Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1892 [PAGE 202]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

PROCEEDINGS OF BOARD OF

TRUSTEES.

205

I t is not improper for me to add t h a t such assistance is now especially called for in the departments of agriculture, civil and municipal engineering, English and rhetoric, and of French and German. I t is not, however, supposed t h a t an\r action should be actually taken in these matters until your next meeting, except, if you so decide, the authorization of more definite provisions of post-graduate work and the founding of fellowships. Besides this, the tounding of a professorship or associate professorship of applied mechanics, affecting all the causes of engineering, should be considered, and no doubt will be acknowledged as an essential step in desire 1 progress. I t is desirable t h a t instruction in Italian and Spanish should be provided. If each of these should be taught upon alternate years only, i t would be possible for all regular students to attend the classes in Tx)th. With assistance in the beginning classes in French and German, these new languages could be thus offered by the present professors.

MINING ENGINEERING.

Attention is especially asked to the report of the professor of mining ^engineering, it is important to decide what shall be attempted in his department. The only mining in Illinois worthy of consideration in this regard is for coal. No collegiate course in mining in this country makes this a prominent specialty; where s the metals re eive abundant attention. Will it not be wise to strike out in this unoccupied field rather than to try to compete with other more favorably situated institutions in their own lines? The following appropriations are asked for by Professor Baldwin:

F o r a s u r v e y i n g outfit for u n d e r g r o u n d w o r k F o r overhauling m a c h i n e r y in b a s e m e n t of Chemical L a b o r a t o r y Total INSTRUCTION FOR WOMEN. $500 00 100 00 $600 00

A petition addressed to Superintendent Iiaab, as a member of the Board, from the Women's Club, of Peoria, Illinois, signed by some 250 persons, will be laid before you. This asks for the re-introduction of the course in domestic science, or for the establishment of some such course especially for women. You will remember a petition was presented at your Sep ember meeting, 1891, f T the appointment of one or more women as professors and members of the Faculty. The two subjects may be appropriately considered together, and I need not say will have your careful attention.

F E E S FOR INSTRUCTION I N MUSIC.

The question of fees for instruction in music for next year needs attention at this time in order t h a t the proper announcement may be made in t h e catalogue. May not much more be made of the department of music? Why should it not be included in the regular system of instruction? Is it not easily feasible to make this an important and attractive sub-part of t h e University?

LAW SCHOOL.

I present herewith a petition signed by fifty-two students asking for t h e establishment of a department of law in the University. There seems to be no valid reason against the location here for the organization of L a law school. Colleges of medicine seek the large cities, but law schools flourish outside of the great centers of population. T h a t a course of law would be well attended here cannot be doubted, as indeed the