Environment for Education

President's Report, 1967-1968

The Board of Visitors

Harry C. Wyatt, Roanoke, Rector
Wyatt A. Williams, Orange, Vice Rector
Mrs. A. Stuart Bolling Jr, Portsmouth
Sen. George M. Cochran, Staunton
Clifford A. Cutchins III, Norfolk
William J. Erwin, Danville
Mrs. Mavis M. Gibbs, Crewe
John W. Hancock, Roanoke
Dr. Adger S. Johnson, New York and Blacksburg
John W. Landis, Lynchburg
Waldo G. Miles, Bristol
W. Thomas Rice, Richmond
Charles W. Wampler Jr., Harrisonburg
Mrs. Jane G. Wilhelm, Arlington

Mrs. Wilhelm, Senator Cochran, Mr. Rice, and Mr. Erwin have concluded their service as board members, Mrs. Wilhelm by resignation because of other responsibilities, and Messrs. Cochran, Rice, and Erwin by expiration of their terms. The Commonwealth and the university are much in their debt for their years of loyal and effective service.

Bulletin of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Vo. 61, No. 11, November 1968.

Introduction

In the following pages will be found a brief account of Virginia Polytechnic Institute's 96th academic year, 1967-68. Such a summary of the university's recent record can include only the broad outline of the year's developments, an indication of significant trends. As the university continues the strengthening of its instructional, research, and public service activities, the detailed record becomes voluminous indeed. It is essential, however, to provide a meaningful overview of the past year, if only as prelude for the years ahead.

In many ways the record of the university's 96th academic year is an encouraging one. The continued strengthening of an already outstanding faculty, the broadening of the university's course offerings, the development of new departments and degree programs, the continuing construction program, and other factors all demonstrate the vitality of the emerging university.

With the strengthening of so many components of the university there also is renewed dedication and commitment and a broader understanding of the role of VPI in Virginia higher education. The university's potential is by no means impossible of achievement.

T. Marshall Hahn, Jr. President

The Broadening Academic Base

The hallmark of the year now ended undoubtedly has been the continued and often dramatic strengthening of the university's academic structure, reflected directly in the instructional programs as well as in research and public service activities. And it clearly will be the major thrust of the university's efforts in the next few years.

More than 100 new faculty members joined the staff during the year now ended, a large majority of them with the Ph.D. or other terminal degree in their particular fields. They came from major universities throughout the world. The ability of VPI to attract so many additional outstanding men and women to its service underscores the very real progress made in this area.

Part of the reason doubtlessly is improved salaries. Perhaps as important is the mood and feel of the university, the energy and vitality so apparent where there is opportunity to build programs, to innovate, to make major contributions in a reasonably brief period. It was quite apparent during 1967-68 that substantial strength was added to VPI's instructional and research programs where strength was needed. Even greater resources can be added in the coming biennium.

Operation appropriations enacted by the 1968 General Assembly for instructional purposes included approximately 22 million dollars from the state general fund for 1968- 70 (almost a 60 per cent increase over 1966- 68), in addition to about 15.7 million dollars from fees and other special funds.

State general fund appropriations for the Research Division for 1968-70 totaled about seven million dollars (up about 31 per cent from 1966-68), in addition to about 11.2 million dollars in federal funds, research contracts, and other special funds.

For the Extension Division, state general fund appropriations for the coming biennium totalled about 9.6 million dollars (up 27 per cent from the past two-year period), along with anticipated special funds of about five million dollars.

The increased appropriations were below the level requested to meet higher costs, increasing enrollments, and strengthening of the instructional, research, and public service programs. They will, however, permit substantial progress.

A brief review of the past year's developments in each of VPI's component colleges underscores the continuing thrust of the university's growth and its potential.

