Interview with Lewis W. Cochran, May 28, 1985

Interview Summary

In this interview, Lewis W. "Bud" Cochran talks about Dr. Otis A. Singletary's administration. He emphasizes that "he was one of the best credentialed persons that ever took a Presidency anywhere at anytime", and was recognized nation-wide as a "highly qualified presidential prospect". He discusses the reorganization of the office of Executive Vice-President by breaking it up the authority and influence into several Vice-Presidencies. Cochran strongly recommended to Singletary that "the President should and absolutely must retain real, effective, and final authority over the budget". Cochran talks about this issue in relation to the development of the Medical Center and the Community College system. Cochran mentions he was Vice-President for Research while also Dean of the Graduate School, and that he became Vice-President of Academic Affairs under the new reorganization. He describes the delegation of authority as well as the process and the responsibilities of Vice-Presidents in regard to budget allocations.

Cochran discusses the development of the Medical Center and the organization of its staff. He mentions Singletary's role during the student protest period in 1970. He talks about the UK-University of Louisville merger, that it had been discussed in the early 1960's, and how this merger might have worked had it been implemented before the Medical Center was developed, especially if it had occurred during the 1950's. Cochran cites that the state cannot provide funding for "two good quality major research universities" and the "state lost a great opportunity for a more orderly and a more efficient system". He notes that Northern Kentucky University was also considered in this merger proposal and mentions the Chase Law School at NKU is written into the Kentucky Statutes, and cannot be abolished without an act of the Kentucky State Legislature. Cochran talks about the national movement to change teacher's or state colleges into universities. He describes the "publish or perish" policy of the university career model. He discusses his working relationship with the deans and how it helped his ability to manage resources. He talks about faculty development; the loss of time involved if a position doesn't work out, the stigma of being denied tenure, and how all of this affects an academic career. Cochran describes Singletary's conservative money management goal to "set up the best possible system for making the university run".

Interview Keyword

Bud Cochran

Interview LC Subject

Cochran, Lewis W., 1915- Cochran, Lewis W., 1915- --Interviews Singletary, Otis A. University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.