AASU
to Bestow Honorary Degree on H. Dean Propst during Commencement Ceremony
Savannah,
GA—December 1, 2003—Armstrong Atlantic State University
(AASU) will bestow an Honorary Doctor of Letters on one of its most
dedicated supporters, H. Dean Propst. A respected and highly effective
academic leader, Propst was both visible and accessible to students
and faculty during a distinguished career that spaned thirty-four
years. In 1969, Propst joined Armstrong State College as academic
dean and professor of English. He progressed to the position of vice
president and dean of faculty in 1976. The faculty knew first hand
the deep respect that Propst had for teaching. For ten years, Armstrong
was his very large classroom in which he taught by word and example.
AASU President Thomas Z. Jones will award the degree to Propst in
recognition of his ten years of dedicated service. The degree will
be awarded during the commencement ceremony for fall graduates on
December 13. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in the AASU Alumni
Arena.
Honorary degrees are awarded by institutions of higher learning as
a way to recognize worthy individuals who, during their careers, have
given outstanding service to these institutions, their profession,
and the community. State universities are authorized by the Board
of Regents to award up to two honorary degrees per year. The awarding
of this degree is the highest distinction Armstrong Atlantic can bestow
upon someone.
"Propst provided valuable leadership during a period of great
institutional change," said Jones. "He actively supported
the development of new programs at Armstrong, most notably the college’s
designation as a Regional Health Professions Education Center."
After leaving Armstrong State College in 1979, Propst continued his
distinguished career with the University System of Georgia (USG) for
the next 14 years. He served as vice chancellor for academic affairs
and executive vice chancellor before being appointed the system’s
eighth chancellor in 1985.
Several major initiatives took place during Propst's tenure as chancellor.
The Georgia State Legislature approved full funding of the system's
"Formula for Excellence" — the first time in the Board
of Regents’ history that the formula had received 100 percent
support.
Under his leadership, USG goals included upgrading teacher education
in Georgia, strengthening the core curriculum, and improving minority
recruitment and retention. With Propst at the helm, the regents placed
an emphasis on institutional cooperation and forming working agreements
with other state agencies. They worked with the Georgia Board of Education
to raise admission standards for students entering USG institutions
by requiring them to complete a college-preparatory curriculum in
high school.
The regents also worked to offer associate degree programs to students
seeking technical careers. Differential admission standards were introduced
at the junior-college level that distinguished between students primarily
seeking vocation/technical training and those pursuing degrees transferable
to senior institutions. Propst retired from the University System
of Georgia in 1993.
Among the honors that have been bestowed upon him are a Doctor of
Laws from Mercer University (1985), the Alumni Distinguished Service
Citation from Wake Forest (1986), the Alumni Distinguished Service
Award from Mars Hill College (1997), and the Distinguished Alumnus
Award from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University (2003). Georgia
Trend magazine identified him as one of the 100 most influential Georgians.
Propst was actively involved in several professional and honorary
groups. These included Pi Gamma Nu, Kappa Delta Pi, Sigma Tau Delta,
the American Association of University Professors, and the Society
for Study of Southern Literature. He also served on a number of arts
related boards, including the Savannah Symphony, the Alliance Theater
in Atlanta, and the Georgia Public Television Commission.
