University of Virginia Library

Marcus Mallett

The retirement in July of Marcus B. Mallett,
Associate Dean for Special Scholars, will open
an immense gap within the office of the Dean
of the College. Since his appointment in
1966, Mr. Mallett has been a leader in
curriculum reform. His innovative activism
was a chief force in the steady growth - both
in size and quality - of the Echols Scholar
program. For those fortunate enough to be
selected, Mr. Mallett created a program which
placed the educational experience above all
else. He helped students circumvent the snares
of red tape in finding courses with particular
appeal, aside from those harsh considerations
of area requirements with which most
students, unfortunately, are all too familiar.
In that respect, he set an example for the
entire College. Marcus Mallett has shown us
what is possible, and what should be feasible
for a larger segment of the student body.

The foresight of Mr. Mallett's progressive
vision finds testament in the realization that
most of the reforms adopted last year by the
College faculty were modeled on the very
changes he administered in the Echols
program years ago. But as the College at large
followed, Mr. Mallett pushed forward in
Echols toward even greater academic
freedom. Today, Echols Scholars are required
simply to garner 120 credit hours, pursuing
individually determined courses of study.
They are encouraged, moreover, to take a
year's leave for study at a different school.
Such a program rivals those offered at any
school in the country.

Mr. Mallett leaves his impressive mark
elsewhere than the Echols program. Among
his many chores has been the direction of
Liberal Arts Seminars for independent study,
the First-year Seminar plan, a Study Abroad
program, and the new University Major
program. Also, he has served as dean for
honors students. These duties have deluged
Mr. Mallett with special requests, some trivial,
but each one important to the student
involved. Without exception he fought hard
for his students: whatever the outcome was,
each person knew Mr. Mallett had done his
best.

The choice of a replacement for Mr.
Mallett will be a crucial one. While no
decision has been made, recommendations are
being solicited by Irby Cauthen, Dean of the
College, who said the next Associate Dean for
Special Scholars probably will not assume all
of Mr. Mallett's formidable responsibilities.
Other deans are likely to take on some of the
additional programs with the help of
newly-recruited assistants from the faculty
ranks.

Mr. Cauthen's decision to divide Mr.
Mallett's range of duties seems sound. Few
persons might be expected to assume such a
monumental role as Marcus Mallett so
willingly - and able - made his own. One
hopes the Dean's office will continue in the
excellent style manifest in the selection of
Kenneth Elzinga and Fred Diehl as associate
deans. The appointment of a younger member
of the faculty - one whose rapport with
students will fit the example Mr. Mallett has
provided - is of vital concern to all. It is late
in the year. Any appointment now is likely to
stir the kind of departmental squabbling
which has come to characterize such
situations. But it is imperative that the
interests of personalities and departmental
politics follow in second place to the larger
concerns of the College and of the University.