Stetson Cupola 1985-13-3

Commencement May 19 — See page 4 The Stetson University Alumni Newspaper Vol. 13 No. 3 (USPS 990-560) Spring 1985 Trustees approve 1985-1986 budget Three new trustees were elected at the Februarv William Self, Carolyn Davenport, and Frank Wheeler, c ^etmg. They are Dr. Clyde Fant namtl > O.L. Walker chair of religion A former president of the Baptist seminary in Zurich, Switzerland has been chosen to hold the position of O.L. Walker Endowed Chair of Christian Studies and Dean of the Chapel at Stetson, university officials announced. The Rev. Clyde E. Fant currently holds a dual professional position of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological and at the Duke University Divinity School. His appointment by Stetson President Pope A. Duncan will be effective as early as June. According to Duncan, Dr. Fant's appointment will be significant for two reasons. First, he will be the first person appointed to fill the O.L. Walker Chair, a faculty position being endowed by gifts from the churches of the Florida Baptist Convention. Second, Fant will fill the position of Dean of the Chapel, which has been vacant for more than 15 years, when Dr. James Stewart retired. As professor, Dr. Fant will teach courses in the department of religion. As Dean of the Chapel, he will plan the weekly worship service of the university and serve as pastor. Also, Dr. Fant plans to initiate a number of practical ministry programs for Florida Baptist pastors. "The contributions of such a scholar to the training of young men and women for the ministry will be far-reaching," Duncan said. Fant is an award-winning pastor, professor and scholar, says Duncan. He was a Fulbright Scholar, former member of the Board of Trustees for Louisiana College, lecturer for the 1977 meeting of the American Academy of Homiletics, member of the executive board for Texas Baptist Convention and he received a commission on pastoral leadership from the See FANT, page 5 Dr. Clyde E. Fant Stetson's trustees adopted a record $24.8 million budget, elected three new members, and held a trustee workshop on long- range planning, at their meeting, according to Wendell Jarrard, Jr., chairman. The 1985-86 budget provides for five new faculty positions; two in liberal arts, two in the business school and one in the music school, according to Dr. Pope A. Duncan. "The increased faculty salary level we achieved last year will be maintained in the 1985-86 budget," Duncan said. Three, ijew trustees were elected to the board and one was re-elected for a second five-year term. Dr. William Self, '54, pastor of the Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta, Mrs. Carolyn Davenport of Coral Gables and Frank Wheeler, '43, of Oviedo were elected to full terms on the board. Wheeler is a former chairman of the trustees who rotated off the board and was eligible for re-election this year. Richard Beauchamp, '63, president of RTC Transporation, Inc. in Forest Park, Ga., was elected to a second five-year term. The trustees approved a study of student housing needs and the possibility of building additional residence facilities, according to Duncan. They approved funding for a study to explore possible uses of approximately 900 acres of university property near the St. Johns River in Lake County. The trustees participated in a long-range planning workshop and heard several nationally- known educators describe the challenges facing schools like Stetson in the coming years. As the competition for top-level students becomes more intense, Stetson will have to achieve an aggressive vision, according to Dr. Bruce Heilman, president of University of Richmond. "Aggressive fund raising is often the key to success for colleges seeking to maintain academic quality and compete for top students," said David Jones, former vice chancellor for development at Vanderbilt University and former chairman of the National Commission on Student Financial Assistance. Duncan described Stetson's quest for national recognition by the year 2000, and outlined the need for superior faculty and facilities in order to achieve the goal. "One of the great strengths we have is a strong Board of Trustees," Duncan said. "There is no question but that an institution can be no stronger than the board which governs it." Education expert to join Stetson Donald Gill, former Volusia County school superintendent will serve as chairman of Stetson's Education Department beginning in the fall of 1985. Gill was named the school's first Jesse Ball-duPont Professor of Education, a position recently endowed by the duPont Foundation for $750,000. Stetson has received $250,000 toward the award which will be invested to support the professorship. Gill has served as Illinois' superintendent of education since 1980 and has 35 years experience in public education. He served Volusia County from 1974 until 1980. "Gill will bring to the university a wealth of expertise which will be most useful in training the future educators of our children," Pope Duncan said. "His knowledge and skills, which steered the educational reform movement in Illinois, will provide strong guidance for the excellent education programs offered at Stetson." Gill, 56, will oversee 15 faculty members at Stetson who instruct prospective teachers in all areas of teacher education. "Stetson is one of the most prestigious private universities in the South," Gill said. "I am honored to have the opportunity to serve such an outstanding institution of higher learning." Gill will replace Stetson's retiring education department chairman, Dr. James Coffee. Coffee has not announced his future plans but he is considering a teaching position at Stetson, Duncan said. Dr. Donald Gill Homecoming News —See pages 4 & 5