Floyd Wilcox
Encyclopedia
Floyd Cleveland Wilcox was the third president of Shimer College
, serving from 1930 to 1935. His leadership, though marked by controversy, saw the school through the most difficult years of the Great Depression
. He oversaw the transition of the school's curriculum from a two-year to a four-year junior college
program.
Wilcox was born in Mason, Michigan
on March 17, 1886. Wilcox obtained a Bachelor of Arts
from Kalamazoo College
in 1910, and subsequently studied at the Newton Theological Institute in Massachusetts until 1911. In 1913, he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity
from the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
. In 1920, he obtained a Master of Arts in Education from the Teachers' College of Columbia University
. He subsequently traveled to California and received a Cubberly Fellowship at Stanford University
, where he earned a Doctor of Education
from the Stanford University School of Education
in 1930. Wilcox's graduate study focused on the junior college
, and this was a significant factor in his selection for the presidency of Shimer.
1930 was also the end of the tenure of Shimer's second president, William Parker McKee
, who had served since 1897. He had also served in administrative positions at schools in China. Based on this experience, his graduate studies, and the recommendations of prominent educators, Wilcox was unanimously recommended by the search committee and approved by the Shimer College Board of Trustees, at a salary of $5000 per year.
, Wilcox encountered significant administrative and financial obstacles. Due to the administrative vacuum in the late years of the McKee administration
, local members of the Board of Trustees had become actively involved in college governance, which made it difficult for Wilcox to assert his authority. A loan for more than $10,000 had been taken out against operating funds to pay for the construction of the gymnasium in 1929, but no provision had been made to pay it back. An auditor's report in 1930 further cited "numerous evidences of carelessness in the handling of accounts".
Based on his training in educational administration, Wilcox implemented various changes in Shimer's operations. In the first year of the Wilcox administration, the curriculum was changed from a combined University-preparatory school
and two-year junior college
to a four-year junior college. In recognition of this, in 1932, the name of the college was changed from "Frances Shimer School" to "Frances Shimer Junior College". Wilcox also expressed concern about reducing the school's high attrition
rate, and in 1933-1934 relaxed school rules to provide the students with greater freedom and responsibility. In addition, he simplified the fee structure and hired guidance personnel including a psychologist.
Beginning in 1931, the power struggle between Wilcox and local trustees led by Samuel J. Campbell intensified, as financial pressures due to the Depression forced austerity measures including a 10% reduction in faculty pay. In the first years of the Wilcox administration, enrollment fell from 215 to 129, which led many faculty to feel that Wilcox was not properly addressing recruitment and promotion issues. The faculty also felt that their voices were not being heard by the Board, because they were filtered through Wilcox's reports. After Campbell issued a second call for the Board to meet to discuss problems with Wilcox, Wilcox tendered his resignation on April 27, 1935, effective June 30 of that year. He was succeeded by A. Beth Hostetter, longtime instructor and administrative officer who served as Acting President until the appointment of Raymond Culver
in 1936.
Wilcox received an honorary doctorate of divinity from his alma mater Kalamazoo College in 1932.
and undertook additional postgraduate study at Stanford. He subsequently served at Linfield College
in Oregon. In 1939, he left Linfield for the University of Redlands
, where he served as the director of curriculum, guidance and admissions. He retired in 1954.
Shimer College
Shimer College is a very small, private, undergraduate liberal arts college in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Founded by Frances Wood Shimer in 1853 in the frontier town of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, it was a women's school for most of its first century. It joined with the University of...
, serving from 1930 to 1935. His leadership, though marked by controversy, saw the school through the most difficult years of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He oversaw the transition of the school's curriculum from a two-year to a four-year junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
program.
Wilcox was born in Mason, Michigan
Mason, Michigan
Mason is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is named after the state's first governor, Stevens T. Mason. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,252. It is the county seat of Ingham County. Mason is the only city in the U.S. that serves as a county seat ahead of a state capital,...
on March 17, 1886. Wilcox obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other U.S...
in 1910, and subsequently studied at the Newton Theological Institute in Massachusetts until 1911. In 1913, he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity
Bachelor of Divinity
In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology or, rarely, religious studies....
from the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York is a preeminent independent graduate school of theology, located in Manhattan between Claremont Avenue and Broadway, 120th to 122nd Streets. The seminary was founded in 1836 under the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with nearby Columbia...
