Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - 16 Years (Edmund James) [PAGE 218]

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Sixteen Yean at the University of Illinois

cases, a professor is relieved of undergraduate teaching for a semester, in order to devote his time to investigation and writing. In others, the burden of teaching is materially reduced for a period agreed upon with the Graduate School. The number of research assistants has been increased in order to facilitate the investigations of men of distinction and promise. Such assistants have been provided upon a more or less permanent basis in the departments of Botany, Chemistry, the Classics, Mathematics and Zoology. This does not take into account the work of the Illinois Historical Survey, which is closely allied with the Department of History. Notable changes have occurred in several departments. A new professor and head of the department has been appointed in Botany, in Geology and in Romance Languages. The resignation of the chairman of the Department of English was followed by the promotion of another professor to the chairmanship and the addition of a new full professor. An increased registration in the University led to large increases in the staff of the departments of English, Chemistry, Romance Languages and History. In the College, a net total of twenty additional men of professorial rank, exclusive of added members of middle or lower ranks, marks the period of seven years. For seven years, the College has carried a system of special advisers for freshmen and sophomores, in order to give students coming for the first time to the University a helpful relation with mature and sympathetic members of the faculty, over and above the necessary official relationship with administrative and instructional officers, and supplementary to the offices of the Dean of Men and the Dean of Women. By assigning to a single teacher small groups of students, usually not exceeding twelve, and by selecting these students with reference to their personal qualities as developed by correspondence with previous high school teachers and instructors, the service rendered has proved distinctly helpful and has been greatly appreciated. The co-operation of the high school principals and teachers has been generous and cordial* For the first three years, each adviser was paid a small sum to cover incidental expenses of this service.