The primary goal of the Instruction Center was to “assist the faculty in improving undergraduate classroom instruction.”  It opened officially in the fall of 1971 and was located in room 246 of McMillan Hall.  It operated for at least two years, until financial resources ended.  A brief sketch of the institutional background of the Instruction Center is to be found in the “Plan of Operation for the Instruction Center at Washington University” draft one, dated May 19, 1971, located in the “Basic Administrative Records” folder.  Financially based upon the TTT project (“Teachers Training Teachers” or “Teaching Teacher-Trainers”), it grew out of the discussions of the Committee on Undergraduate Education (the Wellman Committee), circa 1968 – 1971.  Although ideally thought of as a vehicle for the up-grading undergraduate teaching, the Center also functioned as a multi-media resource center for both students and faculty teaching projects.

The initial co-directors of the Center were Glen Holt of the History Department and Alan Tom, of the Education Department.  Beginning with the 1972-1973 academic year Ted Smorodin of the G.I.E., replaced Alan Tom as one of the directors. The directors reported directly to Ira Hirsch, Dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and the Dean of the College.