New University Course

We take pleaaure in laying before tb readers of the Arqus the following cir cular or announceinent recetttly issue c by President Angelí, in behalf of tb faculty of the Department of Litorature Science, and the Arts, and in doing so to commend the proposed changes We are confident that the new Knglisi Uourse, with its degree of Bachelor o Letters, with the opening of the Uni versity to students who desire to pur sue special studies for which they uia be prepared, whether wishing a degre or not, will bring the University neare to the people, and without in the leas lowering its high standard. But we Ie the circular speak for itself : The Faculty of the Department o Literature, Science, and the Arts in th University of Michigan desire to an nounce some important changes, whic are now to be made in the work of tha Department. The principal reasous f o making these changos are the thre following : First. We desire that the University shall uiore completely fulfil itsfunction as an integral part of our State system of Public Instruction. AVe do not in tend to lower its standard of scholarship But we wish to briug its work and tha of the good High Schools into complete connection and co-ordinatiou. W wish thut each of the complet Courses in the well equipped nnc well conductod High Schools shal fmd its proper sequel in some Cours here which shail lead to a degree. W desire that students of sufficiently ma turo age who have propared themselve in the High Schools to pursue with ad vantage any otudy which is taught in the. UnivPrsitv. Amav have an opportu whether circuoistances pennit them to oomplete a t'ull course or not. Tho University will offer lts aid to all thos whom the High Schools have prepared to make their reaidence hore creditable to the University and useful to theuiselves. Secondly. We cherish the conviction that good resulta will follow trom granting to our students larger liberty than they now enjoy in electing subjects of study. This oonviction has been greatly strengthened by the happy inrïuence already exerted by opening to Seniors a larger choico of studies. Thirdly. - We believe that the plan proposed furnishes the student a great stimulus to make as rapid progresa and as large attainments aa be can instead of contenting himself with doing the average work of men in a class. It Will relieve the more capable scholar from the neceBsity of regulating his progresa by that of clagsmates whom he might easily outstrip. Kvery inducement ia offered to each student to broadeñ bis work or to complete his course at the earheat day practicable for him. The aim is to impresa each one with the idea that he is doing individual work, not Chtx work. We propere therefore, I. To add to the Courses already ostablished one new Course, which shali be the natural sequel of the so-called English Course of our High Schools. This new Course will consist of studies equal in ainount to any one of the otbei regular courses. About half of the studies, eoniprising especially those in Knglish, Anglo-Saxon, French and Germán Languages and Literatures and in History,will be specitied and required. The election of the remainder neuessary to fill the Coarse may be made trom any of the studies taught in this Department. Those who complete the Course will receive the degree of Bachelor of Letters. Students who show by exaniination (or if ooming frooi approved High Schools, by diploma) that they have completed the studies of the Ënglish Couree as now giveu in our best High Schools, can be admitted to this new Course. II. To admit to the University any person of sufficient age who gives aatisfactory evidence that hia residenoe here can be made conducive to Lis good and that he is fitted to do bis work in a maimer not disureditable to the Uuiversity. If he does not wish to gradúate, a certifícate will be given hini on hig departure, specifying what work he has oompleted. [The particular requirements for the admission of suoh studeuts will be made known in a subsequent Announcement.j III. Each student may elect his studies, and may pursue theni in any order he may choose, subject onïy to the following regulations. (a) If bo in a candidate for a degree, he must at nome time take all the studies, which are " required" for the degree he seeks. (b) Before entering on any study the student must givo the Professor in charge satisfactory evidenoe thst he is prepared to pursue it with advantage. Each Professor will specify what studies shall precedo any given study in his department. (e) The Faculty will require a student to drop a part of his work at any time if in their opinión he is undertaking too rauch, or to take additional work if they think that he is not sufficiently employed. IV. A eertain auiount of work to be done rather than a fixed time in wbich eertain work shall be done will be named a the condition of graduation. The completion of a eertain nuinber of studies will be required for attaining a degree. The gifted and diligent scholar, it is expected, may complete the requisite number of studies in sborter time than the less gifted or the less diligent student, or be may entich and brcaden his culture by conipleting more studies t han are nec-ded tor graduation. A littln more than oue hall' of all the studies required for a Bachelor's degree will be prescribed, the remainder will be elective. V. The present Courses, the Ulassioal, the Scientific, and the Latin and Bcientific (hcreafter to bo called tbe Latin Course) will necessarily be reyised and re-arranged to tome extent. The Engineering Courses will be substantially unchanged. Tbe work in no Courge will be lessoned. The Scientific Course will receive important modifications with the purposo of makiug it more couformable in faot to lts name. Two years of strictly scientific work will be required in it. On and after September, 1879, one year's study of Liatin will be required for admission to it. We hope to offer about ono bundred and twenty subjects or studies, each of which will be taught through a semester, Rome of them daily, some four times a week, and othors with less frequency. VI. In a few weeks another Announcement giving fuller details of the plan will be issued. Meantime we request the friends of UntTersity to ciruulate tlii Announcumeut ainong those who may be interested in it, and especially among teachers and pupils in our sohoola. In behalf of the Faculty,