant diplomas.
2. When act to take effect.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota:
Section 1. That the board of trustees of Saint John’s Seminary shall have the power to confer such degrees and grant such diplomas in their discretion as are usual in colleges and universities.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
APPROVED -March 5, 1869
Chapter CXXI
An Act to amend section four of an act entitled an act to incorporate the Saint John Seminary.
Approved March 6th, A.D. 1857
Section 1. Amendment to section 4, relating to corporate rights
2. When act to take effect.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota:
Section1. That section four of an act entitled “An act to incorporate the St. John Seminary, approved March 6, A.D. 1857, be and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows:
Section 4. This politic and corporate body shall be empowered by its representatives with rights as such of suing and being sued, of contracting and being contracted with, of purchasing, holding and selling real and person estate, of making and using a common seal and altering the same at pleasure; provided always, that the annual income of said corporation shall not exceed the sum of sixty thousand dollars.
Section 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
APPROVED -February 29, 1872
Chapter 85
An act to amend the act entitled An act to incorporate the St. John’s Seminary and the acts amendatory thereof.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota:
Section 1. That the act entitled and act to incorporate the St. John’s Seminary, approved March sixth (6th), one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven (1857) as well as the several acts amendatory thereof, and the title to the original act of incorporation, be and the same are hereby amended as follows:
That wherever the words “seminary” occurs in either thereof, the same be stricken out and word “university” be substituted in lieu thereof.
Section 2. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act be and the same are hereby repealed.
The undersigned secretary herewith certifies that this is a true and correct copy of the Articles of Incorporation certified by the Secretary of State on March 16, 1919.
AMENDED ARTICLES OF THE COLLEGE OF ST. BENEDICT
BE IT RESOLVED that the Articles of Incorporation of The College of St. Benedict adopted originally on October 13, 1961, be amended by the deleting, modifying, changing and restating the Articles thereof so that the complete amended Articles of Incorporation shall read as follows:
ARTICLES OF INCORPORTATION
The undersigned, being of full age, have associate and do hereby associate themselves for the purpose of forming a corporation under and pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 550 of the Laws of 1951 known as the Minnesota Non-Profit Corporation Act and Laws Amendatory Thereof and Supplementary Thereto.
I
The name of this Corporation shall be the College of Saint Benedict.
II
The purposes of this Corporation shall be to establish and conduct an educational institution of higher learning for young people and adults, primarily women, irrespective of race, creed or color, for the advancement of the arts and sciences, morality and general social culture as determined by the Board of Trustees of the Corporation, and to do any and all things necessary, suitable and proper to accomplish said purpose or pertaining thereto, including but not limited to: conferring or granting such degrees, honors and awards as are usually conferred or granted by other colleges and universities in the United States, buying, selling, conveying, leasing, pledging, mortgaging, exchanging, assigning, or otherwise acquiring, holding, and disposing of, handling and otherwise dealing in, and with, real and personal property, or any interest therein wherever the same may be situated; borrowing money, credit or property and securing the same by executing mortgages and obligations thereon, making contracts and incurring obligations, accepting and establish endowment and scholarship funds. It is the intention that the enumeration of the specific powers shall not operate to limit any manner the general powers conferred upon said Corporation by the laws of the State of Minnesota or the powers incident to or necessary in the accomplishments of, the general purposes of this Corporation.
III
The Corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, educational purposes as set forth in Article II and no benefits or pecuniary gain in any manner of form, incidental or otherwise, shall inure to any members, directors, officers or individuals and it shall not be the purpose of this Corporation to carry on propaganda or to influence legislation.
IV
The period of duration of this Corporation shall perpetual.
V
The registered office and location of the Corporation shall be the Village of St. Joseph, County of Stearns, State of Minnesota.
VI
This Corporation shall be governed by a Board of Trustees of not fewer than five nor more than nine members.