Agriculture

In the College of Agriculture, particularly significant was the planning for the organization of the new Department of Food Science and Technology to consolidate and broaden the work in dairy technology and the processing of meats, poultry, fruit, and vegetables. Teaching, research, and extension functions have been oriented to the increasingly important food processing industry in Virginia, better organizing the university's resources for more effective service. The new department became active as the year ended.

Requirements for the B.S. degree in the College of Agriculture also were revised to retain a strong foundation in the biological and physical sciences, supplemented by courses in the humanities and social sciences. The new degree requirements bring them in line with the recommendations of appropriate national committees concerned with agricultural education.

Plans also were completed for an undergraduate curriculum in biochemistry, subject to approval by university and state authorities. It is designed to provide students with a basic foundation in chemistry and biology and the effective integration of the two disciplines. It will be the only such undergraduate program in Virginia.

And at the other end of the spectrum, the college developed a new master's degree program in forestry to meet intensifying demands for graduate-level work in forestry and forest-related fields.

Architecture

Similarly, in the College of Architecture, where curriculum innovation is attracting national and international attention, a program of environmental systems studies is being designed to replace the many separate environmental technologies and sciences previously taught as separate and modified engineering courses.

The college's three-division curriculum, in three two-year divisions, has proved highly effective. It is organized to provide greater interaction between complex information handling and design techniques. At the graduate level there is evolving a community of scholars from many related disciplines concerned with comprehensive planning, design, and systems development.

In still another area, the college's art faculty this past year instituted a new degree program leading to the bachelor of arts degree in art, offered jointly with the College of Arts and Sciences.

Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences, in addition to the joint program in art, also organized a series of other bachelor's degree programs, including nuclear science, elementary education, mathematics education, and international studies. In addition, a new Ph.D. program in geophysics and an expanded interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in genetics were organized; plans also are being developed for a new master's degree program in political science.

The Department of Psychology and Sociology was reorganized into separate departments to better meet the need for additional strength in both disciplines. Substantial expansion of the courses available in theater arts, music, and computer science were made during the year and attracted large numbers of students seeking elective credits. The newly organized University Orchestra began its concert series, providing additional opportunities in the performing arts.

The growing Honors Program added a junior-level honors seminar to existing freshman and sophomore level seminars; enrollments in all of the honors seminars increased substantially. Many other arts and sciences programs also evidenced the college's growing importance within the university: the summer institutes in English, history, and political science; the Upward Bound program, now in its third year; the rapidly growing summer study abroad program (in which more than 150 students traveled and studied in five European countries in the summer of 1968), and others.

Business

The College of Business previously has offered majors at the undergraduate level in accounting, business administration, business education, economics, and public administration. This past year additional major programs were organized in finance, general business, management, and marketing, replacing the single major in business administration.

Planning for additional programs also has been completed, pending appropriate approval by university and state authorities. These include a master's program in business administration and a master of accountancy program. A Ph.D. program in economics is anticipated for the fall of 1969.

Engineering

The College of Engineering enrolls more than 40 per cent of all freshmen entering the university. A carefully designed engineering fundamentals program was instituted during 1967-68 to provide entering students with a better understanding of engineering. Some 30 faculty members, representing most of the engineering departments, participated in the program, required for all freshmen.

An important component of the program is a creative design project in which freshmen, working in small groups under the direction of a senior faculty member, have the opportunity to plan and execute an engineering project. This approach developed a number of projects of surprising sophistication and generated much interest among the freshman. Combined with extensive counseling, the program is designed to sustain interest in engineering as a profession and reduce attrition among engineering students. Following the freshmen year, the students transfer to one of the college's 12 engineering curricula or otherwise earlier identify interest in non-engineering studies.

The college's Energy Research Group, designed to develop new information of significance to power production and to generate faculty and student interest and competence in engineering problems of the power industry, completed its first year of operation. The group was funded by a number of electrical utility firms and manufacturers.

Numerous other course changes were made as a part of the college's continuing efforts to update its programs and better relate them to current engineering needs and to take advantage of the strengthening engineering faculty.

