:James M. Shuart

{{Short description|Former President of Hofstra University (1931–2016)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = James M. Shuart

| order = 7th

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| predecessor = Robert L. Payton

| successor = Stuart Rabinowitz

| title = President of Hofstra University

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| birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1931|05|09}}

| birth_place = Queens, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|05|13|1931|05|09}}

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| education = Flushing High School

| alma_mater = Hofstra University
New York University (Ph.D.)

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| term_start = {{Start date|1976|06|24}}{{Cite news |date= 1976-06-24|title= Hofstra Names A New President|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/24/archives/hofstra-names-a-new-president-shuart-administrative-aide-replaces.html|work= The New York Times}}

| term_end = {{End date|2001|10|19}}{{cite news|url= https://issuu.com/hofstra/docs/alu_update_pg10?fr=sMmUyNjc0NDYwNg|title= A New Chapter Begins|volume= Winter 2002 |issue= 1 |work= Hofstra Update |publisher= Hofstra University |page= 10}}

| module = {{Infobox academic | child=yes

| thesis_title = Some value-orientations of academic department chairmen: A study of comparative values and administrative effectiveness

| thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/docview/302186627

| thesis_year = 1966

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| workplaces = {{ublist|Hofstra University}}

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File:Bust on Hofstra University Campus Honoring James Shuart - close up.jpg

James M. Shuart (May 9, 1931 – May 13, 2016) was the president of Hofstra University from 1976 to 2001. Prior to that he served as a Nassau County, New York official. Also, he served as Assistant President to Hofstra President Clifford Lord during the 1960s in addition to serving as an administrator in the division and then school of education. The school's James M. Shuart Stadium is named after him, and a bust of his likeness stands at the entrance.

He grew up in College Point, Queens graduated from Flushing High School in 1949 and went to Hofstra on a football scholarship. After graduating, he married his college sweetheart, Marjorie Strunk, and was immediately drafted into the Army, where he served as a counterintelligence officer in postwar Korea. After his discharge, he worked as an insurance agent before landing a job in the Hofstra admissions office in 1959.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/james-shuart-longtime-hofstra-university-president-dies-1.11797361|title=Longtime Hofstra University president dies|website=Newsday}}

Shuart died at the age of 85 on May 13, 2016, from cardiovascular disease.

Education

Shuart was a Hofstra alum, with a bachelor's degree in history (1953) and master's in social science (1962). He later earned a doctorate in higher education from New York University in 1966.{{Cite web|url=https://www.longislandpress.com/2016/05/13/james-m-shuart-venerable-ex-hofstra-president-dies/|title=James M. Shuart, Venerable ex-Hofstra President, Dies|first=Rashed|last=Mian|date=May 13, 2016}}

Early career

Shaurt was appointed as the Nassau County Commissioner of Public Services on December 4, 1970.{{cite news|last=Reno|first=Robert|date=1970-12-04 |title=Caso Names Hofstra Dean Welfare Head|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/915743257|work=Newsday|publication-date=1970-12-04|page=11|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|122839393}}}} In that role, he had worked on issues regarding foster children caretakers, segregation within the county, and low income housing among other measures.{{cite news|date=1971-05-18 |title=Nassau, in a Recruiting Effort, Gives Foster Parents Increases|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/119199553|work=New York Times|publication-date=1971-05-18|page=5|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|119199553}}}}{{cite news|last=Crook|first=Howard|date=1971-05-18 |title=Welfare Bias on Motels Denied: But Nassau official concedes pattern suggests segregation|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/915879931|work=Newsday|publication-date=1971-05-18|page=5|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|915879931}}|via=ProQuest}}{{cite news|last=Mollison|first=Andrew|date=1971-04-30 |title=Shuart: Churches Can Help|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/915860162|work=Newsday|publication-date=1971-04-30|page=27|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|9158601621}}}} He served in that role for three years and was later appointed as Nassau County Deputy Executive by County Executive Robert Caso.{{cite news|last=Eysen|first=Alan|date=1973-11-10 |title=Caso Plans Shifts; Shuart Moving Up|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/920969480|work=Newsday|publication-date=1973-11-10|page=10|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|920969480}}}} Shuart returned to Hofstra on October 3, 1975, as he was selected to be the next vice president for administrative services for the university.{{cite news|date=1975-09-03 |title=Caso Deputy Returning to Hofstra|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/922689385|work=Newsday|publication-date=1967-06-24|page=30|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|92268938}}]}}

Shaurt was elected unanimously as the President of Hofstra University on June 23, 1976 by the university's board of trustees, besting three other members of the Hofstra community and replacing former president Robert L. Payton.{{cite news|date=1976-06-24 |title=Hofstra Names a New President: Shuart, Administrative Aide, Replaces Payton Today|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/122839393|work=The New York Times|publication-date=1967-06-24|page=30|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|122839393}}}}{{cite news|last=Ingressia|first=Michele|date=1976-06-24 |title=Vice President Picked to Run Hofstra|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/922670063|work=Newsday|publication-date=1967-06-24|page=3|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|922670063}}}}

In 1977, the university, along with the American Association of University Professors chapter at the institution, had instituted what New York Times writer Roy Silver called "the first labor agreement of its kind in American higher education", an agreement was set to tie instructor and professor increases in salary based on enrollment numbers.{{cite news|last=Silver|first=Roy|date=1977-05-22 |title=Profs to Share Profits: More Students, More Pay|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/123297829|work=Newsday|publication-date=1977-05-22|access-date=2024-06-27|id={{ProQuest|12329782}}}} Standard increases would be made through the years, but additional increases would be warranted in the event that enrollments increased.