A. The Board of Trustees shall consist of ex officio members and elected members. The ex officio members shall be: The Mother Prioress of St. Benedict’s Convent; a Sister Member of the Council of the same convent appointed by the Mother Prioress; and the President of the College of Saint Benedict. The remaining members of the Board of Trustees shall be elected by the ex officio members.
B. The names and address of the Board of Trustees at the date of adoption of these amended Articles of Incorporation are as follows:
Henrita Osendorf, St. Benedict’s Convent, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Mary Patrick Murray, St. Benedict’s Convent, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Clyde Pavelski, St. Benedict’s Convent, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Conchessa Keegan, St. Benedict’s Convent, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Mary Grell, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Firmin Escher, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Mary Mark Donovan, College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minnesota
C. The named Board of Trustees shall hold office for the period of one year and thereafter, until their successors may be elected or appointed and qualified.
D. Four or more members shall constitute a quorum for action by the Board of Trustees.
E. The Mother Prioress shall, ex officio, serve as Chairmen of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall elect from among its other members a Vice-Chairmen, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. Any two of the offices of the Board of Trustees may be held by one person except the offices of Chairman and Vice-Chairman. The officers of the Board of Trustees are also the officers of the Corporation.
VII
The names and addresses of the Incorporators are as follows:
Henrita Osendorf, St. Benedict’s Convent, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Mary Patrick Murray, St. Benedict’s Convent, St. Joseph, Minnesota
Clyde Pavelski, St. Benedict’s Convent, St. Joseph, Minnesota
VIII
The members of the Corporation shall consist of the members of the Board of Trustees. The officers of the Corporation shall be officers of the Board of Trustees.
IX
No personal liability shall be incurred by any members, directors or officers of the Corporation either for the negligent acts of the Corporation or those of any agent or employee thereof nor the debts or obligations of said Corporation.
X
No capital stock shall be authorized or issued in this Corporation.
XI
The Board of Trustees shall adopt and may thereafter alter or amend the By-laws of this Corporation.
RESOLVED further that the president and secretary of this corporation be and they hereby are, authorized and directed to make, execute and acknowledge a certificate under the corporate seal of this corporation embracing the foregoing resolutions, and to cause such certificates to be filed and recorded in the manner required by law.
And we do further certify that the said resolutions, and said Articles of Incorporation so amended, were at a meeting of the Board of Directors, held on 26th day of march, 1966, at which a majority of all the members of said Board were present and voted, duly adopted, ratified and confirmed.
IN WITNESSS WHEREOF, we, the undersigned, have subscribed our names and caused corporate seal of said corporation to be hereto affixed this 26th day of March, 1966.
In presence of
Mary Patrick Murray
Mary Grell
Henrita Osendorf, President
Firmin Escher, Secretary
(Corporate Seal)
STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF STEARNS
Henrita Osendorf and Firmin Escher being first duly sworn, on oath depose and say: that they are respective the president and secretary of The College of St. Benedict, the corporation named in the foregoing certificate; that said certificate contains a true statement of the action of the members and Board of Directors of said corporation, duly held as aforesaid; that the seal attached is the corporate seal of said corporation; that said certificate is executed on behalf of said corporation, by its express authority; and they further acknowledge the same to be their free act and deed and free act and deed of said corporation.
Henrita Osendorf, President
Firmin Escher, Secretary
(notary seal)
Subscribed and sworn to me, this 26th day of March, 1966
Sister Aaron Kalinowski, OSB
(stamp)
SISTER AARON KALINOWSKI, OSB
Notary Public, Stearns County, Minn.
My Commission Expires Sept. 22, 1971
STATE OF MINNESOTA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE
I hereby certify that the within instrument was filed for record in this office on the 5 day of April A.D. 1969 at 9 o’clock A.M.
Joseph L. Donovan
Secretary of State
MAYHEW REPORT PART 12 CHARTS
APPENDIX F
Joint Meeting of the boards of Trustees of Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict, at St. John’s University on March 22, 1968 with Dr. Lewis Mayhew, Consultant for the Co-Institutional Study.
