Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - Early History of University (1916) [PAGE 40]

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HISTORICAL SKETCH

XXXVII

One of the sources of strength to any institution is the good will and co-operation of its former students. The interest and pride of the alumni of the University of Illinois in its work seem steadily and -plainly to increase. The Alumni Eeeord made its first appearance in 1906 and contained an account of the life and work of each graduate of the institution up to that time, as well as similar accounts of the faculty and trustees. The 1913 publication was an attempt to continue the work, expanding and correcting the biographies, the University of Illinois Directory of 1916 is an attempt to locate all persons who have ever been connected with the Urbana-Champaign departments. The University has grown from 3 teachers and 77 students in 1868 to 762 teachers, 55 administrative officers, a library staff of 48, and 6427 students in 1916. The most striking development has occurred within the last 20 years. More degrees were conferred annually by the Chicago departments, from the time of their addition to 1*e University up to the year 1907, than by the Urbana departments. In 1903 there were 301 degrees conferred by the Chicago departments, but only 181 in 1904, because of the raising of the standards of the school, while the Urbana departments have increased from 183 in 1902 to 848 in 1914, in spite of the increase of entrance requirements. More degrees were conferred by the university in 1914 than were conferred in all the years from 1868 to 1895, twelve times as many as in 1902, and over twice as many as in 1908. Altogether since its foundation the University has conferred 7,998 degrees in the Urbana departments and in all its departments 12,477 degrees. On June 14, 1916, the University will confer over 1,100 additional degrees, (the figures as compiled June 6, 1916, were 935 for the Urbana departments and 180 for the Chicago departments, making a total of 1,117). The total number of degrees conferred by the University in 1914 represents a larger number than the total attendance at the University of Illinois in any single year prior to 1896, and the number of degrees conferred since 1908 exceeds the number of degrees conferred in the entire previous history of the University of Illinois. 1 Today the University of Illinois has one of the largest undergraduate departments in America and also has one of the largest enrollments of men students. There are 4,662 undergraduates of whom 3,623 are men. The total attendance in all departments of the University is 4,763 men aud 1,535 women. All of these except about 500 are nine month students and this fact should be emphasized in all comparative college statistics, where night and Saturday and three month students are included in the college enrollment. The rapid growth of the University of Illinois especially during the past decade is seen especially in the size of its student body and faculty which have more than doubled, by its land holdings, value of buildings and size of the library which have nearly trebled. The following table will perhaps present a useful summary:

Land Biennial Library Important Acres Buildings Income Volumes Buildings 641 $1,127,500 $1,814,863.78 67,040 12 2483 3,180,635 5,622,928.87 330,895 47 E s t i m a t e d at 6,200,00.00 ' for 1915-17 'With a total of 821 as at Feb. 23, 1916, omitting all duplicates and including the Chicago departments. 1 769 acres were given by Capt. T. G. Smith on condition that the University -would erect a building for the School of Music costing at least $215,000. The figures cited do not include leased land. 1903-4 1915-16 Faculty 351 MM* 7fj<n Attendance Urbana Chicago 2674 1042 6298 549

IMPORTANT BUILDINGS ERECTED SINCE 1914 Addition to Chemical Laboratory (to May 1916) Stock Judging Pavilion (1914)

$358,755.00 110,355.00