Bompart retires after more than 40 years in higher education

Dr. Bill E. Bompart, vice president for academic affairs, announced January 8 that he will step down after more than 11 years as Augusta State University’s chief academic officer and over 40 years in higher education.

“I have accepted Bill Bompart’s resignation with mixed emotions,” says ASU President William A. Bloodworth, Jr. “I understand his need and right to retire, but I hate to see him leave. During my eight years as president, Bill has given me good work, sound advice, and true friendship. We’ve been a good team.”

A member of the mathematics faculty since 1967, Dr. Bompart chaired the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science from 1983 through 1988. In 1990, he was appointed acting vice president for academic affairs. In 1992, he assumed the position as a permanent appointment, overseeing three colleges, 16 academic departments, Reese Library, Media Services, Computer Services, Institutional Research, the Continuing Education division, Admissions, and the Registrar’s Office.

A native Texan, Dr. Bompart came to Augusta College after earning a doctorate in mathematics education from the University of Texas at Austin. “Augusta College graduated its first four-year degree students one week after I arrived in Augusta,” says Dr. Bompart. “My first year here the enrollment was about 1650 and there were no sidewalks on campus. The Fine Arts Building had just been completed. The library was in Hardy Hall. Skinner Hall had not been renovated yet. The year I came, I was one of 21 new faculty members-- which doubled the size of the faculty.”

His tenure at Augusta State is the longest of any full time employee currently on campus. Dr. Bloodworth, a fellow Texan, says that the two, though different in style, were unified in working for the betterment of Augusta State.

As chief academic officer, Dr. Bompart played a key role in the university’s achievements including:

• the construction of new academic facilities, including the $19.4 million Science Building, the $20 million Allgood Hall (which will be occupied this summer), and the newly designed $21 million Phase II Classroom Replacement Building,

• a successful reaffirmation review by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools,

• a conversion in the academic calendar from a quarter to a semester system; accreditation of the College of Business Administration by the highly prestigious AACSB,

• a reorganization of the College of Education and a reaffirmation of its accreditation by NCATE,

• a change in nomenclature from Augusta College to Augusta State University, and the addition of three graduate degrees, including the Master of Public Administration, and master and specialist degrees in education with a major in health and physical education.

A nationally recognized mathematician, Dr. Bompart has made over 200 presentations at professional meetings at the national, state, and local levels and has published some 24 articles.
His professional honors include being named to American Men of Science, Leaders in Education, Personalities of the South (4 editions), Contemporary Authors, Two-Thousand Men of Achievement, American Men and Women of Science (8 editions), Men of Achievement, One Thousand Great Americans, and over 25 Who’s Who editions that recognize outstanding professional careers. He also is a three-time recipient of the Gladys M. Thomason Distinguished Service Award for the east central region as well a recipient of the state honor.

Dr. Bompart’s professional affiliations include the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the American Educational Research Association Special Interest Group in Mathematics Education, the Georgia Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the American Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges, Sigma Xi, Mensa, the Georgia Mathematical Association of Two Year Colleges, Academic Affairs Resource Center, American Association for Higher Education, North American Association of Summer Sessions, the Mathematical Association of America Southeast Section, the Georgia Coalition for Excellence in Mathematics Education, and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

In addition to his doctoral degree, he has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s in religious education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, and a master’s in education from the University of North Texas in Denton.

“I leave Augusta State with nothing but love for the university, the faculty, the staff, and the administration,” says Dr. Bompart, whose resignation is effective July 1.

The search for a new vice president for academic affairs will get underway as soon as possible, says President Bloodworth. “The part of the team that is not retiring has a big job ahead in replacing Dr. Bompart,” he says. “He may be small in stature, but in terms of the academic life of this institution, his shoes are about as large to fill as any could possibly be.”