CANCEL THE ‘STALINIST DIVISION’ OF THE JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY – THE STRUGGLE TO RESTORE THE LOST FACULTIES IN THE YEARS 1956-1957

The article portrays events from the most recent history of the Jagiellonian University. In the 1950s the communist politicians tried to weaken the position of the University by separating its numerous faculties and transforming them into independent institutions of higher education. The most painful was the loss of the faculties of medicine, agriculture and theology. The role of the University was marginalized and the number of students decreased. The transformations in October 1956 brought the hope that the University might one day regain its previous glory. The new authorities of the University with the rector Zygmunt Grodziński struggled to restore with the Academy of Medicine, College of Agriculture and the Faculty of Theology to the Jagiellonian University. The authorities of the Academy of Medicine were unanimous in the question of merging with the University, and so were the officials at the Faculty of Theology. Nevertheless, at the College of Agriculture the opinions were divided. Talks held between government authorities and party representatives in Warsaw and Cracow did not bring any results. Almost two years of efforts were unsuccessful as the authorities did not agree to admit that the school reform of the Stalinist times was a mistake.
 

CANCEL THE ‘STALINIST DIVISION’ OF THE JAGIELLONIAN UNIVERSITY – THE STRUGGLE TO RESTORE THE LOST FACULTIES IN THE YEARS 1956-1957

The article portrays events from the most recent history of the Jagiellonian University. In the 1950s the communist politicians tried to weaken the position of the University by separating its numerous faculties and transforming them into independent institutions of higher education. The most painful was the loss of the faculties of medicine, agriculture and theology. The role of the University was marginalized and the number of students decreased. The transformations in October 1956 brought the hope that the University might one day regain its previous glory. The new authorities of the University with the rector Zygmunt Grodziński struggled to restore with the Academy of Medicine, College of Agriculture and the Faculty of Theology to the Jagiellonian University. The authorities of the Academy of Medicine were unanimous in the question of merging with the University, and so were the officials at the Faculty of Theology. Nevertheless, at the College of Agriculture the opinions were divided. Talks held between government authorities and party representatives in Warsaw and Cracow did not bring any results. Almost two years of efforts were unsuccessful as the authorities did not agree to admit that the school reform of the Stalinist times was a mistake.