Kees Posthumus

Kees Posthumus (16 June 1902 – 14 September 1972) was a Dutch

After his return to The Netherlands in 1955 Posthumus was part of the advisory committee for the founding of the Technische Hogeschool Eindhoven. As a result, professor Dorgelo hired him as part of the original staff and he became one of the institutions first professors in September 1956. He succeeded Dorgelo as rector in 1961.

Posthumus' tenure as rector magnificus was a time of expansion for the Hogeschool. First of all in the physical sense: the campus was expanded and the first highrises were erected. Posthumus also secured funds from

Posthumus is not remembered by his colleagues and students for being a brilliant scientist; rather, he left his mark through his administrative qualities and achievements. Starting in 1960 he was appointed deputy chairman of the national Board of Education (Dutch: Onderwijsraad). In November 1967 he was appointed government commissioner for higher education by Education minister Veringa; this was also the reason for his stepping down as rector per the following academic year (conflict of interest of these positions), in favor of Ton van Trier. In 1968 Posthumus published a policy brief entitled De universiteit, doelstellingen, functies, structuren (English: The university, goals, functions, structures), which is commonly known as the Nota Posthumus. This brief was the basis for policy reform proposals by minister Veringa and his successor van Veen.

Posthumus died in Eindhoven in 1972. The Eindhoven University has a bust of him in the Traverse building.

Posthumus' Law

According to Posthumus' Law, the result of grading a test or exam in education is that one quarter of students will fail, one half will get a middle but passing grade and one quarter will receive a high grade. Put differently: the academic requirements adjust themselves to the bell curve.

Quotes

• Theoretical physicists are prophets, mathematicians are high priests and chemists are acolytes.
• Academic research and educations are two parts of the same weave; their threads may be discerned from one another, but not separated from each other without destroying the texture.

References

• De kleine TU/e encyclopedie 1956-2006, Joep Huiskamp, Eindhoven, 2006,
  ISBN 90-73192-30-7

• Theorie of praktijk: een pseudoprobleem Lecture given by Posthumus at the second Dies Natalis of the TU/e, on 23 June 1958.
• De lotgevallen van de Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven gedurende het cursusjaar 1960/1961 Lecture by the Rector Magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven on 20 September 1961.
• De lotgevallen van de Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven gedurende het cursusjaar 1962–1963 Lecture by the Rector Magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven on 16 September 1963.
• En toch... maar ook... : lotgevallen van de Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven, gedurende het cursusjaar 1963–1964 Lecture by the Rector Magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven on 21 September 1964.
• Vrijheid en vrijheidsgraden Lecture by the Rector Magnificus of the Technische Hogeschool te Eindhoven, on 20 September 1965.
• Academische Renaissance Posthumus farewell lecture upon transferring the rectorship of the Technische Hogeschool Eindhoven on 16 September 1968.