UIHistories Project: A History of the University of Illinois by Kalev Leetaru
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Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876 [PAGE 172]

Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876
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172

graduating classes annually increase, and when we can secure a better preparation in those who come, we may hope for greater perseverance in their studies. Nor ought we to regard our work as wasted on those who stay but a year and fail to finish any course of studies. They may fail to reflect honor on the University, as the full graduate can, but their lives will be the brighter and their work the better for the studies they have taken. To sum up the results thus far attained, we may count the verdict on the side of industrial education. Its feasiblity and value are more firmly established ; its true methods are becoming better known. I hand the Board herewith the report! of the several chief instructors, of the work of the term. I need not occupy your time at this meeting, which occurs in the midst of the year, with any detailed statement of our several colleges and Schools. At the close of the year, I may more appropriately offer my suggestions.

THE CATALOGUE.

The unusual demand for our annual catalogues exhausted, several weeks ago, the supply and the new one should be issued as soon as practicable. As it is the Centennial year, and our exhibition at Philadelphia will create an unusual demand, and afford a favorable opportunity for the distribution of catalogues and circulars, will it not be wise to publish a much larger number than in other years, and if necessary, diminish for the time our advertisements through other mediums ? I would suggest, also, the propriety of adding to the illustrations a full-page engraving, on which may be grouped all the College edifices of all sorts.

P R E L I M I N A R Y Y E A R O F STUDIES.

After careful consideration, the Faculty have concurred in asking the Board to provide for a year of preliminary studies, to be required of all students before entering any of the Colleges, i t is recommended that this course consist of the scientific studies and Algebra, now required for admission, and of the Geometry and two terms of English now making a part of the first year; these studies to be arranged as follows: First Term—Algebra, Bookkeeping, Physiology. Second Term—Algebra and Geometry, English, Natural Philosophy. Third Term—Geometry, English, Botany. I recommend the addition or substitution in 'place of the last studies mentioned in each term, preparatory studies in Latin and Greek for those students who a^e candidates for the College of Literature and Arts. The Faculty also recommended, as will be seen by reference to their resolution herewith communicated, that no student be matriculated without passing an examination in the studies of this year, and that an extra charge be made for instruction in^tliese studies, sufficient to defray all the expense thereof. The adoption of this year will accomplish three desirable objects. First, it will give some muchneeded facilities to students who come to us unprepared for our higher studies. Secondly, it will raise the standard of admission to our proper college courses, and give to those courses much more of completeness and value. Thirdly, it will relieve our already overloaded funds from the burthen of providing free instruction in elementary studies, which ought to be taken in the High Schools of the State. The students of this year would pay no matriculation fee till they were prepared to enter some one of the colleges, and a tuition fee of $15 the term would cover the expense of instruction. The measure, for these and other reasons, seems to me evidently wise and timely

COURSE O F S T U D Y .

The Faculty have spent much time over a revision of the several courses of study, to accommodate them to the proposed preliminary course and to remove some other discrepancies which had crept in the successive publications of our annual catalogues. These revisions I have sought to embody in the scheme of courses I herewith present, with some slight modifications which seem to me necessary to meet the declared and settled aims of the institution. The course in Agriculture is not yet agreed upon. I recommend that three courses be adopted and ordered printed in the new catalogue.

WANTS.

I communicate herewith, reports from several of the professors asking appropriations for the wants of their several departments. I need not enumerate these here, but submit them with a recommendation that you give them liberal consideration. If all cannot be granted, a wise discrimination may be made in favor of departments which have shared least in your former appropriations.

THE CENTENNIAL.

Since your last meeting much progress has been made in our preparations to take part in the great Centennial Exhibition. At the request of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Commissioners, I have consented, in your absence, that our exhibition should be made in company with that of the general educational exhibit. As the educators of the State have undertaken to raise the necessary funds to transport and care for the State exhibit, it relieves us from the necessity of sending a special agent with our material, and remove some of the solicitude we might feel for the loss of articles we shall exhibit. Additional appropriations will be needed to complete our preparations and furnish some of the frames and fixtures for the exhibit. I recommend that you authorize the Regent and Faculty to select the articles to be sent. In some cases there should be included some of the apparatus of instruction, as illustrating our methods. As the State exhibit is to be under the constant care of a special agent on the ground, this apparatus will be entirely safe from injury.

ART G A L L E R Y .

The last purchases for the Art Gallery are now on their way from New YorK, having recently arrived from Paris. When these are in place, the work I undertook will be complete and the University will be in possession of an Art collection which has few equals on this continent, and