When we arrived at Vanderbilt, there were personal computers scattered around, but none in the dean's office and only a few available for undergraduates. Since that time, the School has made regular improvements in both the numbers of computers and capability of the network so that networked computers are located in virtually every office and lab in the School. An unexpected shortfall of freshmen students in 1989 created a budget crisis, the greatest problem to occur during his tenure. More than 50 percent of his job has involved taking care of a myriad of student problems. The job entails handling a steady succession of unforeseeable situations.
Problems arrive over the transom unannounced and have to be dealt with immediately.
I frequently don't find out about a student's troubles until his or her academic performance has fallen. In many cases, students are facing real personal crises, and I have had to help them work through it, including encouraging them to get professional help. White will retain an association with Vanderbilt over the next few years. He doesn't know what retirement holds for him, but travel and volunteerism surely will play a part. In his new role as associate dean, Professor Art Overholser has administrative responsibility for the undergraduate and graduate programs of the School of Engineering.