Except for the nationwide reputation of the medical school, scholars were not exactly beating down the doors to join the faculty. Salaries were uninspiring. Construction and laboratory equipment lagged far behind the requirements for greatness. History Professor Emeritus Thomas Pressly says that in the 1950s, the UW suffered from cronyism. We needed leadership.
Leadership is what they got.
Odegaard soon cleaned house, starting with the departure of the dean of arts and sciences. After six years, of the 15 deans on board when the President arrived, only three remained. He pushed through major reforms in the faculty structure and student curriculum, especially for freshmen. He was criticized for being heavy-handed or autocratic, but the UW needed some strong medicine. He wasn't afraid to tackle problems.