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University of San Diego Cabinet records
USDA.058
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
University of San Diego Archives
Title: University of San Diego Cabinet records
Creator:
University of San Diego. Cabinet
Creator:
University of San Diego. Office of the President
Identifier/Call Number: USDA.058
Physical Description:
7 Linear Feet
(6 record cartons and 2 letter sized doc box)
Date (inclusive): 1974- 2017
Abstract: The University of San Diego Cabinet records contain meeting minutes, agendas, and other workshop and reference materials created
or used by the Cabinet in the course of regular activities from 1974 to 2017. The Cabinet (also sometimes referred to as the
University Cabinet or President's Cabinet) serves as an advisory body to the President and the Board of Trustees on institutional
affairs. Their meetings cover topics relating to academics, budgeting, strategic plans and mission statements, as well as
other administrative matters as needed.
Language of Material:
English
.
The University of San Diego Cabinet records contain minutes, agendas, reference materials, attendee list, memorandums, and
workshop information from meetings held by the Cabinet of the University of San Diego from 1974 to 2017. These materials cover
discussions and decisions made by cabinet members in regards to courses, student life, awards, funding, and general visions
of the campus's future. These meetings touched on topics such as freedom of speech on campus in relation to speakers, commencement
planning, building and space allocations, faculty and student policies, as well as campus statements about specific issues.
Agenda items and discussions generally follow the historic events happening at the time, such as the AIDS epidemic and the
Gulf War. Copies of approved meeting minutes may either be found alongside the meeting that they were approved at or the meeting
that they are from. Agendas and other materials are arranged in chronological order.
The Cabinet of the University of San Diego is an advisory body to the President and the Board of Trustees that provides counsel
on institutional affairs. This group, composed of the President, Vice Presidents, Deans, the Chair of the University Senate,
and the Secretary to the Cabinet, handles matters relating to academics, budgeting, strategic plans and mission statements,
as well as other administrative matters as needed.
The Cabinet was founded after the merger between the San Diego College for Women and the San Diego College for Men and the
School of Law in 1972. The Cabinet, as described in the 1973 "Case Study Report of the University of San Diego to the Senior
Accrediting Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges", was established to handle University-wide administrative
matters and operate primarily at the policy-level. Organizationally, this committee was situated under the President and the
Board of Trustees, on the same level as the Faculty Senate which was responsible for matters related to curriculum, academic
regulations, and faculty status.
Throughout the 1970s, the Cabinet of the University of San Diego (often referred to as the University Cabinet at this time)
spent a significant amount of time discussing how to mitigate the merging of colleges. Primary topics of conversation revolved
around office relocations and space allotments, staff redundancies, budgets, plans for campus and student body growth, as
well as policies for faculty, staff, and students.
The Cabinet in the 1980s clarified their role as one of policy formation and communication, responsible for appraising financial
reports and delegating tasks to other committees. Dr. Author E. Hughes, president of the university from 1971 to 1995, described
them as a 'network for communicating with the rest of campus'. Additional cabinet members were added, including a member of
the Faculty Senate under the advice from surveys and reports that called for greater collaboration amongst campus groups.
Cabinet agendas from this time show conversations and decisions surrounding budgets, projected needs, commencement planning,
guidelines, recruitment, and enrollment.
In the late 1990's, under President Alice B. Hayes, president from 1995-2003, the Cabinet once again worked on defining and
solidifying their roles and functions within the administrative sphere as the campus continued to grow and change. The agendas
from 1997-1998 show the Cabinet (sometimes referred to as the President's Cabinet starting in 1996) ironing out comprehensive
frameworks and definitions for their operations. Within this framework, they defined their purpose as evaluating special projects
and program proposals; reviewing financial and strategic issues as well as priorities for the institutional budget; reviewing
and recommending candidates for emeritus status; participating in the review and implementation of the university's mission,
vision, and strategic plan; and serving as a vehicle for communication of viewpoints and issues that affect the institution
as a whole. They specify that they are responsible for handling topics related to: academic projects and programs that have
been reviewed and recommended by the faculty council and deans of a school; agendas of the Committees of the Board of Trustees;
university budget proposals; the university strategic plan and mission statement; and other matters where the review of the
Cabinet is deemed necessary. These guidelines also laid out the processes for deliberation of agenda items and potential outcomes.
Agendas of this time detail new majors being added, enrollment, promotional and marketing plans, and collaborations.
During the terms of President Mary E. Lyons (2003-2015) and President James T. Harris III (2015- present), the Cabinet continued
to focus on new degree proposals, surveys of campus needs, policy development, as well as campus master plans, renovations,
and strategic plans for the future
Source: Case Study Report of the University of San Diego to the Senior Accrediting Commission of the Western Association of
Schools and Colleges - January 1973. Fifth-Year Report to The Western Association of Schools. Self-Study Report Appendix Volume
2 2000.
University of San Diego University Cabinet records are closed for 75 years from the date of creation, except for personnel
related records or any records restricted by law or otherwise classified as confidential by the university.
University of San Diego University Cabinet records are the physical property of the University of San Diego, Archives and
Special Collections. Copyright, except in cases where material has passed into the public domain, belongs to the authors or
their legal heirs and assigns.
[Folder Title], Box # Folder #, University of San Diego Cabinet records, Copley Library, University of San Diego, Archives
and Special Collections. [Date accessed].
University of San Diego University Cabinet records were transferred to the archives by the Office of the President at the
University of San Diego during the term of President James T. Harris III (2015- present). Materials were transfered in two
batches, Cabinet Agendas and Meeting Minutes from 1974 to 2004 and later 1996 to 2017.
The University of San Diego Cabinet records are divided into two series: Cabinet Agendas and Meeting Mintues and President's
Office Cabinet Agendas, Meeting Minutes, and Workshops. Copies of agendas and minutes believed to be belonging to Presidents
Hughes, Hayes, Lyons, and Harris were separated from the Cabinet Agendas and Meeting Mintues series and placed in the President's
Office Cabinet Agendas, Meeting Minutes, and Workshops series.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
University of San Diego
Catholic universities and colleges
Advisory boards in higher education
College administrators Selection and appointment
Universities and colleges Departments
College presidents
University of San Diego. Cabinet