CCCS$CG4DS
Bdmont Abbey Collc9C
VOLUME VI, Number 6
BELMONT, N.C.
August, 1978
Fr. Tobin Names New Dean
FY. Neil Tobin, president of Belmont Abbey College, has named
Dr. J. Patrick Lee academic dean of the College.
In the words of Fr. Tobin, “Belmont Abbey College is indeed
fortunate to welcome a dean of the personal and professional quality
of Dr. Lee. His association with both a small college and a large
university offers him a blend of experience which will be beneficial
to our institution.
“We are especially honored to have as dean a person who has
enjoyed the prestige of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship
(1963-64), the Danforth Foundation National Fellowship (1963-67),
the Fulbri^t Fellowship, Universite de Paris (1966-67), and the
National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Fellowship
(1973).”
Since 1971 Dr. Lee has been an assistant professor of French at the
University of Georgia. He held a similar position at Brescia College,
Owensboro, Ky. from 1%7-71.
Dr. Lee, who was selected as dean over some nne himdred other
candidates for the position, holds the B.A. degree in French from
Brescia College, where he graduated first in his class, and the Ph.D.
degree in French from Fordham University.
A Phi Beta Kappa Scholar, Dr. Lee is a member of Alpha Mu
Gamma and Pi Delta Phi. He is listed in the 1963 edition of Out
standing Young Men in America and the 1974 edition of the Directory
of American Scholars.
Dr. Lee, who has done extensive travel and research abroad, is the
author of numerous articles, book reviews and papers, and is
currently under contract with Twayne Publishers for a vvolume on
Benardin de Saint-Pierre to be published in the Twayne World
Author Series.
He is a member of the Modern Language Association, the South
Atlantic Modern Language Association, the \i.!C .;an Society for
Eighteenth-Century Studies, the Amer'C J.’ ‘vssociation of Teachers
of French and various other professional organizations.
As academic dean of Belmont Abbey College, Dr. Lee is the chief
academic officer for handling the educational responsibility of the
institution. He has within his purview the entire educational area of
the College, including all academic programs and academic per
sonnel.
Dr. Lee, who assumed his position Aug. 1,1978, replaced Fr. James
Solari, O.S.B., academic dean of Belmont Abbey College for the
past eight years. Fr. James has left the College to begin work in
organizing a church in Clemmons, N.C.
Looking Back . . .
Dr. J. Patrick Lee
HIGHLIGHTS OF 1977-1978
A review of the academic and fiscal year 1977-78 at
Belmont Abbey College shows that our 102nd year was
one of solid accomplishment. We are especially pleased
to report the highlights of the year to all who helped to
make our achievements possible, and to whom we are
extremely grateful.
... Fr. John P. Bradley submitted his resignation from
the presidency, effective May 31,1978, after eight years
of dedicated service in that position. The College is
deeply grateful that Fr. Bradley is continuing to work
for the College in the capacity of provost, concentrating
on external affairs of the College.
... In March 1978, the Board of Trustees named a new
president, Fr. Neil Tobin, who assumed office June 1,
1978.
A Self-Study of the College was conducted and
submitted to the Visiting Committee of the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools on November 15,
1977 for the purpose of reaccreditation. The official
report of the Visiting Committee was received on March
9,1978, making several recommendations that are being
pursued by the College.
... A marketing research study of Mecklenburg and
Gaston counties was conducted through the generous
efforts of the Marketing Research Department of Knight
Publishing Co., Charlotte, and many student volunteers.
The survey was an attempt to measure the public
opinion of Belmont Abbey College in the local area and'to
determine areas in which more awareness must be
created.
... A large increase in cash contributions established a
new record of giving amounting to a total of $447,809.09.
Annual Fund contributions totaled $242,135.11 and
$205,673.98 was contributed to the Centennial Fimd.
... Eleven supporters of the College contributed $10,000
or more to either the Annual or Centennial funds:
Wallace B. Dalton, Alan T. Dickson, Eaton Corporation,
Edward F. Gallagher, Dan C. Gunter, Virgil T. Har-
tquist, J. Harold Lineberger, Albert G. Meyers, Sr.
