Douglass College Council Records

The records of the Douglass College Council, and its predecessor Committee on Academic Regulations, document the history of curriculum development and student academic affairs 1928 to 1970. The college was originally named the New Jersey College for Women (NJC) when founded in 1918, and renamed Douglass College in 1955 in honor of the college's first dean, Mabel Smith Douglass.

The NJC Committee on Academic Regulations was comprised of faculty who rotated positions of Chair and Secretary. If circumstances permitted, the dean of the college would also participate. During 1928-1929 there were two separate committees: Academic Regulations and Committee on Deficient Students. These bodies were merged in 1929-1930.

The following academic staff held the office of chair:

The following were secretaries for the committee:

Although the scholastic standing of students has been the concern of the committees, the names and the scope of function of these committees has changed periodically. For many years, one committee dealt with admissions and scholastic standing of the under-classes, while another body focused on the concerns of the upper classes with both committees reporting to the faculty.

The Committee on Academic Regulations supervised the academic status of juniors and seniors from the spring of 1936 through the spring of 1956. They dealt with the following problems: deficient students; course changes; special programs; deferred and special examinations; prolonged absences; and disciplinary action.

In 1956 a reorganization of faculty committees took place resulting in the transfer of function of the Committee on Academic Regulations to a new faculty body named the Douglass College Council. An executive secretary became responsible for much of daily operations for the board including writing correspondence, scheduling meetings and sending notices. Executive secretaries included: