Jack B. Critchfield (1969-1978)

Jack B. Critchfield (1969-1978)

Description

Jack B. Critchfield was born on May 23, 1933 in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, who earned his BS in Education from Slippery Rock State University and his MA and Ed.D. from University of Pittsburgh. In 1968, after a summer-long search, Jack Critchfield was selected to succeed Hugh McKean as the eleventh president of Rollins College. At the time, Critchfield was associate provost at the University of Pittsburgh. Despite lacking experience in college presidencies or fundraising, Critchfield was chosen for his intelligence, charisma, and youthful energy – he became President at the young age of 36.

One of Critchfield’s early initiatives was to reform college governance. He led efforts to establish a college senate, headed by faculty officers, and created the role of Provost. These changes shifted academic authority from the president to the faculty and marked a move toward a more formal governance model. During the tenure of President Critchfield, Black Student Union was formed in the early 1970s, and Rev. Jesse Jackson visited Rollins for the Black Awareness Week in 1973. In addition, Business Administration and Area Studies majors were added to the college curriculum, and Central Florida School for Continuing Studies was renamed to Rollins School of Continuing Education, along with a new program of master’s in criminal justice.

With academic responsibilities delegated, Critchfield focused on fundraising. He established the college’s first Development Office, and he himself excelled at building relationships with local business leaders to secure valuable support for the college. His most notable achievement was strengthening ties with the Alfond family, whose financial contributions led to the creation of the Alfond Athletic Scholarship and the construction of the college’s first swimming facility, the Alfond Pool. In other areas of campus architecture, O’Neal House was razed, Lyman Hall was burned down, the New Hall was renamed Hugh McKean Hall, the New Women’s Dormitory was renamed Ward Hall, the Morse Gallery of Arts was renovated into the Cornell Fine Arts Museum, in addition to several new construction projects such as the Cornell Fine Arts Center, Hauck Hall, Keene Hall, and U. T. Bradley Boathouse.

In 1977 he announced he would be leaving the College to become CEO of Florida Power Company. The 1977–78 yearbook, The Tomokan, was dedicated to him in appreciation of his service. In addition, to honor his services to the College, Rollins also established the annual Jack Critchfield Grant, which was awarded exclusively for faculty research projects, both domestic and international.

First Year of Presidency

1969

Jack B. Critchfield (1969-1978)
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