Home Economics

The College of Home Economics, growing rapidly as larger numbers of women students enroll at the university, moved into its new building, Wallace Hall, midway during the year. This structure contains laboratories especially designed for working with pre-school children, allowing observation of the pre-school educational programs via closed circuit television.

An extensive revision of the home economics curriculum had been completed during 1966-67, and during the past year the impact of the revised programs was very apparent. Particular emphasis was placed on academic counseling of lower division students to help freshmen and sophomores gain a broad perspective of the field of home economics and to make better decisions involving academic and professional goals.

The early childhood education program, designed for the training of nursery and kindergarten teachers, was greatly strengthened by the new laboratories and special equipment. All of the home economics programs were improved by the availability of specialized equipment.

The college's continuing education programs, designed to provide additional educational opportunities for women who have left home economics careers or who require refresher courses, were substantially expanded during the year.

Graduate School

The Graduate School, responsible for effective coordination of graduate programs throughout the university, has been heavily involved in the development of new programs, the establishment of more effective administrative policies, and facilitation of communication among the graduate departments and the colleges. It is thus helping put together the academic structure for significant growth of graduate enrollment, which already has been steadily increasing.

Applications for graduate admission for the 1968-69 year are about 20 per cent higher than for the past year in which 1,025 were enrolled fall quarter. The inability of graduate students to obtain draft deferments, however, may sharply curtail actual enrollment by many of the applicants. This trend will be offset to some extent by the increasing diversity of graduate programs at the university. Many of the newer programs are attracting larger numbers of women students.

The development of strong graduate programs throughout the university is continuing to meet the Commonweal' h's growing need for men and women qualified by graduate training for key positions in government, business and industry, and for teaching. The development of high quality graduate programs also is essential for the continued strengthening of the undergraduate instructional programs and the expanding research activities. Among June's degree recipients were nine students awarded the master of arts in history or English, the first such graduate degrees awarded by VPI.

Research

The university's Research Division has continued to broaden the services available in support of rising research productivity and to strengthen research capabilities. Despite serious curtailment of federal support for research programs, particularly in agriculture, the total volume of research increased substantially during the year. Increased emphasis in funding has had to be placed on research grants and contracts; new funding for all types of research at the university during 1967-68 totaled about one million dollars, increasing the total annual volume to nearly eight million dollars.

Research productivity remains largest in agriculture, engineering, the physical sciences, and the biological and life sciences. An increasing emphasis on research is apparent in architecture, home economics, and. business, and a significant start has been made in research activities in the social sciences and the humanities.

The division is particularly sensitive to the importance of the research programs as they relate to graduate work and the professional development of the faculty. Close coordination has been facilitated by the Research Council, an advisory faculty group representing all university components.

Utilization of the Industry Center at Rocky Mount, acquired by the VPI Educational Foundation during 1966-67 as a gift from TRW, Inc., has proved increasingly important. The 1,000-acre facility, extensively equipped for large-scale hazardous testing, obtained research and development contracts of about $100,000 during the year.

VPI's Computer Center, newly housed in an addition to Burruss Hall, provided particularly significant research support with its third-generation computing equipment. The new equipment included the IBM System System 360, models 40 and 50, with an array of auxiliary hardware.

Of importance, too, was the installation of a new four million volt particle accelerator to expand the university's research program in nuclear physics. VPI research teams also were using other facilities for key research activities. In high energy physics a major project was underway at Brookhaven National Laboratory at Upton, N. Y. Another research program was underway at the Virginia Associated Research Center at Newport News, utilizing the synchrocyclotron of the Space Radiation Effects Lab.

And on the campus, the VPI Anaerobe Laboratory, rapidly becoming an international center for identification and classification of anaerobic bacteria, acquired a major reference collection of anaerobes from the Pasteur Institute in Paris.

