Page 39 - UB Church and Shen Univ
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Volume 6 Relation of U.B/EUB Virginia Conferences to Shenandoah University Dec. 26, 2013
donated $3,500 on a new four-manual Möller organ that was installed in the College [Dayton U.B.]
Church. The organ that was in the Church was moved to Howe Memorial Building.
Vernon L. Phillips. In 1930 Rev. Vernon Lee Phillips became President of the
College, and under his direction the College rearranged the organization of its
curriculum in line with the developments in education of the period. The College was
separated into three departments: the Coaching School, the 4-year Junior College, and
the Conservatory of Music. The Coaching School was equipped to teach 2 years of
standard high school work. It was especially fitted to provide the work necessary for
entrance into the 4-year Junior College. The Junior College was organized under a
new 4-year plan that was then becoming popular in the field. The new program
combined the third and fourth years of high school and the first and second years of college work.
Under this system, the standard of excellence was raised and initiative and self-reliance was developed
earlier in the process of educating youth.
Early in the 1931-32 year, President Phillips recommended that Shenandoah College and
Shenandoah Conservatory of Music be incorporated separately. No action was taken at that time. On
June 6, 1933, President Phillips resigned for personal reasons. [Wilkins, p. 20]
Elmer N. Funkhouser. In 1934 Mr. Elmer N. Funkhouser (pictured at the
right) became Acting President and Rev. Wade S. Miller became Dean and took
charge of the administrative activities. Dean Miller also recommended that the
college and conservatory organize separate corporations, but under the same
administration—the State Board of Education required this for the Conservatory to
award 4-year degrees in music [Wilkins, p. 20]
Prof. Ruebush offered his resignation as Professor and Dean of the
Conservatory in 1936. He was then offered emeritus relation by the Board of Trustees on account of his
50 years of service with the College and Conservatory. Prof. J. Edgar Anderson was appointed Dean of
the Conservatory to fill this vacancy, and Dean Miller was elected President of the College.
Wade S. Miller. Rev. Wade S. Miller (pictured at the
right), was elected as president in 1935-36, and he retained that
position until 1942. Dr. Miller urged that the College program seek
accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools; movement toward this goal was begun with the
discontinuation of the 2-year preparatory program, a prerequisite
for accreditation.
Debt and the Depression. The financial outlook of this
period was extremely grave. In 1934 the total indebtedness had reached the staggering sum of
$106,350. It was so large that some of the Board members felt that the institution should be closed, but
President Miller (pictured at the right) and Prof. Ruebush struggled desperately to find some solution to
the difficulty.
The Endowment Fund Is Liquidated to Avoid Closing the College. A solution was offered, put
into effect, and met with great success. In 2 ½ years the debt was reduced to $46,000, and the College
was able to look to the future with higher hopes. Indeed, with explicit approval of the Virginia
Conference, much of the Endowment Fund was converted to cash and this cash was used to pay off
severely discounted debts: some for 50 cents on the dollar and some for much less.
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 29
donated $3,500 on a new four-manual Möller organ that was installed in the College [Dayton U.B.]
Church. The organ that was in the Church was moved to Howe Memorial Building.
Vernon L. Phillips. In 1930 Rev. Vernon Lee Phillips became President of the
College, and under his direction the College rearranged the organization of its
curriculum in line with the developments in education of the period. The College was
separated into three departments: the Coaching School, the 4-year Junior College, and
the Conservatory of Music. The Coaching School was equipped to teach 2 years of
standard high school work. It was especially fitted to provide the work necessary for
entrance into the 4-year Junior College. The Junior College was organized under a
new 4-year plan that was then becoming popular in the field. The new program
combined the third and fourth years of high school and the first and second years of college work.
Under this system, the standard of excellence was raised and initiative and self-reliance was developed
earlier in the process of educating youth.
Early in the 1931-32 year, President Phillips recommended that Shenandoah College and
Shenandoah Conservatory of Music be incorporated separately. No action was taken at that time. On
June 6, 1933, President Phillips resigned for personal reasons. [Wilkins, p. 20]
Elmer N. Funkhouser. In 1934 Mr. Elmer N. Funkhouser (pictured at the
right) became Acting President and Rev. Wade S. Miller became Dean and took
charge of the administrative activities. Dean Miller also recommended that the
college and conservatory organize separate corporations, but under the same
administration—the State Board of Education required this for the Conservatory to
award 4-year degrees in music [Wilkins, p. 20]
Prof. Ruebush offered his resignation as Professor and Dean of the
Conservatory in 1936. He was then offered emeritus relation by the Board of Trustees on account of his
50 years of service with the College and Conservatory. Prof. J. Edgar Anderson was appointed Dean of
the Conservatory to fill this vacancy, and Dean Miller was elected President of the College.
Wade S. Miller. Rev. Wade S. Miller (pictured at the
right), was elected as president in 1935-36, and he retained that
position until 1942. Dr. Miller urged that the College program seek
accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and
Secondary Schools; movement toward this goal was begun with the
discontinuation of the 2-year preparatory program, a prerequisite
for accreditation.
Debt and the Depression. The financial outlook of this
period was extremely grave. In 1934 the total indebtedness had reached the staggering sum of
$106,350. It was so large that some of the Board members felt that the institution should be closed, but
President Miller (pictured at the right) and Prof. Ruebush struggled desperately to find some solution to
the difficulty.
The Endowment Fund Is Liquidated to Avoid Closing the College. A solution was offered, put
into effect, and met with great success. In 2 ½ years the debt was reduced to $46,000, and the College
was able to look to the future with higher hopes. Indeed, with explicit approval of the Virginia
Conference, much of the Endowment Fund was converted to cash and this cash was used to pay off
severely discounted debts: some for 50 cents on the dollar and some for much less.
Miller, et al., on History of S.C., 1875-1950 29
