Aug. 27,1986
Scranton initiates
Plan lor Central PA College
“Every cloud has a silver lin
ing, ’ ’ could be William Scranton’s
philosophy toward life.
When the former governor of
Pennsylvania heard the news
from Secretary of Defense
Robert NcNamara on November
19, 1964 about the closing of the
Olmsted Air Force Base in Mid
dletown, he contacted Eric
Walker, president of PSU. Scran
ton, concerned of the impact of
11,000 base members losing their
jobs, asked Walker to consider
opening a graduate school at the
site. Referring the matter to the
Administrative Committee on
Long Range Planning. Walker re
quested a proposal on the
feasibility on Olmsted becoming
a school.
On August 10,1965, the basic plan
the Capitol Campus was finished,
creating not just a graduate
school, but an upper division col
lege capable of offering bachelor
degrees, as well as associate
degrees in selected technological
areas and master degrees. This
would complement the offerings
of other local efforts, namely the
newly opened Harrisburg Area
Community College, and at the
same time ease the strain on the
growing University Park cam
pus.
With the encouragement of Har
risburg leaders, the school mov
ed forward, setting an almost im
possible target date of opening
for Fall 1966-one year later.
Things began to move quickly.
By the end of August 1965 the
organization structure was
developed and presented to the
school’s board of trustees.
In December Governor Scranton
made the formal request for the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
to secure the north complex of
177.5 acres of Olmsted Air Force
Base. On March 10,1966 the state
Board of Education passed the
Penn State resolution to approve
the new project, closing the legal
procedure. This allowed Scranton
to approve the funds for
establishing the campus.
Curriculum, which was being
created since January, included
courses in humanities and social
science.
September 1966 came, and with
it the first class of 18 students,
transfers from other com
monwealth campuses a.nd
University Park. They were
greeted by a faculty of eight
which had been hired during the
previous three months. These in
cluded still active members of
the school today: Nancy Tischler,
Stanley Miller, Murray Budney,
George Wolf.
With such a small teaching
load, professors spent much of
their time developing cur
riculum. This, combined with
faculty hiring, was to become the
major focus over the next few
years.
Improvements on these fronts
were readily visible. By the se
cond year of operation programs
in elementary education,
engineering technology, and
business administration were ad
ded to the maturing humanities
and social science programs to
serve 513 students.
Capitol Campus’s first com
mencement in June 1968 with 12
graduate students, was held in
Beaver Stadium in conjunction
with the University Park
ceremony. Demonstrating the
closeness of those first years,
campus administration, faculty,
and staff joined student’s and
their families on a bus for the two
hour trip to State College.
Enrollment continued to climb
in the third year to 1,002, being
taught by a faculty of 29 full-time
Capital Times
and 19 part-time. By June 1969,
the graduation was brought home
to Capitol Campus, awarding 251
baccalaureate and 4 master’s
degrees.
A reorganization took place in
1972. Coleman Herpel, director of
the campus from its inception,
retired. The position was redefin
ed and renamed as provost. The
first person to hold this office was
Robert McDermott. His
achievements during his seven
year tenure included building of
the Multi-Purpose. Building and
developing PROBE (Potential
Reentry Opportunities in
Business and Education) to aid
women returning to work or
school after many years.
In 1979 Theodore L. Gross
replaced McDermott as provost,
determined to push the campus
into a major university role in
Southeastern Pennsylvania. Over
a period of five years he created a
board of advisers, approached
the private sector for funds, reac
tivated the Alumni Society, and
began the campaign for the
Science, Engineering and
Technology building.
Stanley Miller served as acting
provost, filling the position
vacated by Gross in 1983. Serving
only as a temporary replace
ment, he completed many pro
grams begun by Gross, as well as
remodeling the Admissions Of
fice.
Our present leader, Dr. Ruth
Leventhal came on board July 1,
1984, Some of her achievements
during her short reign have thus
far included campus beautifica
tion, cultural center, and increas
ed attention to minority and
women recruiting programs.
As we enter this anniversary
year, events are being planned to
emphasize existing programs or
introduce new ones. The “noble
experiment,” as Capitol Campus
was dubbed in its early years, nas
been an obvious success.
ioeoset
This makes it official. The’Capitol Cam-
pus in now in business.
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