Estate, Albert G. Meyers, III, The McAdenville Foun
dation, Jule R' Surtman.
... The College had 30 full-time and 26 part-time
teaching faculty. Approximately 50 percent of the full
time faculty members had doctoral degrees.
... The standards for graduation with distinction were
raised. Graduates must now possess a Q.P.I. of 2.4 for
cum laude, 2.75 for magna cum laude, and 2.90 for
summa cum laude honors.
... In August 1977, an administrative division named
Institutional Advancement was created. The division
embraces three offices: development, admissions and
institutional relations. Mr. Warren L. Clark, vice
president for institutional advancement, heads the new
division. Harry P. Creemers was named director of
admissions and John P. Briody, director of institutional
relations.
... Three new members were added to the Board of
Trustees, which now has its full complement of 17
members. New members are Robert P. Caldwell,
president of R.P. Caldwell Co., Gastonia, Father
Raymond J. (jleyer, O.S.B., prior of St. Benedict’s
Priory, Richmond, Va., and Theodore B. Sumner,
chairman of First Union National Bank, Charlotte. A
hearty thank-you to Mr. J. Harold Lineberger and
Father Bernard Rosswog, O.S.B., whose terms on the
Board expired.
... One hundred nineteen students received degrees in
the 100th commencement exe>-cises at Belmont Abbey
College. Carl J. Stewart Jr., speaker of the North
Carolina House of Representatives, gave the com
mencement address. The Most Rev. Michael J. Begley,
D.D., bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, was speaker at
the Baccalaureate Mass. Honorary degrees recipients
were Stewart, I.D. Blumenthal, Charlotte humanitarian
and philanthropist, and Dr. Dean W. Colvard, chancellor
of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
... The College was ranked sixth among all universities
and colleges in North Carolina in percentage of
graduates who passed the C.P.A. exam, according to
rankings established by the N.C. State Board of C.P.A.
Examiners. Their research also indicated that Belmont
Abbey (College ranked first among small colleges in the
state.
... On December 1,1977, the College was deeply sad
dened by the death of one of its greatest leaders ever,
Fr. Cuthbert Allen, O.S.B. Fr. Cuthbert, widely known
as “Mr. Belmont Abbey,” was an administrator ana ‘
teacher at Belmont Abbey College for more than 40
years. Through his constant dedication to the College,
Fr. (Yithbert gave us much inspiration and we will miss
him dearly.
... Father James Solari, O.S.B., academic dean,
submitted his resignation effective.May 31, 1978. The
(Allege owes Fr. James a dept of gratitude for his work
over eight years in this very demanding job.
... An alumni directory, the first in the history of the
College, was published in conjunction with College .and
University Press, Falls Church, Va., providing both the
College and BAC alumni updated addresses and other
relevant data.
... Alumni contributions were double any previous
year, with approximately twelve percent of the alumni
contributing.
... The Abbey Players presented three outstanding
productions:: “The Importance of Being Earnest,”
“The Chalk Garden” and “Godspell.”
... Through a $10,000 grant from the Monastery, the
renewal of certain College cafeteria kitchen equipment
was made possible. The Monastery made this special
grant over and beyond their annual contribution from
the monks’ services in order to improve food service to
the students, conserve electrical energy, and improve
working conditions for those persons engaged in the food
service.
... The College became linked with the New York
Times Information Bank, a data service with ac
cumulated facts from over 70 national and international
journals and periodicals. The chief advantage of the
computer system is the timeliness of the information:
the front page of the “New York Times” is filed within 24
hours of its publication.
.. Phase I of the renovation of the administration
building was completed at a cost of $72,000. The
renovation included roof repairs, replacement of attic
windows, sandblasting of the facade, construction of a
(Continued On Page 5)
ALUMNI BEACH
WEEKEND
Details on Page 3
MR .JEFF HICK’S
UNC-CH WIL’SON LIBRARY
CHAPEL HILL.. NC 27514