Abbot Baldwin of Saint John’s University opened the meeting with a brief introduction. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Saint John’s University, he set the tone for the meeting by saying that the present time son which demand a great deal of faith to make decisions about cooperation but the step must be made. Thus far, we have used some courage in the development of the cooperative program between Saint John’s and Saint Benedict’s; today we need lots of courage to develop a program that will measure up to the needs of the time.
Dr. Mayhew was presented to the Boards as the Chief Consultant for the Study and following is a presentation of his suggestions for development. There were three parts to his presentation:
1) Information
2) Direction of the Co-operative Enterprise
3) Private Sermon
In discussing the style of this inquiry, Dr. Mayhew presented three point:
a) The Design of the Study
b) Collection of Information
c) Structure of the Study
Dr. Mayhew reviewed for the Joint Boards the design for the study. The colleges invited Dr. Mayhew as chief consultant for the study; he in turn invited two associate consultants, Dr. Robert Hassenger of Notre Dame and Dr. James Fischer of Illinois State University at Normal. These two consultants are responsible to Dr. Mayhew. A panel of top-level educators, Dr. Louis Benezet of the Claremount Colleges, Dr. Rosemary Park of Los Angeles University, Dr. Alan Simpson of Vassar College, Reverend Paul Reinert of Saint Louis University, and Dr. Stephen Wright of the United Negro Fund in New York have been invited to react to the position papers of the consultants in late May. These persons will be on the campuses and will make recommendations to the two Colleges.
Ultimate Future
Dr. Lewis Mayhew after having discussed the matter of co-ordination with Abbot Baldiwn and Mother Henrita, and after having had conversations with other members of the Joint Boards, believes that some agreement must be reached in the near future. He believes that a merger is imperative. It is now a matter of timing. Should it be five years? Ten years? This is a most crucial decade and a sense of urgency demands action. It is imperative that guidelines for the future be drawn up. It is necessary to accelerate the thinking of all persons involved, because of the difficulty of the time and the necessity for action.
Kind of Design
Dr. Mayhew presented a suggested design which he views as a possible solution to a complete development of the co-operative program.
A new institution must essentially be created with a new Board of Trustees. Both supporting orders through personnel and financial support must assume some responsibility. There must be a new charter, a new table of organization, which would change two institutions into tow branches of one institution. The new charter for the new university would require a new name.
The Board for a new corporate entity would be comprised of three persons from the religious order at Saint John’s, three persons from the religious order at Saint Benedict’s, and three lay persons from the outside. This Board of Trustees would appoint a single president for the two campuses or agencies. Centralization of services would be developed in areas of admissions, public relations, development, and in personal services, where a broad policy of extra class life would be initiated. Departments would be under a vice-president for academic affairs. This person would be the principal academic officer for single departments for both colleges. All programs and curriculum development would be placed under his direction.
Dr. Mayhew sees the possibility of very special indigenous programs on each separate campus under a chancellor, or provost, or dean, or some other title. Responsibility for indigenous programs which are unique to each campus as well as for the recruitment of faculty to be appointed under these indigenous programs.
Under central administration, a broad policy for student personnel services would be developed: psychological counseling, admissions, registration, testing, and placement. There would need to be the maintenance of some services on each campus, however.
Legal and fiscal implications will be complicated but nonetheless possible to be worked out. Such items as allocations of property, how to control flow, the need for combining departments with the human feelings and human egos to contend with, these are only some of the difficulties which will have to be met.
Dr. Mayhew said the potentialities are great enough and the size difference not insurmountable. Some institutions must remain on scene which have a commitment to values and which can communicate these values in some way.
Need for Concern With Negro Students
Dr. Mayhew went on to explain the need for higher education to assume responsibility and leadership in meeting the critical domestic problems which face our nation today. It is imperative that the negro be moved into the mainstream of American life. The negro must be permitted to develop leadership. Soon one-half of the population of the country will be compromised of persons 25 years or younger. The values of Christian life and American educational traditions are losing their places.
