1964-65

During the months before his retirement, President Draughon had initiated the most ambitious building program in the history of the university. Governor George C. Wallace and the Alabama legislature had supported the building bond issue.

1965-66

During the past year, the legislature held a special session to allocate surplus funds in the Special Education Trust Fund. Auburn would receive $3,139,595, a 26.2 increase in the state appropriation. Since 1963 the Wallace administration had increased Auburn's state appropriation by 88 percent.

1966-67

During the past year, Auburn initiated Project '67, "a penetrating study of the entire instructional program." Faculty committees, with student representatives, had been established to examine specific portions of the program.

1967-68

Development of the Montgomery campus had been delayed by action in the federal courts. The Project '67 committees had made their recommendations and their implementation was under discussion. The Alabama Education Study Commission had completed its report, which included projections for Auburn during the coming decade.

1968-69

Growing out of Project '67 recommendations, the university had offered several new course sequences on an experimental basis. These would be incorporated into the general studies program "to provide greater educational breadth." This program of "liberal education" would provide the basis for departmental and professional major programs. Philpott praised the educational leadership that had been provided by Governor Albert Brewer.

1969-70

During the past year, Auburn inaugurated a new curriculum, which provided a basic course of study for all incoming freshmen. There had been additional curriculum changes growing out of Project '67. Philpott also included a retrospective look at the past decade, which included mention of court cases over William Sloan Coffin's speaking engagement on campus, the Alabama State Teachers' Association's attempt to block establishment of a four-year branch campus in Montgomery, and a case regarding hiring discrimination within the Cooperative Extension Service.

1970-71

President Philpott noted that some long-term trends appeared to be changing. For the first time since the end of World War II, there had been an overall drop in enrollment. The momentum of public support for higher education had stopped and it appeared that Auburn would operate a level funding for the next biennieum. And new graduate programs were restricted to those which could be built upon existing resources. Auburn had hoped to build "a broad program in public health" at the Montgomery campus, which would have entailed moving the School of Pharmacy there, but this was blocked.

1971-72

Revenue for the Special Education Trust Fund was higher during the past year, but it did not offset inflation.

1972-73

Thanks to Governor Wallace and the legislature, Auburn received the greatest ever increase in its state appropriation--35.9 percent. With this, the salaries for all academic ranks at Auburn would be within one step of the national average for comparable institutions. The board lost Frank P. Samford, Sr., to death, but he was replaced by his son, Frank P. Samford, Jr.

1973-74

In January, 1974, Auburn was notified of its reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

1975-76

Overall, state appropriations increased for 75-6, but "teaching appropriations" were reduced. Anticipating cut-backs, Philpott left some positions unfilled and initiated other plans for "greater efficiency." He complained that the university's independence continued "to be eroded by outside forces." For example, to comply with Title IX "the traditional rules for students living on campus were abandoned," offices that served students were reorganized, the Dean of Women's position was abolished, and an assistant director for women's athletics was hired. The president said that "efforts to meet government enforced requirements" represented "a growing expense...in...time and personnel." Philpott also welcomed Shug Jordan to the board of trustees.

1976-77

The university fared somewhat better financially than it had during the previous year, but Philpott still noted studies underway to promote "greater efficiency in the future financial and operational functions" of the school.

1977-78

Governor Wallace and the legislature had increased the state appropriation for 78-9 by $9 million over the previous year, but the president noted that this should be considered "in the light of increasing costs of operation and the devaluation of the dollar by inflation."

1978-79

Philpott expressed "a deep sense of personal appreciation" to the board when he submitted this, his final annual report as President of Auburn University. He said he knew that Auburn would prevail "through these financially uncertain times," which had included proration during the last fiscal year, level funding for the current fiscal year, and "the erosive effects of unremitting inflation." The president welcomed Governor Fob James as the new ex officio chairman of the board.
 

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