In January 1998, the Board of Trustees Strategic Planning Committee, at my request, established a Task Force to examine in depth the desirability and feasibility of moving Tyler to the Main Campus. Mindful that continued uncertainty over Tyler's future would be harmful, a maximum time of six months was allotted before final action by the Board. It is this adjacency of space, clarity of purpose, and integrity of programs, which will continue to draw top quality students to Tyler School of Art and to maintain its historic reputation for excellence. I adopt the recommendation of the Tyler Task Force on the Tyler School of Art. The future of Tyler as an integral part of a vibrant Temple University can best be assured by relocating Tyler to Main for the reasons originally offered by Provost England, refined by the Board's Task Force, and as further described in this document.
Timing is critical.
There are obvious morale considerations in further uncertainties about Tyler. Timing is also critical to avoid duplication in capital investments. The very substantial capital costs to sustain Tyler at the remote Elkins Park campus for another 5-10 years would duplicate the capital costs of creating a new Tyler campus on Main, or elsewhere. The move to Main would benefit future Tyler students and faculty. They would have immediate access to the breadth of disciplines, courses, programs and services offered on the Main Campus.