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Michigan University

Michigan University image
Parent Issue
Day
16
Month
February
Year
1883
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Whoever will study the progresa anti tendeneies of higher ediicatiou in our country, let liim observe whattakes place fiom year to year in the colleges and universities of the west, ratlier tbaii In those of the Atlantic States, whose customs are so fixed by traditioii that neiv ideas cannot at first receive hospitality. Such ati observer will probably discover tlmt the University of Michigan i a lonq wity in advanc.e of Hwroaril, Tule und Oornál in those particulars wliien distingiiish the university from the college. Cornell, without tloubt, may attribute many of her excellent arranffoments and advautages to the experience of her accomplished President while a professor at Anu Albor. The animal reporte of the President of the University of Michigan are interesting reading. From thut fir the year endiiig September 30, 1882, we p.ote that a considerable rnvoliition has taken place in the orgftnlzatlon of the university. The chief point is that foreshadowed in the report of the previous year, written by Aeting-President Friese: " Drawing the line at the end of the second or sophoniore year of college lite in the departmeiit of literature, science and the arts, between the secondary edueation and the higher or genuiue university education." This principie adopted by the board of regents in May, 1882, upon the recniiimeudatioii of the facnlty, wlio had given to the subject ¦ most eareful and prolonged consideration." This action is of especial interest to all concerned in the management and desiring the prosperity of the University of Minnesota. It will be a source of pride and salislacl ion to tliem to lind the greut University of Michigan adopting in 1882 a plan, a principie at least, established in the University of Minnesota iu 1671, 11 years befoi e. No further apology or vindication is now needed by the board of regents for what then seemed to sume a rash and ill-considered proceedii g. A further departure is the opening in the Univereity of Michigan of a so-called "university system,'' upon which students who have completed the first two years' work may proceed to their graduatiou. Under this system the candidate devotes his time to a llmlted range of favorlte studies, under the direction of a couimittee ot the faculty, and after two years submits himselt to a searching examination. If successful in this examination he wins a Bachelor's degree; if very proficient, and if a nieritorious thesis be presented, the candidate may at once attain the Master's degree. The expectation is that those pmsuing the university systeni will make large attainments in a few i dies rather thau limited attainments in' many studies. Much, not many things, is the principie. All students who prefer are at liberty to obtain their degrees accordiug to the old pluu, called Li tlia r port the "credit system." The university system, it may be observed, is a natural outgrowth of the general principie of drawing the line between the secondary and the superior education at the end of the second, or sophoniore year. There can be little doubt thiit the American colleges generally have unwisely undertaken to include within a tour years' curriculum a greater nuuiber and variety of studies than the ordinary uudergraduate stomach can possibly digest, It is time to make au end of cramniing the whole bill of f ure bodily down his throat, and to allow him, at sotne stage of the feast, to extsrcise his ability to choose those viands most to his taste and protit. iuis, me lUiunesoia plan, as put iu opwation in Michigan, does. President Angelí discourses vigorously n regard to professional cducation, expressing the opinión tliat perhaps lawr and ceriainly medical schools, should be fewer and sliould be conuected with univeraities. Speaking of not a lew medical colleges, the president says: "The country is speckled with these advertising establishment for anibitious plijalCliliia, Wliy UoluUo JUUIIJJ Uicu IifLtw the belief that after a few weeks attendauce upon lectures they have beeome titted to practice a learned profession, and to take the care of nien's liyes into their hands." In regard to advancing the seholastic requirements of candidates for medical degrees the opinión is given that "iraprovement must come in the main from schools in which the salaries of the teachers are not dependent on the nuniber of students in attendance. The oigan ization of the nevv school of poiitical science is an Important epoeh in university progresa. Coluinüia and Corneü are abreast with Michigan in this enterpiïse. In Michigan this department in open to students wlio have completed the work of the fiist two years of the usual college course. Poiitical economy and history in many of its specialties form tl backbone of the course of studies. The expectation is that this course will be purtued by rnaüy young men jjoing into law or ambitious of a poiitical career. It will indeed be ref reshing to see meu spinng to poiitical pieferment. ou the fjround of the study of the history, Hn. ciples and operatious of govfniMèöU: U '' Ihe President of Micliigan brings forward a proposition similar to oue which has already been mooted among our own university men. He invites reliious bod¦es to consider the expediency of foundinuhalls in which the students of their faith attending the university may live together in their own Christian homes. Sucha hall might, if desireu, becouie the eerm of a theological school. We would commend this suggestion to the Christian denom nations oí Minnesota. Iu the course of Diyme Providence the people have established their State universily. The general govern ment has endowed itgenerously- the university is llere and will remaní. By merely building a hall or home near the university, at the cost of a few thousands of dollars, any Oliristian denoinination may avail Itgelf of the free couHtruction of tlie university, its libranes, laboratoiies, museums, etc, costinit niany tens of tliousands annually A leading deiioniinatioiial joun.al states that the Methodists of Michigan are senously working to eslablish a home for their students at Ann Arbor, to be named Haven Hall," in memory of Bislmp E O. Haven, a former president of the university. The Kpiscopaliaus als-o have tlie matter under consideratiou

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Subjects
Ann Arbor Courier
Old News