Miller Upton

Miller Upton, who served Beloit College for 21 years as its sixth president and was one of the nation's most articulate proponents of private liberal arts colleges, died on Dec. 19, 2005, at his home in Fontana, Wis. He was 88.

Upton's remarkably long tenure at Beloit was characterized by a series of far-reaching curricular changes, the most progressive of which was the nationally celebrated and widely imitated Beloit Plan of year-round education.

As the architect of the experimental plan—which required field terms and placed an emphasis on international programs, interdisciplinary majors, and experiential learning—Upton in many ways shaped Beloit's educational focus today.

Upton was a nationally known educator and recognized expert in the academic specialties of business administration, finance, and money and banking, and served as a member of many national committees and governmental commissions in his field. He was the recipient of 11 honorary degrees and numerous other academic distinctions.

He was a strong libertarian thinker who wrote about and contemplated the role of civic institutions in a free society.

A 1938 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Tulane University, the New Orleans native became president of Beloit College in 1954 and served in that post until 1975. He arrived at Beloit from Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., where he was dean of the School of Business and Public Administration. Prior to that, he taught at Washington and Northwestern universities and Lake Forest College. He held an M.B.A. degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University.

"I will bring to the task [of the presidency] one trait for which I neither apologize nor accept a secondary position to any of your foregoing presidents," Upton said in his inaugural address. "This trait is an evangelistic zeal concerning the importance of formal education in general and the type of undergraduate education in particular for which Beloit College has always stood."

Beloit's World Outlook Program, precursor to today's International Education program, was initiated in 1960 under Upton's leadership to coordinate study abroad opportunities and expand students' world view. Morse Library, Chamberlin Hall, the Neese Performing Arts Complex, and several residence halls were built during Upton's tenure.

During Upton's first visit to campus, he witnessed the worst fire in College history on a December night in 1953, when Eaton Chapel was nearly destroyed, the target of arson. Upton later said he was deeply impressed by the attitude of students and the cooperation and helpfulness of townspeople during the emergency. He cited both as important factors in influencing him to accept the presidency two weeks later. His inauguration the following year was the first event held in the Chapel after extensive renovations to the 1891 structure were completed following the fire.

Upton is survived by his wife, June, and three sons: Randall'66, of Delavan, Wis., Thomas'69, of Independence, Ky., and Richard'73, of Richmond, Va.

Beloit College is establishing the Miller Upton Programs to honor its sixth president. The Upton Programs consist of a high-profile forum, a chair in the economics department, and scholarships and other programs that directly benefit students. For more on the Upton Programs, click here.

Published in Beloit College magazine.