The Victoria College, 1925-2000: A Tradition of Excellence

also formed to provide directional advice on
long-range planning and to review the faculty
policy handbook. Goodson also changed the
time-honored system of certain courses and
instructors not being assigned to any department.
The new president instructed the dean to
assign every teaching faculty member to one of
the newly created divisions. Furthermore, the
division chairs were given responsibilities and
authority much beyond the minor roles of
department chairmen under the previous modus
operandi. Chosen by Whiteside to present to the
president for confirmation as the first division
chairs were Dr. Ben Burdine, Social and
Behavioral Sciences; Dr. C. F. Schneider,
Humanities and Fine Arts; and Bennie
Schramm, Science and Math. Additionally, two
individuals remained in their posts but were
placed on par with the divisions. They were
Tom Walton, director of Vocational and
Technical Programs, and Marilyn Morris, director
of the Associate Degree Nursing Program. 5
An administrative overhaul took place as
well. Goodson reduced the number of administrators
who reported to him and renamed
positions to better reflect his viewpoint that
two-year colleges were providers of services.
Whiteside assumed the title of dean of
Instructional Services and Bob Gaines was
named dean of Financial and Administrative
Services. A dean of Student Services was also
established under the new administrative
arrangement. The person who probably would
have been appointed to fill that spot, Director of
Student Personnel Dr. Blake Farmer, announced
his intent to resign at the end of the academic
year. To fill the vacancy, a nationwide search was
initiated. At the end of the interview process,
which included applicants from the college,
Goodson selected Dr. Alice Ann Isaac, director
of School Relations and Academic Development
at Hartnell College, Salinas, California, to round
out the dean positions. 6
How to resolve the issues associated with
deteriorating buildings, inadequate classroom
and science lab space, a new facility for UHV,
and landscaping was near the top, if not at
the top, of Goodson’s agenda when he moved
into his office on the second floor of the
Administration Building. He tackled the questions
by appointing a sixteen-member planning
committee comprised of administrators,
faculty, and staff. Goodson charged the group
with the responsibility of reviewing the existing
infrastructure and recommending a building
program. What the committee initially
suggested in the way of new structures was,
perhaps, more ambitious than the president
✯
Dr. Alice Ann Isaac, dean of Student
and Information Services.
A New Chief, A New Era ✦ 181