Extension

In the university's Extension Division the opening of the Donaldson Brown Center for Continuing Education culminated many years of effort. The center opened in early January, and during the months since has met an almost continual demand for short courses, educational conferences, regional meetings of education-related organizations, and a variety of other adult education programs. More than 21,000 persons were involved in the center's programs in its first five months. The new facility greatly enhances the university's adult education activities, drawing from the resources of the entire university. The center was dedicated in May with Governor Mills E. Godwin Jr. as dedicatory speaker.

The division has intensified its in-service training program for extension personnel and, though the Continuing Education Center, has provided more effective on-campus educational programs for farm groups. In addition, an extension specialist in the College of Business has organized a program designed to make available modern business techniques in the resolution of business problems. Similarly, industrial engineering and other departments are increasingly involved in extension activities.

General extension programs, both specialized classes for industry and extension classes, are increasingly available for adult education and formal college programs away from the campus. Telewriter equipment, for instructional programs linked to the campus by telephone lines and circuits for written material, is coming into more general use for extension classes.

Perhaps the greatest difficulty faced by the Extension Division in the past year and in 1968-69 is that of adequate staffing. Salary scales for extension field personnel remain low and the ability to attract qualified men and women is declining. The situation clearly will not improve until more competitive salaries can be paid.

The State Technical Services Program, administered in Virginia through the university's Extension Division, was designed to provide technical information to Virginia business and industry in a variety of ways. Six other colleges and universities in the state also are participating in the program.

Specialized conferences, field services, training programs, referral services for particular engineering problems, and other techniques are utilized in the state technical services work. It is an increasingly effective program and well demonstrates the ability of the state's colleges and universities to provide valuable assistance in the resolution of technical problems in industry.

Community Colleges

With the transfer of VPI's Danville branch college to the community college system, all of the university's former branches now are operated by the Division of Community Colleges. Many departments at the university are developing cooperative programs with community colleges, and where there is demand for upper level courses every effort is being made to provide them.

Faculty and Administration

Late in the school year the Board of Visitors authorized creation of an additional vice presidency for the direction of student programs, both because of the university's increasing enrollments and the obviously growing importance of effective student activities in today's university environment.

Dr. James W. Dean, dean of students, was named to the new vice presidency, effective September 1, 1968. At the same time the board authorized a review of the university's present administrative structure, preliminary to other administrative changes.

Other important leadership changes were made during the year. Dr. Wilson B. Bell, dean of the College of Agriculture, was named director of university development, effective July 1, 1968. Dr. Bell replaces R. Craig Fabian, who resigned as director of development last year. The concept of the development position has been changed significantly. It has been realigned as a faculty position in order to fill the position with a person of Dr. Bell's broad experience and high regard among the university faculty, alumni, and other groups.

Dr. James Martin, head of the Department of Agricultural Economics, was named dean, succeeding Dr. Bell. Dr. P. Howard Massey Jr., the Research Division's associate director for agricultural and life sciences, also was named, in addition, associate dean for research for the College of Agriculture. Dr. Massey's assignment complements that of Dr. R. W. Engel, also associate dean for research. Dr. Neil Boyd, formerly research administrator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Cooperative Research Service, was named head of the new Department of Food Science and Technology.

Dr. Sylvan J. Kaplan, formerly of the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, was named associate dean of the Research Division and director for engineering, architecture, arts and sciences, and business. The intensifying research efforts in these areas previously had indicated the necessity of additional administrative support.

In graduate school administration, Dr. Robert L. King, professor of business administration, was named associate dean, a halftime assignment, and his teaching responsibilities in the College of Business were correspondingly reduced.

In engineering, Dr. Julius Lukasiewicz, formerly of ARO, Inc., at the Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tennessee, was named associate dean for research and graduate study to assist in the continuing development of these important areas.

In arts and sciences, with the division of the Department of Psychology and Sociology into separate departments, Dr. William B. Pavlik, formerly of Rutgers University, was named head of psychology and Dr. Gordon Ericksen, formerly of the University of Tennessee, was named head of sociology.

