Philip E. Austin
Encyclopedia
Philip E. Austin was the thirteenth President of the University of Connecticut
(UConn) from October 1, 1996 to September 2007, and returned to serve as Interim President in May 2010 following the departure of Michael J. Hogan
. The University of Connecticut has campuses in Storrs, Farmington, Groton, Hartford, West Hartford, Stamford, Torrington, and Waterbury enrolling over 28,000 students, with a total operating budget of approximately $1.4 billion. He is the father of two children, Patrick, 23, and Philip James, 21, currently a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
fraternity.
. After attending grammar and high school in Casselton, North Dakota, he graduated from North Dakota State University
with a B. S. degree in 1964, and became a member of the Sigma Chi
Fraternity. He earned an M. S. Degree in Agricultural Economics there in 1966. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Michigan State University
.
Dr. Austin’s service in the United States Army extended from 1969-1971.
He was an Economist with the rank of Army Captain in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Affairs at U. S. Military Headquarters in Saigon, Vietnam.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal during his military duty.
From 1974 to 1977, Dr. Austin was HEW Deputy Assistant Secretary for Education in Washington, D.C. During the latter part of this assignment, he also served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Education. He served as an Economist in the Director’s Office of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget from 1971 to 1974.
From 1978 to 1984, Dr. Austin served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Economics and Finance at Bernard Baruch College in New York City. He was previously Director of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Public Policy at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
He was the U.S. delegate to several international conferences on education and economic policy (e.g., Iran, Romania, France, Saudi Arabia) and was a member of a three-person team invited by the Government of Denmark to evaluate that country’s educational programs and policies.
System. The System included campuses based in Tuscaloosa (UA), Birmingham (UAB), and Huntsville (UAH). The three-campus System, each headed by a president, had a student enrollment of over 43,000 students with a budget of $1.3 billion.
Before assuming the Alabama position, Dr. Austin was President of Colorado State University
. He was concurrently Chancellor of the Colorado State University System that included the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo (now known as Colorado State University-Pueblo), and Fort Lewis College in Durango. He held the academic rank of Professor in the Department of Economics and the Department of Finance.
Afterward, he became President of the University of Connecticut
, where he served for ten years. During President Austin’s tenure, the University has undergone a major physical transformation, aided by the State of Connecticut’s $2.3 billion investment in infrastructure enhancement. Concurrently, UConn has experienced significant growth in the size and academic strength of its student body, enhancement of research, and expansion of public service. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked the University of Connecticut as the top public university in New England. Dr. Austin currently serves as President of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and as chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors. During Dr. Austin's tenure, the University completed a capital campaign, with more than $425 million raised.
In September 2007, Austin resigned his position as President of the University.
On June 11, 2010 Dr. Austin returned to serve as the interim president of the University of Connecticut.
A chair in economics has been named for him.
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
(UConn) from October 1, 1996 to September 2007, and returned to serve as Interim President in May 2010 following the departure of Michael J. Hogan
Michael Hogan (academic)
Michael J. Hogan is an American academic who has served in the administrations or on the faculty of many American universities, wrote or edited numerous books, contributed as an adviser to the U. S. Department of State and several documentaries....
. The University of Connecticut has campuses in Storrs, Farmington, Groton, Hartford, West Hartford, Stamford, Torrington, and Waterbury enrolling over 28,000 students, with a total operating budget of approximately $1.4 billion. He is the father of two children, Patrick, 23, and Philip James, 21, currently a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon
Delta Kappa Epsilon is a fraternity founded at Yale College in 1844 by 15 men of the sophomore class who had not been invited to join the two existing societies...
fraternity.
Early life
Austin was born in Fargo, North DakotaFargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
. After attending grammar and high school in Casselton, North Dakota, he graduated from North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
with a B. S. degree in 1964, and became a member of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
Fraternity. He earned an M. S. Degree in Agricultural Economics there in 1966. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
.
Dr. Austin’s service in the United States Army extended from 1969-1971.
He was an Economist with the rank of Army Captain in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Affairs at U. S. Military Headquarters in Saigon, Vietnam.
He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal during his military duty.
From 1974 to 1977, Dr. Austin was HEW Deputy Assistant Secretary for Education in Washington, D.C. During the latter part of this assignment, he also served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Education. He served as an Economist in the Director’s Office of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget from 1971 to 1974.
From 1978 to 1984, Dr. Austin served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Economics and Finance at Bernard Baruch College in New York City. He was previously Director of the Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Public Policy at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
He was the U.S. delegate to several international conferences on education and economic policy (e.g., Iran, Romania, France, Saudi Arabia) and was a member of a three-person team invited by the Government of Denmark to evaluate that country’s educational programs and policies.
Administrative career
Dr. Austin served for seven years as Chancellor of The University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
System. The System included campuses based in Tuscaloosa (UA), Birmingham (UAB), and Huntsville (UAH). The three-campus System, each headed by a president, had a student enrollment of over 43,000 students with a budget of $1.3 billion.
Before assuming the Alabama position, Dr. Austin was President of Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
. He was concurrently Chancellor of the Colorado State University System that included the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo (now known as Colorado State University-Pueblo), and Fort Lewis College in Durango. He held the academic rank of Professor in the Department of Economics and the Department of Finance.
Afterward, he became President of the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, where he served for ten years. During President Austin’s tenure, the University has undergone a major physical transformation, aided by the State of Connecticut’s $2.3 billion investment in infrastructure enhancement. Concurrently, UConn has experienced significant growth in the size and academic strength of its student body, enhancement of research, and expansion of public service. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked the University of Connecticut as the top public university in New England. Dr. Austin currently serves as President of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and as chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors. During Dr. Austin's tenure, the University completed a capital campaign, with more than $425 million raised.
In September 2007, Austin resigned his position as President of the University.
On June 11, 2010 Dr. Austin returned to serve as the interim president of the University of Connecticut.
Other
He is active in several national professional associations. He is chairman of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Board of Directors, and immediate Past President of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). He serves on the Board of Directors of Connecticut United for Research Excellence, Inc. (CURE), the Governor’s Council on Economic Competitiveness and Technology, and the MetroHartford Regional Economic Alliance. He has served on the Boards of Directors of several private-sector enterprises, including the First Interstate Bank of Fort Collins, Colorado, the Alabama Power Company, the American Cast Iron Pipe Company, and Fleet Bank.A chair in economics has been named for him.