1970s

1970

Renaissance Fund for disadvantaged students established.
Behrend Campus expands offerings to four-year baccalaureate programs.
Seven students dismissed for campus disruption on recommendation of Woodside Commission.
Dr. John W. Oswald begins administration as thirteenth President of the University on July 1.

Final issue of Faculty Bulletin (vol. 59, no. 11, September 10, 1971) published. To be succeeded by Intercom. First issue of Intercom, September 23.

Affirmative Action Office opened.
Behrend Commonwealth Campus designated Behrend College of The Pennsylvania State University.
Alumni Fellows Program established.
Name of Ordnance Research Laboratory changed to Applied Research Laboratory.

Division of undergraduate studies established.
Woman elected chairman of the University Faculty Senate for the first time (Dr. Helen I. Snyder, associate professor of educational psychology).
Program to name chairs, professorships and faculty fellows established.
Long-life rechargeable heart pacemaker developed at The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center with assistance of College of Engineering personnel. Implanted in first patient, a 76-year-old Harrisburg woman.

Office of governmental affairs established as part of the office of the President; position of vice president for public affairs discontinued.
University trademark policy adopted.
President authorized by Board of Trustees to invite one student and one faculty member to participate in board meetings.
Alumni Vacation College initiated.
President John W. Oswald assumes national presidency of Association of American Universities.
Trustees on July 19 authorized open meetings of the Board of Trustees, starting with the September 20th meeting. Twenty-five visitors, including representatives of news media, attended.

** BICENTENNIAL EVENTS **

"Be Glad Then America," with Sarah Caldwell, of the Opera Company of Boston, presented February 6, 7 and 8 as a Penn State bicentennial project. Composition written by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John LaMontaine on commission of the Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies.
Faculty Club opened August 30, 1976.
Dr. Edward D. Eddy, Jr., named provost, effective August 1, 1977.
Penn State conferred 200,000th degree, August 28.
Policy on confidentiality of student records, complying with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, approved.

Faculty reject unionization in election held March 30-31 by Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Vote was: no representative, 1,712; Pennsylvania State University Professional Association -- PSEA-NEA (PSUPA) 642; and American Association of University Professors (AAUP) 500.
Five-year cyclical planning and budgeting process adopted for Penn State.

Heart assist pump designed by interdisciplinary team at Hershey and University Park can help save hundreds of lives of heart surgery patients annually.
Coal strike and resultant electric utility shortages lead to lengthening of March term break by two weeks and shortened spring term. Class action suit filed by students for refund.
Pam Davis, psychology major from Philadelphia, first graduate of Black Scholars program.
King of Prussia Graduate Center moved to Radnor, redesignated Radnor Center for Graduate Studies and Continuing Education.
Expanded air commuter service to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Baltimore initiated at University Park Airport.
Six-week strike by Teamsters' Local 8, representing Penn State's technical services workers concluded with signing of three-year contract. Expanded benefits including dental and vision insurance apply throughout University.

University Scholars Program, initiated by Faculty Senate, to coordinate existing honors programs and foster an increased level of commitment to academic excellence in undergraduate programs.
GO-60 program established providing free tuition for credit classes and reduced tuition for correspondence courses for retired persons 60 years of age or older.
Benner Case challenging constitutionality of the composition of the Board of Trustees, specifically the agricultural, industrial and alumni trustees being illegal by virtue of denial of students' rights to participate in selection, decided in favor of University by U.S. District and Appellate courts.