Office of the President Records

The records of the Office of the President are divided into four series: (1) Office of the President; (2) Office of Human Resource Management; (3) Office of Institutional Planning; and (4) Office of Multicultural Affairs and Disability Services.

Series 1 contains reports, memos, policy statements, and inaugural invitations/programs for Ruth A. Haas, Ralph C. Jenkins, and Dr. James R. Roach (folders 10, 12 and 16). Forms dating back to the school's early history, when the school was known as Danbury Normal School, can be found in folder 9.

Correspondence originating from the president's office to the WCSU community contains miscellaneous information regarding budget cuts, administrative matters, and personnel policy, and is only representative of the information flowing from the Presidents office. Of particular interest is a letter sent to President Roach from Messrs Stan Smith and Alexander Williams regarding a report issued by the Danbury NAACP charging WCSU of racial discrimination, and the failure of the university to retain minority faculty and staff. Dr. Roach's response to this letter, and a memo to the University Senate from Vijay Nair, is also included in folder 16.

Series 2 contains employment surveys, studies, and population forecasts for the greater Danbury area.

Series 3 contains planning documents for a new campus in what is now known as the Westside Campus. This series contains proposals and correspondence from architect John Johansen regarding the organizational relationships of campus design and outlines of building elements and organizational ideas for the planned Academic Center.

This series also contains inter-department correspondence concerning campus planning and selection of Master Physical Planner, mission definitions by academic areas initiated by OIP and WCSC departments, and site justifications including space requirements and special architectural descriptions. During the planning process, students and faculty met to discuss the new campus. These meetings were called "Think Tanks" and their reports summarized the main topics discussed and posed questions such as "What is the educational mission of the college, and what are its implications for the new campus?" (box 1, folders 29-30)

Series 4 contains information regarding regulations for Affirmative Action including the required elements of an Affirmative Action plan, review and monitoring such a plan, and enforcement procedures that was prepared by the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Series 5 Collection includes several viewbooks, histories, brochures and pamphlets concerning Western's offerings and expansion circa 1940's to the late 1970's. Several planning proposals for expansion and dedications of Western are also included in the series. Material regarding the inauguration of University President J.W. Schmotter is extensive.