Dossier f92 - Royce, Jean (IV: Hooey, 5 March 1978)

File consists of a recording of Jean Royce. Topics of the conversation include administrative handling of graduate studies programme previous to Dean of Graduate Studies appointment (late 1950s); limited number of graduate students (most perhaps in Geology); access to outside funding, especially from industry, mining, National Research Council Fellowships. Position as Secretary to Fellowships Committee; responsibility for graduate student admissions, in consultation with Department heads. Undergraduate scholarships in 1950s: Department of Veteran Affairs assistance for WWII veterans; entrance scholarships; Queen's obsession with self-image as national university, introduction of undergraduate provincial scholarships, one per province (large number of Saskatchewan applicants). Details of Provincial Scholarship. Peculiar case of Alison Mackintosh, brilliant student constantly awarded scholarships: father's determination not to accept money from university coffers, continued bequests to university to match Alison's scholarships. Sudden drop in applications from rural students, connected with expiry of original donors to Principal Grant's fund drive (permitted to nominate one student each for free tuition). Opinion that Depression didn't deter serious students. Farm students' specialization, application to Ontario Agricultural Colleges rather than to Queen's; numerous small scholarships available at agricultural colleges, limited competition. Short-lived Whig Standard poetry prizes ($500 to three students). Gen­ eral Motors Scholarships (since discontinued) as a great boon to students. Numerous petty undergraduate scholarships. Position on Scholarship Committee with heads of departments. Occasional cold shoulder turned towards subject as administrator by faculty member; friendship with most of faculty; absence of administrative - academic hostility as it exists now. Enormous load of responsibility: positions on Library Board; as secretary to Senate, Faculty of Arts, all committees; preparation of degrees, scholarships; lengthy consultation by faculty members; counselling of individual students, referring of student problems. Flexible yet consistent nature of university regulations then, intelligent application of regulations made possible by thorough acquaintance with individual student histories, by having one person (i.e. Royce) in charge, in intimate acquaintance with all university committees. Misgivings of some university faculty about Registrarial power; subject's sense that she did not wield power, things were decided by committee. Administrative role of Deans during 1950s, tie-in with Registrar's Office. //Subject's introduction of detailed agenda for committee meetings. Lack of inhibition on account of sex, practice of speaking up in committees at will. Prophecy on visit with Deans to schools that any university omitting to establish Department of Russian would regret this; subsequent initiation of Russian Department at Queen's. Beginning of student representation on decision-making committees in late 1960s, previously unthinkable, never considered; appreciation of students' enormous contribution to committees, 'some of them are infinitely more intelligent than their professors'. Queen's Saturday luncheons for high school students. Subject's indebtedness to Professor George Whalley for lessons in good printing and design. Tedious tasks of marks recording, calendar preparation, done by staff assistants. Subject's assumption of ever-greater responsibilities for efficiency's sake, service to students of having one single central place to apply to for help; clumsy irresponsible systems of those who doubted her. Enjoyment of personal counselling; knowledge which faculty member a student would best be referred to. Faculty decision only to counsel students on receipt of $25 counselling fee. Subject's selection of faculty to man desks during registration. Faculty members' former habit of departing on holiday last day of spring classes, leaving submission of student marks to clerical staff; Royce's suggestion they should stay till marks were safely in. Position on Board of Library Curators. Close working relationship at first, 'learning the ropes', with former Registrar Dr. McNeill. Dr. McNeill's respect for women. Circumstances of original appointment to assist Registrar Alice King. Dr. McNeill's background as scholar, new to financial administration: proud claim that no one lost in salary at Queen's throughout Depression, as happened in many universities. Strong conservative element 'in any thinking man', naturally cautious nature of scholars and universities.