The Institute Report o ume • urn ler Vi.. Jinia l\Iilitan Institute Newsletter a ' I , Davis named recipient of Settle receives international recognition Cox Professorial Chair as pioneer in laboratory robotics Col. Thomas W. Davis, pro­ Dr. Frank A. Settle, Jr., VMI professor of chemistry emeri­ fessor of history, has been se­ tus, was one of eleven scientists recognized as a Pioneer in lected the second recipient ofthe Laboratory Robotics at the tenth International Symposium on General Edwin Cox Distin­ Laboratory Automation and Robotics (ISLAR). The symposium, guished Professorial Chair in his­ held in Boston, Mass., October 25-28, attracted 425 participants tory and economics. The chair, from 31 states and 11 countries. fIrst held by Col. John G. Barrett Each award winner, by implementing laboratory robotics, in the Department of History, was responsible for developing a new application or for design­ was established by the VMI ing a unique solution to a technical problem. The Pioneer awards Foundation, Inc. are presented annually at the symposium, and the winners are The endowed chair is selectetl by a committee of previous winners from a group of awarded for a fIve-year period peer-selected nominees. and is based upon exceptional Settle was cited for pioneering laboratory robotics in both teaching ability, exemplary per­ education and research. He has used robotics to teach basic formance in keeping with the mission of VMI, profIciency as a concepts in chemistry by directing undergraduate students to scholar, service as adviser to cadets, effective membership on develop the qualitative analysis scheme using robotics. A press committees, and community service. The holder of the chair is release from ISLAR states, "This is an advanced idea that provided with a special award of $37,500, paid in annual install­ captures the interest ofthe students through the use oftechnology ments of$7,500. The appointment is made by the Superintendent and causes them to think far deeper than they normally would to ofVMI. provide the logical chemical steps for the automation. Through Col. Davis, a 1964 distinguished graduate of VMI, has been the use of technology, he has made the tedious work oflearning teaching at his alma mater for the past 20 years. He also served chemistry fun and challenging. The use of robotics in this two years as Associate Dean of the Faculty and was Acting Dean endeavor is uniquely inventive, visionary, and an outstanding during the 1989-90 school term. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. teaching device." from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and was on The release also said that his work as a part ofthe Consortium active duty with the United States Army from 1966 to 1968. on Automated Analytical Laboratory Systems is "on the cutting During his tenure at VMI, Davis has written a book about edge of the fIeld." His efforts on the Inorganic Demonstration VMI athletics, The Corps Roots The Loudest and was editor ofA Projects helped develop control protocol and unique software Crowd of Honorable Youths, a book of historical essays. In structure design. This work enabled the project to demonstrate ad~ition he wrote a book on British history and several scholarly the modularity and encapsulation ofmethods which are seperate articles. He has received national grants from the American from the software in manipulation of the robotic microwave Philosophical Society, the National Endowment for the Humani­ demonstration. ties, and the Danforth Foundation. He has also been the recipient Dr. Settle retired last spring of VMI's Distinguished Teaching Award and Distinguished following 28 years of service to the ~ervi~ Award. His major teaching areas are British history, VMI chemistry department. He re­ mcludmg Adam Smith and the classical economists, Western mains an adjunct professor with the Civilization, and the French Revolution and Napoleon. His department and serves as an adviser research interest focuses on the Age ofGeorge III (1760-1820) in religious and social history. for senior thesis research projects. For the current spring semester, he Col. Davis is the Institute's Faculty Chairman of Athletics, and Col. Donald E. Thomas, profes­ which carries chairmanship of the Athletic Coun cil, and is sor of history, are team teaching a chairman of the Foreign Study Committee. Former duties have history elective, HI 481, Making of Continued on page 3 the Atomic Bomb. From the Superintedent The current discussion in Virginia about cbange and improvement in higher education bears directly on the structure and goals of VMI's educational pro­ gram. The discussion began in 1989 when the Governor's Commission on the University ofthe 21 st Century stated in a 20-page report that "Virginia's col­ leges and universities need to reassess what they teach and the way they teach it if educators want their institutions to be competitive in the next century." The discussion has continued between the State Council of Higher Education and Virginia's college and university