University of Virginia Library

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE COLLEGE

The circumstances of Dr. Morgan L. Combs' administration of the College and relations with the
Board over the past sixteen months having been reviewed, the following Report of the Committee on
Mary Washington College was read to the Board

MARY WASHINGTON COMMITTEE

The Committee is extremely conscious of the seriousness of the problems arising from the
situation existing at Mary Washington College. It has constantly concerned itself that no hasty
action be taken and the matter be handled with fairness and justice to all concerned. Every effort
to have President Combs cooperate to this end has met with failure. The Committee is of the opinion
that the Board, Rector of the Board and President Darden have been more than tolerant, have exhausted
every effort for reconciliation, and have gone far beyond the call of duty in their efforts to give
full credit for Dr. Combs' achievements and to deal with him on a dignified plane and with full
consideration for his personal attitude

Statements in letters written by Dr. Combs followed by circulation of the recent paper entitled,
"The Whole Story at Mary Washington College" are in the opinion of the Committee inexcusable.
Such attacks as made on the Rector of the Board, other members of the Board, a former member of the
Board and members of his own staff at Mary Washington College are inappropriate and unwarranted.

Recognizing the increasing gravity of the problem, the Chairman of the Committee unofficially
visited and talked with Dr. Combs in an effort to have him cooperate in order that the Board could
justify retaining him in office. This effort having failed, a second visit was made and it was
suggested to him that he request retirement at age 65. He was informed that should he do this a
proposal would be made to the Board that he be given leave of absence beginning July 1, 1955 with
full pay to retirement

Every proposal has been met with refusal and defiance followed by constant direct attacks and
implications involving former and present Board members, and members of the Mary Washington staff

Every effort having failed to resolve this matter, your committee is of the opinion that
Dr. Combs' actions have now placed the Board in the position that to retain him in office would be increasingly
detrimental to the College and would be evading the responsibility imposed upon the Board.

The Committee recommends

That Dr. Combs be granted a leave of absence, disassociating himself from the affairs
of the College, beginning April 11, 1955 with full pay from private funds, to June 11, 1956.

After expressions of approval and further discussion, the Board resolved that the Committee's
Report be filed with the Secretary and spread in full upon the minutes. Members having pointed out
that the final recommendation would place Dr. Combs in the position of an inactive president rather
than an employee-at-large on terminal leave, a motion to approve and adopt the Report in full was
defeated