The problems of the city must be met. We no longer live in a rural nation. We are in an urban situation with problems of poverty, racial discrimination, and other disorders of various kinds.
In confronting the negro problem, Dr. Mayhew suggests that every institution of higher education in the United sates recruit 10% of its student body from the negro race, primarily from the over-populated and under developed areas. To recruit this negro population for the colleges, it is necessary to waive admission standards and set up new programs to meet the needs of these negro students. This course calls for massive subsidy. Two Christian Institutions with important Christian statements would be in a prominent position to bring about the realization of such an important project. Dr. Mayhew suggests that the two colleges move immediately to recruit 100 students from the larger cities each year who would in turn be moved into the mainstream of life. Though this project would call for some underwriting of funds by the institution, Dr. Mayhew was reasonably sure that there would be help from the outside, from persons and groups aware of the necessity of such a worthwhile project.
Comments From Some of the Members
Mother Henrita expressed appreciation to Dr. Mayhew for his presentation and his concern for both the colleges and the negro. She commented that though we had been thinking of a slower pace, now there seemed to be the need to move faster. She identified the movement together as “one unit.”
Sister Mary asked if we are postponing the inevitable by not moving ahead now. She questioned separate incorporation at Saint John’s.
Father Colman expressed his concern about changing the name. He believes that Saint John’s University must be kept.
Dr. Mayhew stated he hope both names could be kept with both institutions, but over both these names would be a single name. He believed that a consensus could be reached on a concept name.
Father Hilary in speaking of the future of the Colleges wondered whether merger would make the difference.
Dr. Mayhew responded by saying that the way of development is with the public sector. The private sector must make some changes. He believes that private education has an important role which has both intellectual and Christian importance.
Some ways in which the private sector can remain on scene were further described:
1) Expand at the same rate as public sector
2) Merger consortia crossing several states to expand influence
3) Diversify the function
Antioch College through its work-study and overseas program found varied ways of expressing this diversification. Antioch College has relationships with many other colleges and is developing a real mission in the central city.
4) Exploit latent talent for leadership
CSB has an opportunity to make statements in the field of the fine arts. The physical facility at CSB is a unique contribution and that campus should address itself to the development of the arts through that facility. SJU has considerable influence through its ecumenical studies, its architectural monuments, and theology in relation to other religions. These need to be exploited. Unique programs developed within these contexts are devices by which the colleges can make contributions. The Benedicta Arts Center and the great Church of Saint John’s are symbols which point in a very definite direction and could answer the question of where these colleges want to go.
Dr. Mayhew continued by saying that for private colleges, these are perilous times. But private education has made real gains which can help develop society. In order to move toward such a goal, the numbers of students must be permitted to grow. Neither will grow very much within the areas from which students now come. It is necessary to expand the pool and look further away for students. Society is changing, and adaptations will have to be made to meet these needs.
Father Cuthbert asked what will attract students to colleges such as ours.
Dr. Mayhew responded by saying that opportunities for Christian institutions are here if we want to make them apparent. Youth today is asking theological questions and youth wishes and needs help understanding. They want to see conduct in adults which squares with reality. Adults must report to these students an idiom which they will understand. We must present idioms which will attract young people. The church related institution has the power to do this. Dr. Mayhew went on to say that there are several options to the ways in which we can increase enrollment.
a) A gift of several million dollars
b) Corporate community contributions
c) A study of the increase in tuition and enrollment
During the next decade private institutions must double enrollment in a decade.
1957 600 students $700-$800 tuition
1968 1200 students $1600-$1700 tuition
During this ten year period private colleges have produced enough revenue to increase salaries by 70%. Salary increases will continue in this manner into the later 1970s.
Father Abbot Baldwin expressed himself on the possibility of negroes being accepted. He thinks it is not too soon to begin this acceptance of responsibility for negro students. He mentioned that we need much more courage and faith in what we are doing and should take some risks to proceed with the program.
