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Brigham Young University. Office of the President

 Organization

Dates

  • Existence: 1903-

Administrative History

The Office of the President (est. 1903) is the central administrative body at Brigham Young University, and is the direction of the university president.

Brigham Young University has had a president since Brigham Young Academy was changed to Brigham Young University in 1903. While the school was still called Brigham Young Academy the head officer was titled principal.

The Board of Trustees delegates to the university president the responsibility to conduct the operations of the institution and administer the policies enacted by the board. Since 1996, the president of the university has also been a General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Past and present Brigham Young University presidents include George H. Brimhall (1903-1921), Franklin S. Harris (1921-1945), Howard S. McDonald (1945-1949), (acting president) Christian Jensen (1949-1951), Ernest L. Wilkinson (1951-1971), Dallin H. Oaks (1971-1980), Jeffrey R. Holland (1980-1989), Rex E. Lee (1989-1995), Merrill J. Bateman (1996-2003), Cecil O. Samuelson (2003-2014), Kevin J. Worthen (2014-2023), and C. Shane Reese (2023- ).

Citation:
Office of the President essays, circa 1985-1986

Brigham Young University, L. Tom Perry Special Collections worksheet, Feb. 4, 2010 (Office of the President; administrative office associated with the president of Brigham Young University)

Brigham Young University Web site, Feb. 4, 2010 (Office of the President; President's Office)

BYU Organizational History, Brigham Young University, Feb. 19, 2013 (BYU chief executive/general manager; University President 1903; BYA to BYU; Board of Trustees delegate responsibilities to University President; 1996 General Authority; past/present presidents George H. Brimhall (1903-1921), Franklin S. Harris (1921-1945), Howard S. McDonald (1945-1949), (acting president) Christian Jensen (1949-1951), Ernest L. Wilkinson (1951-1971), Dallin H. Oaks (1971-1980), Jeffrey R. Holland (1980-1989), Rex E. Lee (1989-1995), Merrill J. Bateman (1996-2003), and Cecil O. Samuelson (2003- ))

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

George H. Brimhall papers on university administration, 1889-1922

 Series
Identifier: UA 1092 Series 20
Scope and Contents

Contains reports, minutes, and financial records collected by Brimhall related to university administration. Materials date from between 1889 and 1922.

Dates: 1889-1922

Office of the President general reports, 1954-1970

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1000 Series 2 Sub-Series 5 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains reports on Brigham Young University, including accreditation reports and reports on university program and curriculum. Materials date from between 1954 and 1970.

Dates: 1954-1970

Office of the President records on Admissions and Records, 1952-1958

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains memorandums, letters, and reports on the topic of admissions and records. Admission topics include accreditation, scholarships and academic standards, and admission of individual students. Dates of record keeping 1952 to 1958.

Dates: Record Keeping: 1952-1958

Office of the President records on Continuing Education, 1974-1980

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1085 Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains materials related to the development of the Continuing Education program at Brigham Young University. Materials focus on the role of the Development Office of the programs and on the Lecture series associated with the program. Materials include correspondence, memos, reports, and transcripts of the lectures. Dates range from 1974 to 1980.

Dates: 1974-1980

Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1958-1963

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 6 Sub-Series 36
Scope and Contents

Contains memos, letters, brochures and reports from staff in the BYU extension division. The materials pertain to publications, continuing education, and BYU leadership week. Dated 1958 to 1963.

Dates: 1958-1963

Office of the President records on Extension Division, 1966

 Sub-Series
Identifier: UA 1086 Series 9 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents

Contains letters and memos between President Wilkinson, BYU staff and general authorities about the Church Extension Division, including BYU satellite programs, Education Week, study abroad programs, and at-hom emcontinuing education programs. Also contains curriculum for these programs. Dated 1966.

Dates: 1966