————— A: WEBER STATE COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION JANUARY = 1972 PAUSING TO REFLECT What is your basic philosphy of higher education and has your philosophy changed over as a professor of education until his full retirement at age 68. A quiet, but determined leader, Doctor Miller has spent 43 years in education, beginning as an elementary school teacher in Davis County in 1929. In his 43 years in education, Dr. Miller has run the gamut of experience, while serving as both teacher and administrator. He has been an elementary school principal and teacher in Davis County, Coordinator of Weber County schools, Superintendent, Clerk and Treasurer of the Weber County schools, Assistant Superintendent of Ogden City Schools, Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Utah and in 1953 was named the President of Weber College. The quiet determination of Bill Miller is perhaps best evidenced in his own quest for an education. He attended Weber in 1926, and after holding various positions in between, received his bachelors degree from Utah State University in 1936. By way of occasional residence and _ frequent correspondence courses, he earned a Masters Degree from the University of Utah in 1942 and a Doctorate in Education from Stanford University in 1949. In nineteen years as the head of the states fastest education, dramatic education, growing institution of higher by public statements and by actions they emphasized that a democracy can succeed only with an enlightened citizenry. The events since 1776 have verified their assumptions. Our economic and social progress has been the result of highly educated and well trained individuals. The specific purposes of higher education change from time to time with changing conditions. During the period following World War II the business and industrial leaders ofthe country stressed and has in Weber formed State some and in opinions about education and its eventual role in the American society. This article is an attempt to recap some of the experiences of the Miller years, the accomplishments of Bill Miller and what he feels is the future of higher education. President Miller offered the comments here recorded in response to questions posed in an interview with Alumni Executive Director Michael Macfarlane. im- portance of liberal arts education and leaving to business and industry the specific training for specific jobs. Recently the national emphasis has shifted toward career training leaving liberal arts under criticism. In my opinion this emphasis will shift toward a balance between the two. Both are essential. I feel every person.in this country. should have the opportunity for post-high school education to the limits of his abilities. The social and economic problems of today will not be solved without highly trained people. We need more higher education not less. Such training may or may not lead to bachelor degrees and should include all phases of technical education as well as the liberal arts. During the past 19 years my philosophy of education has been changed only to the extent of realizing more fully how essential higher education is to the success of our country and the world. What do you feel is your greatest contribution to Weber State? It has been my good fortune to have been associated with Weber State College during the most rapid growth and expansion in its history. With the full cooperation of the members of the faculty, staff and students and with the support of our governing boards, members of the Ogden community and members of the Utah Legislature, the following are some of the important developments during my term as President. President Miller and wife Mary President Miller has seen a lot of changes the ~ ~ These have been made possible by the fine work done by those who have preceeded me as president and those who were members of the faculty during Weber’s long history. _ The progress of the past 19 years could not have been possible without the cooperation and full support of those who have been associated with me in administrative positions. The credit for our progress should be given to them equally as much as to me. One. of the major problems facing the college in 1953 was the move to the new campus and immediately following the partial move in 1954 was the problem of providing physical facilities on the new campus to enable the entire college to be housed on the new campus. It required six more years to construct the facilities for the technical and physical education programs. During this period it became obvious that the size of the original purchased site for the new campus was inadequate and efforts were undertaken to purchase all of the undeveloped land west of the canal and east of Harrison Blvd. and some of the land east of College Heights and west of the Skyline Drive. During 1971 the campus was further expanded by the purchase of 23 acres between Country Hills Drive and 46th Street and 8 acres north of 36th Street and east of Kingston Drive. It is obvious that additional undeveloped land in the college area should be purchased to provide for future growth of the college. A most significant event in the history of the college was the authorization given by the 1959 Utah Legislature to permit Weber to expand its curricular offering to include upper division courses. The expansion of Weber into a four-year degree granting in- stitution has made it possible for Weber to retain its former function and to expand its services to thousands of additional individuals who otherwise might be deprived of upper-division educational opportunities. A competent dedicated faculty is the foundation of the college. Weber is most fortunate to include in its faculty excellent teachers who are exceptionally well qualified for the technical programs and also graduates from the finest universities of this country and the world. Weber’s faculty members offer superior educational op- portunities to our students. - eh 4 pes a college paramount imdemocracy. The gh the a Ve) ol | ee at 19 years? Education is in American founders of our country recognized this and On Tuesday, November 23rd Dr. William P. Miller, the thirteenth president of Weber State College, submitted his request for release as head of the 10,000 student Ogden institution. The request was made to the Utah State Board of High Education at the regular meeting held in Salt Lake City. President Miller has been president of Weber State since 1953 and is completing his nineteenth year. In requesting his release, President Miller asked that he be allowed to remain the past Higher portance i