Also, Col. John Collins was named professor of military science and head of the Army ROTC program, succeeding Col. Robert Sadler, who retired at the end of the school year.

Thomas C. Lile, former director of the student union at the University of Alabama, was named director of Squires Student Center, effective July 1, preparatory to the completion of the building next year.

Dr. James R. Montgomery, director of institutional research at the University of Tennessee, was named to a similar position here. He began work during the summer.

Faculty Senate

The structuring of a faculty senate and guidelines for the interrelation of such a faculty organization with the university's administrative structure was given much attention during the year. Many faculty members were active in the development of a proposed constitution for the organization.

An interface committee, including representatives from both the steering committee and University Council, currently is developing a constitution for the University Council, incorporating some of the elements of the proposed senate constitution. The final drafts of both constitutions are scheduled for consideration by the faculty and the University Council this fall; later in the year they are scheduled for review by the Board of Visitors of the university.

The Student Community

Some 9,400 students were enrolled at VPI in the fall of 1967, a substantial segment of both the university community and the surrounding area.

In the past few years there have been few efforts by individual students and small groups to express their concerns outside of normal communications channels and little disruption of normal university activities.

The university's basic philosophy seeks in no way to negate student freedom of expression. But it does insist that everyone's rights be recognized and that the activities of one group or individual not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.

The university has a diverse and, in some respects, unique student population, with its Corps of Cadets, the large enrollment of nonmilitary men students, and increasing numbers of women students. A good proportion of its students are married. A fairly large number of off-campus social clubs have established resident houses in the community.

Diversity Increases

The transition of VPI from a predominately agricultural and engineering college to a major university has markedly changed the composition of its student body. The university's broadening academic programs increasingly are attracting students in the arts, the humanities, the social sciences, and other fields. As a result there is much more diversity of interest among the student groups. Social and humanistic concerns are much more evident on the campus than even a few years ago.

It might be observed, too, that the academic performance of the students is steadily rising. Because of the growing academic reputation of the university, admissions pressures, and the necessity of selecting entering students from large numbers of applicants, the calibre of the incoming students tends to rise somewhat rapidly. This past year 89 percent of VPI's entering freshman came from the upper two-fifths of their high school graduating classes.

Corps Academic Emphasis

Highly encouraging was the improved academic performance of the members of the Corps of. Cadets, reflecting a greater emphasis on academic work in the Corps, as well as better accommodation of Corps activities to the university environment.

The emerging programs in the performing arts attracted even more attention in the past year. VPI's outstanding Varsity Glee Club has become a popular a t t r act ion throughout Virginia; the University Choir, a related organization, is providing vocal experience for townspeople as well as students. The University Orchestra was formed during the past year and presented a series of concerts, providing an important additional outlet for student musical talent.

A Student Union Board was created for the operation of a student activities program in Squires Student Center. A Student Budget Board, created early in the year, has allocated funds available from the new student activities fee for funding of all student programs. Student groups were involved in the revision of university student life policies and other policy matters.

A Student Forum Board was established to provide appropriate channels for student expression. In another area students were appointed to membership on the Judicial Committee to provide review in disciplinary cases. A subcommittee was created to hear appeals from traffic violations. A student-faculty committee concerned itself with the review of policies concerning fraternities.

The special orientation program for new students and their parents, inaugurated in the summer of 1967, was repeated for incoming freshmen and parents in the summer of 1968. Individual counseling and preregistration also were added.

Development, Alumni, Athletics

The sustained academic and physical growth of VPI and its broadening service to Virginia reflect the energy and enthusiasm of many men and women dedicated to the task of building an outstanding university.

It also has resulted from gradually increasing resources-both from state and federal appropriations, grants, and contracts, as well as from private contributions, gifts, and contracts from business and industry, and, all too frequently, increased costs to the students. Far greater resources are necessary, however, if the university is to realize fully its growing potential as a university of regional and national distinction.

