February 17, 1956: Regents Meeting with Dean Jacoby's Report
On this date the Regents of the University of California met in the Administraton Building on the Los Angeles campus. Chancellor Allen and Dean Jacoby were in attendance. President Sproul introduced Jacoby who spoke to the opportunity to establish a graduate center of management education and research on the Los Angeles campus. The report was attached to the Minutes of the meeting. It had been approved by both Raymond B. Allen, UCLA Chancellor, and Robert Gordon Sproul, University of California President.
The negotiation with IBM was only one part of Jacoby's presentation. Two new developments were revealed here. IBM would contribute $500,000 or so toward the cost of constructing a building to house the center and about $50,000 per year toward the cost of operation.
More important by far is the long range development plan for management education on the Los Angeles campus that he presented to the Regent. Using the IBM Proposal as a catalyst, even possibly an excuse to appear before them, he presented an eloquent seminal document in the history of the entire School, one that would govern its future for many years.
"An opportunity now exists to create on the Los Angeles campus within a few years a graduate center of management education and research of world-wide importance."
"As the leading university of the Pacific area, the University of California carries a special responsibility for helping to meet world-wide demands for management education. It is an investment in our nation's security and welfare."
His plan called for a Business Administration Center in an area of 10 to 15 acres north of the BAE building that would initially include offices, classrooms, laboratories, a computer center and a library. Subsequently, residence halls and dining facilities for graduate students and business executives attending programs on campus would be added. These might be shared with law and economics.
The Regents expressed a keen interest in the project proposed. Regent McLaughlin stated that "it was a far-sighted plan and along the lines of study which the Regents must make in regard to the future of the University." Regent Carter "was interested in the proposed use of computing machines" stating that in his opinion "the whole future of control of business lies in that area."
The Regents referred the general matters in the report to the Committee on Educational Policy for study and report back to the Board. It authorized the President to explore further with IBM representatives, the possibility of establishing a 705 computer facility on the Los Angeles campus and to report back to the Board through the appropriate committees.
Now, the computer center discussion was at the level of the University decision makers.
Dean Jacoby did not get all that he was asking for. He did get a computing center in 1958 and a new building and library in 1961. He did not get a residence hall or a dining facililty. However, the campus did. Just south of the library and computing center is the Lu Valle Commons eating facility. And, just east of the building across what is now Young Drive is the UCLA Guest house.
The part of the Minutes of the Regent's meeting that deals with Dean Jacoby's report is available here.
Dean Jacoby's entire four page Report is available here.