[4] Historian Bruce M. Stave characterized Works as "a mover and a shaker, a person of very high standards with academic experience at quality institutions.

"[5] Works immediately shook up the traditional culture at Storrs, advocating for greater emphasis on the liberal arts, demanding improvements to credentialing and professional development among the faculty, standardizing procedures, and seeking to unify the college, the agricultural experiment station, and the extension service, which had traditionally functioned independently.

[6] Works also increased investment in library resources and laboratory facilities to support an unsuccessful bid for accreditation from the Association of American Universities.

[5] Works abruptly resigned effective July 1, 1930, and returned to the University of Chicago to chair its department of higher education.

[5] He blamed political barriers for impeding his vision for growth, with the State Board of Finance and Control resisting the move toward a more comprehensive curriculum.