Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1940 [PAGE 781]

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778

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[March 14

A schedule of charges will be established to cover all the expenses of such a service. I concur in this recommendation and recommend further that a "Soil Testing Service Revolving F u n d " be authorized, the initial credit for which will be provided by an allotment by the Agricultural Extension Service Revolving Fund, this allotment to be repaid when receipts make it possible. T h e testing service fund will be credited with all receipts of the service and charged only with the expense of that work. Any surplus above a reasonable working balance which may accumulate shall be turned into the general funds of the University as an offset of general overhead that may be involved.

On motion of Mr. Moschel, the establishment of this service was authorized.

COMMENCEMENT A N D BACCALAUREATE EXERCISES (11) T h e President of the Alumni Association appointed a Committee on Commencement Exercises to confer with University officials concerning changes suggested in the arrangements for Baccalaureate and Commencement. This Committee met with the President and other University officials on December I, and subsequently its Chairman submitted in writing the suggestions discussed at that conference. Following is a summary of these suggestions and of comments thereon by the University Faculty Committee on Commencement: 1. Holding the Commencement exercises either in the Stadium or in the: Armory, so that there will be room for all who care to attend. T h e Committee on Commencement is unanimously of the opinion that outdoor exercises on Sunday afternoon, with Baccalaureate exercises in the morning, would be an ideal arrangement, but from past experience it would probably be necessary to move about one out of three Commencements indoors due to weather conditions, which would result in much confusion and disappointment to those who could not be admitted because of lack of space, if emergency arrangements are made to hold the exercises in the George Huff Gymnasium. T h e Armory is not a satisfactory place due to acoustical defects. Until more adequate seating space is available under cover, the University Committee on Commencement would favor continuing the present practice of holding the exercises in the George Huff Gymnasium. 2. Holding the Commencement exercises on Sunday afternoon. T h e Alumni Committee feels that Monday exercises are an anticlimax to Alumni Day and that a Sunday Commencement would encourage more alumni to stay over from the reunion on Saturday. If Baccalaureate exercises could be held Sunday morning there would be no conflict with a Sunday afternoon Commencement. If the Baccalaureate exercises are held in the afternoon it would be necessary to schedule Commencement at sundown to avoid a conflict. This would result in a prolonged ceremony. 3. More recognition and prominence to undergraduates, viz.: ( a ) Introduction of the valedictorian and salutatorian and such other seniors who have achieved distinction in their college careers. (b) Introduction of the parents of these students. (c) Restoration of former practice of having each senior receive his diploma from the President of the University. ( d ) Signatures on each diploma of the College Dean and the Professor in charge of the student's field of concentration. (At present the diplomas carry the signatures of the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees and the President of the University.) ( a ) and (b) The University Committee on Commencement concurs in the introduction of the valedictorian and the salutatorian and suggests further that the seniors whose names appear on the Honors Day bronze tablet (students especially honored for sustained excellence in scholarship during their junior and senior years) be seated together and be given their diplomas by the President, their names to be read as they receive them. T h e Committee does not recommend the introduction of other seniors, that is, recognition of them on any other basis than distinction in scholarship. Nor does the Committee favor intro-