Gerald W. Smith Memoir - Brookens Library

Gerald W. Nth 2041. A state survey of higher education needs - a Master Plan.2. A subsequent local survey in accordance with the state plan.'3. Tne authority and responsibility of a state agency in apprwinglocal proposals - something like a state board.4. Local control of junior colleges.I5. A pattern and formula for financial support.I6. Corrrpreh&mive propams in junior colleges.I7. Institutional identity of the junior college.ISo here was a document that came out. I think we need to know that thiskind of a document was in the think- of all of the people who were participatingin our master plan.Then, in April of 1962 an inportant conference on comprehensive collegeswas held on the campus of the University of Tllinois. It was sponsored bythe Illinois Citizens Education Cornnittee and the Jllinois Association ofJunfor Colleges. I think a word is in order about the Illinois CitizensEducation Codttee, since this is the first time that orgmization hasbeen ident;Efied.Sometime after World War 11--I do not remerrber the exact date--the IllinoisCitizens Educatfon Cormittee was formed, made up prhmri1.y of citizens--that's how it got its name--who were interested in educational issues andeducational problems and whose purpose it was to promote discussion on anobjective basis on a wide range of educational subjects and issues, andto serve as a public forum. %e committee had a fairly definite structureand they succeeded in attracting a sizable nwnber of people from all overthe State who were very conscientious about their par+ticipation in theprogram. Now the organization never grew to my pat size. It stillexists.:Q. Oh, really?A. Yes. It never grew to any mat size, but it did pursue its obj c-tives faithfully. It so happens that that group with the AJC held t is conferenceon comprehensive colleges in April of 1962 which turned out o beas good a fom as was ever held in the State of Illinois dealing withthe principle issues that had to be pulled out and focused on with rqgardto a state system in Illinois. It was attended by industrial leadera,people from the business field, lay people just interested in education,by representatives of junior colleges, public schools, and universities.Again, it was not a huge conference, but it was, as I remember it, a2 l/2 day discussion. Appearing at the conference were the people who representedpractically every point of view with regard to junior collegedevelopment you could think of. The more conservative within the publicdomdn, the radicals within the public college domain, Dr. McLure apqearedthere to defend his proposal and then, of course, he was responded tc) by