. In 1920, he obtained a Master of Arts in Education from the Teachers' College of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He subsequently traveled to California and received a Cubberly Fellowship at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, where he earned a Doctor of Education
Doctor of Education
The Doctor of Education or Doctor in Education degree , in Latin, Doctor Educationis, is a research-oriented professional doctorate that prepares the student for academic, administrative, clinical, or research positions in educational, civil, and private organizations.-Differences between an Ed.D...
from the Stanford University School of Education
Stanford University School of Education
The Stanford University School of Education , is one of the seven schools of Stanford University. It is the second-oldest school of education in the United States, after NYU...
in 1930. Wilcox's graduate study focused on the junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
, and this was a significant factor in his selection for the presidency of Shimer.
1930 was also the end of the tenure of Shimer's second president, William Parker McKee
William Parker McKee
William Parker McKee was an American educator and Baptist minister. He served as the chief executive of Shimer College from 1897 to 1930, a position known at the time as "Dean". During this period the school was known by turns as the Frances Shimer Academy, Frances Shimer School, and Frances...
, who had served since 1897. He had also served in administrative positions at schools in China. Based on this experience, his graduate studies, and the recommendations of prominent educators, Wilcox was unanimously recommended by the search committee and approved by the Shimer College Board of Trustees, at a salary of $5000 per year.
Presidency
Upon assuming the presidency of the school, then known as the Frances Shimer School and located in Mount Carroll, IllinoisMount Carroll, Illinois
Mount Carroll is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States-History:Shimer College was established in Mt. Carroll in 1853, but mounting debts forced a move to Waukegan, Illinois in 1979. The campus now is home to several organizations, most notably the Campbell Center for Historic...
, Wilcox encountered significant administrative and financial obstacles. Due to the administrative vacuum in the late years of the McKee administration
William Parker McKee
William Parker McKee was an American educator and Baptist minister. He served as the chief executive of Shimer College from 1897 to 1930, a position known at the time as "Dean". During this period the school was known by turns as the Frances Shimer Academy, Frances Shimer School, and Frances...
, local members of the Board of Trustees had become actively involved in college governance, which made it difficult for Wilcox to assert his authority. A loan for more than $10,000 had been taken out against operating funds to pay for the construction of the gymnasium in 1929, but no provision had been made to pay it back. An auditor's report in 1930 further cited "numerous evidences of carelessness in the handling of accounts".
Based on his training in educational administration, Wilcox implemented various changes in Shimer's operations. In the first year of the Wilcox administration, the curriculum was changed from a combined University-preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
and two-year junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
to a four-year junior college. In recognition of this, in 1932, the name of the college was changed from "Frances Shimer School" to "Frances Shimer Junior College". Wilcox also expressed concern about reducing the school's high attrition
Attrition
Attrition may refer to:*Physical wear*Attrition warfare, the military strategy of wearing down the enemy by continual losses in personnel and material*Loss of personnel by Withdrawal...
rate, and in 1933-1934 relaxed school rules to provide the students with greater freedom and responsibility. In addition, he simplified the fee structure and hired guidance personnel including a psychologist.
Beginning in 1931, the power struggle between Wilcox and local trustees led by Samuel J. Campbell intensified, as financial pressures due to the Depression forced austerity measures including a 10% reduction in faculty pay. In the first years of the Wilcox administration, enrollment fell from 215 to 129, which led many faculty to feel that Wilcox was not properly addressing recruitment and promotion issues. The faculty also felt that their voices were not being heard by the Board, because they were filtered through Wilcox's reports. After Campbell issued a second call for the Board to meet to discuss problems with Wilcox, Wilcox tendered his resignation on April 27, 1935, effective June 30 of that year. He was succeeded by A. Beth Hostetter, longtime instructor and administrative officer who served as Acting President until the appointment of Raymond Culver
Raymond Culver
Raymond Benjamin Culver was a Baptist educator in the United States and the fourth president of Shimer College....
in 1936.
Wilcox received an honorary doctorate of divinity from his alma mater Kalamazoo College in 1932.
Later life
After leaving Shimer, Wilcox moved with his family to Menlo Park, CaliforniaMenlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
and undertook additional postgraduate study at Stanford. He subsequently served at Linfield College
Linfield College
Linfield College is an American private institution of higher learning located in McMinnville, Oregon, United States. As a four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts and sciences college with a campus in Portland, Oregon, it also has an adult degree program located in eight communities throughout the...
in Oregon. In 1939, he left Linfield for the University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
, where he served as the director of curriculum, guidance and admissions. He retired in 1954.
See also
- History of Shimer CollegeHistory of Shimer CollegeThe history of Shimer College begins in 1853, and has involved a series of crises and profound changes. Because of this, the college is often symbolized by a phoenix which is reborn from its own ashes...
- List of Shimer College people