The university must meet the State's changing needs and relate its instructional, research, and extension programs to them. It must broaden its academic capabilities and become increasingly concerned with graduate and research efforts. For the alumni, sometimes perplexed by the changes so apparent in their alma mater, there is all too often misunderstanding and resentment.

New Traditions

For new traditions evolve, and new approaches to educational and public service problems are developed. The university is concerned with many diverse programs and problems; the campus itself little resembles the VPI of former years.

One of the greatest opportunities facing VPI and its 30,000 alumni is the development of greater mutual understanding and a more effective and meaningful relationship between the university and its former students. Without the understanding and support of its alumni, no university can achieve the effectiveness of which it is capable.

Not only in terms of financial support, but in many other ways, alumni opinions and attitudes affect the ability of the university to meet its broadening obligations. The support and enthusiasm of the alumni, their willingness to participate in the life of the institution, to revisit the campus, and to work in the university's behalf is one of the greatest assets an institution may have.

Encouraging Developments

In recent years it has become apparent that there has been a significant problem in relating the university's broadening mission to its former students. But in recent months there have been encouraging developments in alumni leadership that hold promise for both the alumni and the university.

In the late spring, the board of the Alumni Association completed a detailed review of the work of the Association and announced a renewed effort to develop an effective program in conjunction with the university. Under the leadership of Alumni President Harry N. Gustin, a Norfolk attorney, and H. L. Pritchard, associate director of alumni affairs, the board retained a consultant, Thomas H. Hall, director of resource development at Georgia Tech, to conduct a study of the Association's activities. Hall's report outlined a series of recommendations designed to improve communications and cooperation and to develop stronger working relationships between alumni and VPI.

Both the board and the university have been seeking a qualified alumnus to serve as director of alumni affairs and to help implement these recommendations.

Dr. Wilson B. Bell's appointment as university development officer appeared to be particularly appropriate, since he brings with him a keen insight into the functioning of the university and its development goals.

Significant progress was made in several areas. Total receipts of the VPI Educational Foundation, the repository for a variety of funds from contributions, grants, gifts, and other sources, totaled about 3.7 million dollars, about $400,000 above last year.

Unrestricted gifts from alumni, used for direct support of the Alumni Association programs, were somewhat lower than in 1966-67, totaling about $80,000. The figure had exceeded $100,000 during the previous year. Contributions for student aid scholarships, in support of the athletic programs, totaled about $149,000, well above the 1966- 67 total of about $131,000.

The final phase of construction of Lane Stadium was authorized last fall. The completed stadium now has a capacity of 35,000; temporary and end zone seating will accommodate about 10,000 additional spectators. Nearly $250,000 was received for the stadium during the year, but additional funds still are required.

Emerging Athletic Prominence

The university's athletic programs, as with other components of the university, continued to emerge in national prominence.

Frank Loria, the Gobblers' renowned defensive safetyman, became the university's first consensus All American, having been named to at least seven post-season honor teams. The '67 football season ended with a 7-3 record; the Gobblers dropped their final three games after winning seven in a row.

The basketball team had achieved a 14-9 record when it completed its home schedule. The final road trip, composed of powerful Houston and Tulane, ended the season 14-11. Spring sports achieved the university's best ever composite record: 17-9-1 in baseball, 10-5 in golf, 3-0 in track, and 13-5 in tennis.

In athletics, in emerging university-alumni programs, and in VPI's development activities, the record of the year reflects significant progress. As VPI sustains its development as a major university, all of its component programs necessarily must provide additional support for its increasingly diverse functions. Much remains to be accomplished, but the year's efforts clearly identified new directions and laid the groundwork for increasingly effective efforts in the years ahead.

