For many people, their school days are a source of nostalgia. School was merely a short stop during a long life, a place to look back on fondly while being glad that days filled with lectures, homework, quizzes and tests are over and done with.

For William M. Chace, the campus was always a part of his life. The former president of Emory University spent a half a century in the educational system, seeing it from the eyes of a student, professor, administrator and college president. Upon his departure from Emory and his retirement, Chace sat down to write a book about his decades of experience in the American collegiate system and what came out was “100 Semesters.”

Chace will be speaking about his book at the Peachtree City Library Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

When he was a high school student, Chace never thought that he would be involved with education for the rest of his life, but he fell in love with reading and writing in college and decided to keep learning and teaching along the way. His passion for English took him from Haverford College to a graduate program at the University of California, Berkeley. He became a professor at Stanford University and soon found himself getting involved with the administrative side of things at the school on his way to becoming an associate dean. In 1988, he was selected to be the president of Wesleyan University and in 1994 he left Wesleyan for Emory.

“Going from teacher to administrator was a gradual process,” said Chace. “Two things contributed to the change directly; one was sitting on a committee assessing tenure candidates for the university, which gave me exposure to professors in all different majors, and the other was a growing disenchantment with the English department, which had students pursue more theoretical pursuits rather than encouraging a love and deeper understanding of the books themselves.”

In writing “100 Semesters,” Chace examined a question that had intrigued him at every level while he was on a campus; what holds a major research university together? The answer, as far as he is concerned, is the pursuit of truth. While the collegiate experience continues to change exponentially, the professors continue to search for and teach the truth of their field.

As for the changes, there have been big changes on may campuses and Chace has mixed feelings about many of them. The biggest change is how expensive college is today. Chace’s tuition in his junior year at Haverford College was $2,500, today tuition is $41,100. Chace arrived at school with a typewriter and a suitcase, while many of today’s students show up with computers, stereos, microwaves and dorm fridges. The schools are also trying to build the best facilities, becoming almost resort-like, with bowling alleys, movie theaters, gyms and the like.

“Today nearly everyone is on financial aid,” said Chace, adding that the average student leaves college with around $20,000 of indebtedness. However, some families don’t qualify for as much financial aid and many people can’t afford to go to elite private colleges and universities, meaning that students who do attend those schools don’t experience a cross section of the American public.

Chace would also like to see a greater focus on the development of the moral character of students, stating that while smaller schools, particularly those with a religious background are able to do this, larger schools have no one to do this.

“The faculty is pursuing their disciplinary interest,” said Chace, adding that the President or Provost aren’t in positions to do this either. “Professors have to make a name for themselves on the national or international map, tenure is very hard to achieve, and being better in their field rarely envelopes raising the moral character of their students.”

In his 50 years on a college campus, Chace has also seen the student body drift away from studying Humanities, subjects like English and Philosophy, because it appears impractical for those looking to get a job and a good one directly after college.

“Students should know that they can still get into law school or med school while also majoring in English,” Chace said.

While many of the changes that Chace has seen take away from a focus on academics, especially the intense focus of many schools on college athletics, particularly football and basketball, Chace still has a great love the collegiate experience in America.

“Higher education is one of the United States’ best inventions,” said Chace. “It has done lots of good, helped so many people and is highly regarded in the world.”

Chace will reading from “100 Semesters” and signing the book next Wednesday at the Peachtree City Library at 7 p.m. The library is asking parties interested in attending the event RSVP by calling 770-632-4274 or registering on-line at www.peachtree-city.org/library.

login to post comments