Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of the University (Powell) [PAGE 319]

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History University of Illinois

Naturally it was far more difficult to carry out such a program in Illinois than in the eastern states where well established academies, high schools, and other secondary schools of long standing were comparatively plentiful. However, that students who could not present such qualifications might not be excluded from participation in the benefits of the university, two sets of qualifications were adopted; the one for candidates for the regular university courses, the second for students who wished to pursue some select or partial courses.10 The qualifications for admission to the select courses were: " A thorough examination in the common school branches of reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and grammar, and on evidence of sufficient maturity and intelligence to pursue successfully the studies selected by them." Selim H. Peabody, second regent of the university, commented thus upon the subject of the early admission requirements: "To secure members the standards of admission were fixed at what were known to be low grades of scholarship. The examinations were mild, and the topics those on which preparation could be made in the common district schools of the state. The students so admitted were employed in their first collegiate years upon very elementary branches of learning. The attendance rapidly increased, but was, to a considerable degree, ephermeraJ, composed of persons who came for a term, or for a year, rather than with the purpose of pursuing an extended, consecutive, and symmetrical course of collegiate work. This early policy was wise and necessary at the time, but if it had been long continued, it would never have established a university worthy of the name. It was needful that the youth of Illinois should learn the value of the institution which was opened for their benefit. It was necessary that the current should be turned into these channels. After the current had definitely set it was necessary, and it was possible, to elevate by degrees both the

"The law of 1867 provided: " N o student shall be admitted to instruction in any of the departments of the university who shall not have attained to the age of fifteen (15) years, and who shall not previously undergo a satisfactory examination in each of the branches ordinarily taught in the common schools of the s t a t e / ' This, the committee on course of study interpreted not as fixing the qualifications for admission, but only as defining the minimum requirement.