Kennedy speaking at Fall staff conference, 1972

[00:00:05] Mr. James King leads the opening prayer [00:01:14] Colonel Solway leads the Pledge of Allegiance [00:01:45] Mr. Wilson announces the names of people who members of the platform party but are not to be introduced in the program later [00:03:25] Wilson introduces further members of the Cal Poly family such as the group of pastors and leaders of campus organizations [00:06:54] Wilson introduces Barton C. Olsen, Chairman of the Academic Senate [00:07:07] Olsen speaks on the goals set forth for Cal Poly in Kennedy's inaugural speech [00:08:58] Olsen asks the faculty to examine their commitment to the educational and democratic process so Cal Poly will become a renowned institution [00:09:38] Wilson introduces Howard Zogg, Chairman of the Staff Senate [00:09:52] Zogg greets the faculty and staff, assuring them that they came to one of the finest universities in California [00:11:30] Wilson introduces Robbin Baggot, President of the Associated Students, to provide greetings from the student body [00:11:58] Baggot thanks the faculty for helping produce such productive students [00:12:26] Baggot assures the audience that the students have increased communication with the administration in order to improve the educational process [00:12:55] Wilson introduces President Kennedy [00:14:19] Kennedy states that he always becomes nervous when gets up to address the faculty [00:15:20] Kennedy says he is excited for the upcoming challenges for the college [00:16:11] Kennedy says the prevailing spirit and drive at Cal Poly are due to high expectations [00:16:45] Kennedy admits that there were periods in the history of Cal Poly when the future looked grim [00:17:56] Kennedy quotes a phrase about education from the first director Dr. Leroy Anderson [00:19:40] Kennedy says that he has fought battles for Cal Poly at any time or place necessary [00:20:20] Kennedy admits that these responsibilities take him away from the campus more than he would like and thanks the faculty and staff that also represent Cal Poly [00:21:56] Kennedy states that it may be more difficult than ever to maintain realistic goals, limitations, and direction with the beginning of the "University Era" that officially begins this new season [00:22:58] Kennedy states that as long as the role of the university is undefined, they will be able to bend to the needs of society [00:24:00] Kennedy explains why Cal Poly kept its nickname and kept the "Polytechnic" in its name rather than fit uniformly with the other State Universities [00:25:28] Kennedy says he was pleased with the recommendation to keep the name in order to not lose the heritage and educational direction [00:27:20] Kennedy describes the importance in keeping the Cal Poly name [00:28:52] Kennedy says Cal Poly must continue to award faculty for their teaching of students [00:29:42] Kennedy says that the Polytechnic title may turn off the counter culture kids in society [00:30:42] Kennedy says the careers within the system that the counterculture find the most distasteful are the same jobs a polytechnic institution is most likely to produce [00:32:32] Kennedy hopes Cal Poly will be able to fulfill the niche once considered the role of the land grant institution, as agricultural and mechanical colleges were created to educate the common people [00:33:09] Kennedy says Cal Poly is something of a land grant institution since it has recently received almost 5000 acres of federal land [00:36:10] Kennedy suggests that those seeking relevance of the new state universities should consider the success of the 19th century agricultural colleges [00:37:30] Kennedy says he became acutely aware in 1967 that he had a responsibility to improve the equality of opportunity for minority races [00:39:01] Kennedy discusses the total effectiveness of the Affirmative Action program that was established 7 month earlier [00:40:12] Kennedy invites those critical to the Affirmative Action program to submit a better plan to reverse the discriminatory practices that resulted in Cal Poly having an almost all-male all-white faculty and staff [00:41:11] Kennedy says he and Mrs. Kennedy took a trip around the county with Mexican-American staff members in order to talk with local Mexican-American communities about how Cal Poly can support them [00:43:00] Kennedy talks about common critiques of the goals of Universities [00:43:40] Kennedy states the dual goal written in the catalog is to prepare students for the basic requirements of specific occupations and to help the individual reach their maximum personal development [00:44:58] Kennedy addresses the concern of whether a university serves the individual or society, and explains how a university can do both [00:46:55] Kennedy says the the students of Cal Poly need to be leaders for the world [00:48:15] Kennedy talks about the need to be efficient and have quality control in its academic standards [00:49:19] Kennedy talks about the likely visitation of independent accreditation reviewers to investigate certain campuses in response to dissatisfied students reporting lack of academic requirements [00:50:17] Kennedy says he is proud to say he has not heard any criticisms of Cal Poly faculty members failing to be professional teachers [00:51:09] Kennedy talks about his concern of the polarized positions of resistance to change and over eager accepting of change that may affect Cal Poly as it becomes a university [00:53:53] Kennedy talks about the issue of other institutions accepting change for the sake of change without considering how it fits into their particular institution, and thus becoming too similar [00:55:22] Kennedy talks about the intriguing idea explored by the Newman Commission Task Force of accreditation by examination for courses that students may already be qualified through previous education and experience [00:57:04] Kennedy points out that some of the proposals of the Newman Commission Task Force have been addressed by Cal Poly to its own satisfaction years earlier [00:58:27] Kennedy talks about the importance of identity and community in a big university [01:00:28] Kennedy talks about the difficulty in managing the annual growth of a university and its local area [01:02:40] Kennedy reads quotes from the LA Times about students favoring a turn to vocational education programs and about Cal Poly turning away students [01:03:30] Kennedy states that the request to hold enrollment in the 1970 year was made because the campus and the community could not absorb more students without additional housing [01:04:54] Kennedy discusses the evaluation of the planned enrollment ceilings through the 1990s [01:08:17] Kennedy talks about an orientation meeting in which he spoke with the parents of new students [01:08:58] Kennedy talks about living in the President's Home (often called the McPhee Home) on campus [01:10:10] Kennedy repeats his expression of using the home as a social, cultural, and educational asset for the entire campus community [01:11:00] Kennedy repeats an affirmation of diligence and devotion in working with the faculty and students [01:11:25] Audience applauds [01:11:49] Wilson asks those faculty that are to receive awards to come up to the backstage area [01:12:30] [beginning of interference from other side of tape that will increase in volume until the end of the recording] [01:12:46] Wilson presents faculty member Dr. Glen A. Nobel for the award for outstanding teaching [01:14:50] Wilson calls forth a several faculty from different departments to accept Distinguished Teachers Awards [01:17:21] Wilson names the individuals that qualify to be named as members of the Emeritus Faculty [01:18:55] Wilson names the individuals that qualify to be named as members of the Emeritus Staff [01:21:09] Wilson presents the 25 Year Service Award of the State of California