Ohio University Registrar Emeritus Bill Jones passes away

Former Ohio University registrar and assistant vice president for academic services Bill Jones, a 38-year University employee known for advancing technology and advocating for students in the registrar’s office, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 5. He was 80.

Jones played a key role in implementing the university’s Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS), and also worked to launch the first website for the registrar’s office, replacing the old three-by-five card system with an automated computer system students could use to get their grades, register for classes and check their progress toward their degrees.

Current Ohio University Registrar Deb Benton considered Jones a great mentor who helped open doors for her. He also supported initiatives to make course offerings, grades, class lists, and same-day transcripts available online.

“Bill was always an advocate for the students. He cared and took the time to see the students’ side of issues and would advocate on their behalf when needed,” Benton said. “He saw everybody on their own merit and always wanted to help people.”

Elizabeth Jones, assistant dean for graduate student success in the College of Health Sciences and Engagement and Bill Jones’ daughter-in-law, said Bill Jones was proud of the professional and personal relationships he built at the university.

“Bill loved his work at Ohio University. He was extremely proud of the work that went into revolutionizing the registrar processes including the implementation of the degree auditing system (DARS),” she said. “The system that he coordinated is what we still use today. Bill was a big thinker. But he wasn't just an idea man; he enjoyed the process of creating and bringing ideas to life.”

Bill R. Jones earned his bachelor’s degree in 1963 from OHIO and began working for the University as a graduate assistant in 1963 and as a part-time instructor in 1964. He became assistant to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1966, working on class scheduling and load, requirements, reinstatements and transfer work for students.

Jones was promoted to assistant dean/director of student affairs for the college in 1969, a role he held until 1988. During that time he coordinated a project for the office of the Provost and office of Admissions to develop articulation agreements with two-year schools in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia to establish guidelines and agreements to deal with transfer credit in a way that would work for OHIO and the two-year schools.

In 1988 Jones became the university’s assistant registrar and DARS project coordinator after working to implement DARS in the College of Arts and Sciences. He became associate registrar in 1993 and served as registrar from 1995 until 2001. He retired and was recognized as registrar emeritus in 2003.

Gary North, Ohio University’s former vice president for administration and finance who hired Jones as registrar, said he hit the ground running and always kept students’ interests at the fore.

“When he was in Arts and Sciences as an advisor, he was devoted to students and assisting students. I don’t think he let up a bit when he took on the administrative responsibilities for registrar,” North said. “Bill was a curious, highly-intellectual, fun-loving guy, just a great person to be around.”

Jones also automated the process for faculty to submit grades and other information so students could access it quickly.

“Given the multitude of information coming in from literally every faculty member, every department, every college on campus, it could easily get out of hand, but he made sure it went smoothly,” North said.

Besides his love of OHIO, North said Jones was an avid antiques collector and fisherman.

“He had such a variety of interests, it was amazing,” North said. “Bill was one of these people who was intellectually curious. He was so widely read he knew a little bit about everything. I regarded him highly, just had tremendous respect for his work and affection for him as a friend. He is certainly greatly missed.”

Bill Jones was also the first president of the Athens Youth Hockey Association from 1978-1982 and co-founded the Athens Hockey Club high-school age team, which expanded hockey from a local city-run organization to a competitive USA Hockey program at all age levels.