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Boston College. Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences

 Organization

Dates

  • Usage: 2015 - present
  • Usage: 2015 - present
  • Usage: 1863 - 2015

Biography

Boston College, established in 1863, initially focused on a core curriculum emphasizing the higher Arts and Sciences. The early campus administration consisted of a pair of prefects charged with overseeing studies and discipline. By 1914, the position of a dean overseeing "the College" was created. As the campus expanded, additional schools, including the Graduate School and Law School, were established. By 1936, the College of Arts and Sciences was formally named, with a dedicated dean responsible for its administration. Today, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is appointed by the President of Boston College and approved by the trustees. This dean reports to the Academic Vice President and Dean of Faculties and is responsible for appointing, evaluating, and managing the faculty within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Though there have been many changes and innovations in the curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences, the College’s purpose has remained clear: to provide a sound foundation of liberal learning in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences that prepares students for more specialized study in majors and for the larger challenge of leading a good life. With the resignation of Dean Joseph Quinn during the 2006-2007 academic year, the university announced a planned reorganization which saw the closure of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the redistribution of curricular programs offered through it to the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences. Administrative oversight over graduate programs was reallocated to two created positions within the Dean's Office and Provost's Office.

In 2015, the College was renamed the Robert J. Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences in recognition of a large financial gift made by Robert Morrissey, Class of 1960.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

W. Seavey Joyce, SJ, President’s Office records

 Collection
Abstract The W. Seavey Joyce, SJ, President’s Office records document Joyce’s tenure as twenty-third president of Boston College, 1968-1972. This collection consists largely of administrative records and contains building plans, committee records, correspondence, departmental records, development records, and faculty and subject files. Subject files contain personal materials, inaugural materials, and materials focusing on student and faculty relations with the administration. The collection also...
Restrictions on access

Collection is closed. Access with permission of office. Departmental records and faculty files containing student records, faculty tenure and promotion files, and other records containing personally identifiable information are closed due to privacy restrictions.

Dates: 1944 - 1974; Majority of material found within 1968 - 1972

Michael P. Walsh, SJ, President's Office records

 Collection
Abstract The Michael P. Walsh, SJ, President’s Office Records document Walsh’s tenure as twenty-second president of Boston College, 1958-1968. This collection consists largely of administrative records and contains committee, departmental, and faculty files as well as admission records, building plans, correspondence, subject files, and materials relating to the University's centennial celebrations in 1963. Subject files contain biographical information in addition to other topics of interest to...
Restrictions on access

Collection is open for research. Series I. Admissions is closed in its entirety due to privacy restrictions, and is stored off-site. A small amount of material in other series is also closed due to privacy restrictions.

Dates: 1933 - 1982; Majority of material found within 1958 - 1968