Campus Construction

Several major new buildings were wholly or partially completed during 1967-68. In addition to the Donaldson Brown Center for Continuing Education and Wallace Hall (the home economics building), Cowgill Hall (the architecture building) and a major addition to Burruss Hall (the administration building) were partially completed and occupied. Supplemental appropriations by the 1968 General Assembly were necessary for their completion, however, because of rapidly rising building costs.

Also nearly completed were a major addition to the food processing laboratory, the final 5,000 seat section of the east stands of Lane Stadium, and a utility building for shops and maintenance work. Stadium construction was financed from private funds.

Other major construction projects included the first phase of Derring Hall, in which will be housed a number of arts and sciences departments, and the renovation and enlargement of Squires Student Center. Construction also is well underway on an additional high-rise dormitory to house more than 1,300 students; a portion of the structure is scheduled for completion in time for the opening of the 1968-69 school year.

$26 Million

The current construction program totals nearly 26 million dollars, of which about 13 million came from state appropriations, more than 11 million from revenue bonds, and somewhat more than 1.5 million from gifts and other private funds.

Bids have been received for construction of a new three million dollar dining hall, financed by revenue bonds. Plans also are being developed for a modern campus book store, also to be funded by revenue bonds. Other revenue bond financing — about 6.2 million dollars — has been approved for additional dormitory construction to house approximately 1,100 students and a residence hall for unmarried graduate students. In addition to the proposed new men's dormitories, two existing men's dormitories (Monteith and Thomas) will be converted into women's residence halls for about 200 coeds. Hillcrest, an existing women's dorm, will be converted to housing for men.

Bond Issue

There remains, however, an element of uncertainty in a number of other construction projects. The larger part of the construction program scheduled for 1968-69, somewhat more than 11 million dollars, is conditional on the approval of the proposed 81 million dollar state general obligation bond issue in the November 5 referendum. A total of 67.2 million dollars from the proposed bond issue has been earmarked for facilities at Virginia's colleges and universities.

About one million dollars is included in the state bond funds for the completion of Derring Hall (plus about $750,000 from the general fund), Wallace Hall, and Cowgill Hall. Other major projects to be funded by the proposed state bonds include nearly $733,000 for the completion of the Burruss Hall addition; $2,250,000 for a new engineering building; 1.6 million for a forestry and wildlife building; about 1.7 million for an additional arts and science building; $886,400 for an anaerobic bacteriology laboratory (plus $376,000 from federal funds); and $290,000 for a poultry research center. Several smaller projects, including Research Division facilities at Holland, and utilities projects also are included.

If the statewide bond issue is approved, the university's construction program will be increased by somewhat more than 20 million dollars during 1968-69. The failure of the proposed bond issue obviously would curtail drastically construction, since little more than one million dollars for capital outlay was appropriated from the state general fund. If funds for the additional classroom and laboratory buildings are not available, it is unlikely that some. of the additional dormitories could be constructed from revenue bonds; it would not be feasible unless the additional facilities for the instructional programs were also available.

Campus Plan

A revised campus site plan was completed during the year, outlining the campus' development for the next six years. In addition to the proposed facilities to accommodate increasing enrollments and strengthen existing programs, it included some unusual innovations. Among them were pedestrian malls at points of high student density (connecting buildings behind Burruss Hall, for example), and decided improvements in campus traffic patterns.

While not a part of campus construction, a series of state highway facilities, designed to provide easier travel to and from the campus, has been under construction during the year. The highway projects will be completed during 1968-69. The major construction involves the U.S. 460 by-pass around Blacksburg and through the VPI farms west of the campus. The by-pass will provide a new entrance to the campus near Lane Stadium. The U.S. 460 by-pass around Christiansburg also will facilitate the flow of traffic to and from the campus.

In Retrospect

VPI's 96th academic year was significant in many ways. It was an active, demanding year, reflecting the sustained vitality and ferment of a rapidly developing university. Its record is but prelude to another year, when the university's potential will be translated into even greater service to Virginia and the nation.