7cMKg2

I. Olkin 9
1.3.1 The Visiting Lecturer Program in Statistics
The Visiting Lecturer Program (VLP) in Statistics was a major undertaking
by COPSS. At the Annual Meeting of the IMS held at Stanford University in
August 1960, discussion in the Council of the Institute, program presentations,
and general comment forcibly re-emphasized the need to attract many more
competent young people to professional careers in statistics. Governmental,
educational, and industrial requirements for trained statisticians were not being
met, and new positions were being created at a faster rate than the output
of new statisticians could address. The difficulty was compounded by a paucity
of information about careers in statistics, by the loss of instructional personnel
to higher-paying, non-academic employment, and by competition from other
sciences for students with mathematical skills. A proposal for a program of
visiting scientists in statistics covering the years 1962–67 was drawn up and
presented to the National Science Foundation. The program was funded in
1962 by means of a three-year NSF grant to set up the Visiting Lecturer
Program in Statistics for 1963–64 and 1964–65 under the Chairmanship of
Jack C. Kiefer. The VLP was administered by the IMS but became a COPSS
Committee because of the nature of its activities.
The original rationale for the VLP was described as follows.
“Statistics is a very broad and exciting field of work. The main
purpose of this program is to convey this excitement to students and
others who may be interested. Specifically, we hope that this program
will:
1. Provide information on the nature of modern statistics.
2. Illustrate the importance of statistics in all fields of scientific endeavor,
particularly those involving experimental research, and
to encourage instruction in statistics to students in all academic
areas and at all levels.
3. Create an awareness of the opportunities for careers in statistics
for students with high quantitative and problem-solving abilities
and to encourage them to seek advanced training in statistics.
4. Provide information and advice to university and college faculties
and students on the present availability of advanced training in
statistics.
5. Encourage the development of new courses and programs in
statistics.”
Over the years the objectives changed somewhat, and by 1995 the Program
had five similar main objectives: (1) to provide education and information on
the nature and scope of modern statistics and to correct misconceptions held
in regard to the science; (2) to establish and emphasize the role that statistics
plays in research and practice in all fields of scientific endeavor, particularly
those involving experimental research, and to encourage instruction in statistical
theory and application to students in all academic areas; (3) to create an
awareness of the opportunities for careers in statistics among young men and