UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON ARCHIVES
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Interview #699
FORREST, BARBARA

FORREST, Barbara (1951- )
Administrator, Industrial Relations Research Institute (IRRI)
At UW: 1974-

Interviewed: 2004	
Interviewer: W. Lee Hansen
Length: 30 minutes

Industrial Relations Research Institute (IRRI); Job placement; Admissions and recruiting; Faculty recruitment; Methods course; Financial aid; Closure of the IRRI.

Interview Session (September 23, 2004): Tape 1

Tape 1/Side 1

00:00:20	W. Lee Hansen describes the program review of the Industrial Relations Research Institute (IRRI).

00:01:53	Barbara Forrest felt that the IRRI was a "sinking ship" when she began working there.  Unlike her predecessor, Sally Probasco, BF did not feel comfortable making contacts with corporate recruiters; she was somewhat confused about her job responsibilities.

00:04:44	Several IRRI students complained to Richard Miller about BF's performance.

00:05:35	She relates a story about meeting with a representative from Exxon who criticized the teaching and training that IRRI students had received.

00:06:50	BF describes a "revolt" by the students in which they complained about her work in placing students in jobs.

00:07:46	She and a work-study student ran the IRRI office after all other support staff left.

00:10:09	By the time BF left the IRRI, most students found jobs through the business school.

00:11:16	Because of problems in funding and recruiting students, the IRRI had to settle for "marginal" students for whom it was difficult to find jobs.

00:11:43	She mentions a proposal to rename the IRRI to include human resources.

00:12:25	Without tenure-granting authority, it proved difficult to keep faculty at the IRRI.

00:13:51	BF was disappointed that she could not convince Paula Voos to bring in affiliated faculty to teach courses to IRRI students.

00:15:23	She talks about students' problems with the methods course.

00:17:40	BF collaborated with Hansen on raising funds for student scholarships.  She goes on to talk about her negotiations with AFSCME to get financial support for students.

00:22:08	She mentions the possibility of the IRRI moving to the business school.

00:23:40	BF and Hansen discuss at length the closure of the IRRI.

00:30:18	End of side.  End of tape.  End of interview.

END