Father Florian remarked that we were not able to finance a program for negro students at this time.
Dr. Mayhew mentioned that the institutions must make some commitment but sources must be identified to make up the differences. The Colleges’ own resources will need to at least match other sources to make the program financially feasible.
Father Alfred asked whether a possible depression or catastrophe would still make cooperation workable. Could it still be a viable option?
In response to this question, Dr. Mayhew believed that singly or together, the results of a depression or catastrophe would have the same effect.
Dr. Mayhew went on to remark that some of the misfortunes or difficulties which could make any educational project a very difficult one might be the following:
1) The very rapid development of tax supported institutions
2) Friction within the communities which might destroy a feeling of community
3) The lack of support of the Orders who might not assume responsibility in providing faculty
4) Development of economy within the State so that the State cannot or will not contribute to education
Father Paulin asked a question and made a statement:
1) Would distance make real exchange unrealistic?
2) At the present time the image of theological commitment is not really known.
Dr. Mayhew said that distance is somewhat of a problem but not insolvable. In answer to the statement about the image of theological commitment, Dr. Mayhew thought that if SJU established a reputation for the real issue and its exploitation, news does get around.
Father Colman remarked that the educational activities of Benedictine Colleges should be reviewed. He indicated that overtures concerning co-operation from the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth had been made to Saint John’s. Corbett College at Crookston in a Junior College and should never have been created. The number of Benedictine Colleges in Minnesota is too many. Father Colman thought that these colleges should have been included in the study.
Dr. Mayhew responded by saying that when these two colleges have identified problems one is more able to develop the project more broadly. He also indicated that we need to broaden the filed of inquiry in order to achieve the success of this project. This will inevitable as progress is made. We are living in a time when there will be movement among students, that is, students pursuing a course of studies in a foreign country during one year, having a work study program for another and returning to the college to graduate.
Dr. Mayhew sees the possibility of a number of colleges developing closer relationships with two colleges which have already had a very close relationship.
Father Florian went on to say that legal implications for the cooperation between CSB and SJU are considerable but not insurmountable. He believes that there is real financial benefit to be realized from such a merger.
Dr. Mayhew informed the Boards of Trustees that he is asking an outstanding educational financial exporter, Elmer Jagow of Hiram College to visit the campuses within the very near future and to work with the two finance offices.
He also mentioned that a physical pulling together might develop co-operation. This might mean one building midway between the campuses would be some kind of “magnet” for the two colleges. He also suggested that transportation might well be improved in some respects by free flowing vehicles.
The matter of housing, new concepts in dormitory development, clusters of dormitories and other kinds of campus housing were discussed and commended upon.
Father Abbot Baldwin again underlined the need for courage, openness, and a recognition of the sense of urgency.
Dr. Mayhew was questioned about the length of time it would take to realize this design. He thought a 24-month period might be adequate.
The possibility of recruiting colored students is a separate undertaking and not to be confused with the issue of merger. It was suggested that perhaps a year from September might be a good time to begin. It was also suggested that not only negroes be brought to the College but minority groups also be considered.
Comments were made about the need to develop the high schools and their relationship to each other. Father Cuthbert commented that he did not believe the problems of co-operation in this area were particularly significant.
Father Colman mentioned the consortium that exists with theological schools and with the University. He wondered how the development of this two-college-concept would affect such a consortium.
Comment was also made about the way tuititional money is exchanged the colleges. It is at present a very inadequate arrangement and needs study. An interim arrangement for financing the present program must be solved very soon.
There seemed to be general consensus among the group that to move toward a union of the two colleges at the earliest possible time is vital and necessary. Dr. Mayhew told the Boards of Trustees that he would give the Co-Institutional Study Committee some serious work to do and that intensification of activity must necessarily proceed.
The meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm.
Sister Firmin Escher
Chairman of the CSB/SJU Co-Institutional Committee