presidents and has focused on the issue of Cadets starui at attention during the salute to President Clinton's restructuring higher education in the Commonwealth. inauguration on January 20. After the barui played "Hail to the Like all other colleges in the state system, VMI has re­ Chief," General Knapp gave some briefremarks, then granted the sponded to the recommendations of the Commission of the 21st Corps amnesty. Century. Among our responses are the development of a Center for the Study of Science, Technology and SOCiety, and the Court Case Update establishment of an International Studies Program. In addition, a VMI Task Force on Science and Engineering is studying ways to VMI petitions United States Supreme Court strengthen these areas at the Institute, and concerted efforts are On January 19 VMI's legal team asked the United States being made to provide cadets and faculty with modem educa­ Supreme Court to review the decision" of the U.S. Court of tional information technology and services. These initiatives are Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on the constitutionality of the in line with the Commission's call for programs that respond to Institute's single-sex admissions policy. the need for competence in mathematics, science, technology, The Supreme Court should decide sometime between March communication, and the formation of a global perspective. and the end ofMay ifit will hear the case. Ifitdoes take the case, Across the Commonwealth, implementation of the recom­ the Court would likely set hearings next fall and possibly render mendations of the Commission on the 21st Century have been a decision by early spring of 1994. Ifthe Supreme Court opts not slowed down by the current economic downturn. In July of last to review the decision by the Fourth Circuit Court ofAppeals, the year, the college presidents issued a report on the effects ofsevere case reverts to Judge Jackson Kiser ofthe district court to which budget cuts on their institutions and on their declining ability to it was remanded by a three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit provide essential services. Welcome news was received in No­ Court of Appeals. vember when much-needed funds were made available for capi­ That panel suggested that the Commonwealth of Virginia tal improvements through passage of the $472 million general had not sufficiently articulated its policy of diversity, and in so obligation bond referendum. VMI will benefit from the bond doing, the judges stated that the Commonwealth has at least three issue by receiving funds to continue Barracks improvement work options: 1. admit women to VMI and adjust the program accord­ and the transformation of Preston Library into the hub of an ingly; 2. establish parallel institutions or parallel programs; 3. information network. abandon state support, leaving VMI the option to operate as a The State Council of Higher Education has submitted a private institution. Judge Kiser's ruling in June 1991 upheld preliminary report to the General Assembly on the issue of VMI's admissions policy. change and improvement in higher education. The report, which calls for serious changes in the way teaching is done in Virginia's colleges and universities, proposes a fundamental shift in how colleges and universities deliver services through restructuring the curriculum, streamlining management, improving enroll­ ment planning, and committing to higher levels of quality. Although there has been a debate over the question of whether or not the colleges are being asked "to do more with less," the State Council's preliminary report supports institutions like VMI that are wholly undergraduate and that are committed primarily to teaching. VMI will respond to the issues raised in the SCHEY prelimi­ nary report through its strategic planning. The call for more emphasis on teaching is consistent with a long-standing commit­ ment at VMI; thus, our goals of quality teaching and the total development of the cadet will remain foremost as we plan for the 21st century. VMI joins Virginia Higher Education Nell Byers, instructor in fine arts, dies Broadcasting Consortium Nell Cooke Byers, a member VMI is among twelve state-supported colleges and univer­ of the VMI faculty since 1986 and sities which have joined the Virginia Higher Education Broad­ instructor in fine arts, died Decem­ casting Consortirnn. This organization is the result ofjointefforts ber 6 in Roanoke Memorial Hospi­ by public relations professionals at several of Virginia's state­ tal following a brief illness. She supported institutions and the State Council ofHigher Education was 34 years old. (SCHEV). Ms. Byers grew up in Lexing­ Efforts are underway to include all of Virginia's state­ ton; her father, Col. William F. supported schools in the Consortium. The purpose of the organi­ Byers, was a member of the VMI zation is to demonstrate to the citizens of the Commonwealth faculty and is professor emeritus of how Virginia' scolleges and universities add value notonly to the English.