New-York tribune., 1878-12-18
MICHIGAN UNIVkRSITY
THE NEW DEPARTURE-A CLOSE RELATION EsrAb
1rsHKD BETWEEN THE COLLEGE AND TIE PUBLIC


THE NEW DEPARTURE-A CLOSE RELATION ESrAB-
IIsHEp BETWEEN THE COLLEGE AND TIE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
fPRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF HETRiBUNE'J
ANY ARRoR. Mich. Dec. 14.-The Univer-
stv Of Nchpan has lately made change In her system
OF education the extent OF which s hardly known out
side OF her immediate precincts In 1897 Whon d.
Tappan was made president, some twenty years a'er
the university founded. the idea was cohceeu vi
making the college integral part OF the state scno
,vsem-of making 1t to the high school what the Uni
yersity OF Germany 10 its Gymnasium ana inc our
versity Of France to its Lyceum, hnlshing schoo'
For some time the idea seemed more desirable thah
practical II would cause OF change 'han INC
peops Of the then prepared tor' Ihe
however, has been gradually going on, ana the ne"
regime is only its legitimate outerowth ana euinioao
Shortly after Dr. Tsppan became connected Win 'no
institution the scientific was added not meaning
a. n does with many of the colleges few scientific
sudies ith those Of the Odfashoned classical
course, but one which only subjects pertaining W
scentihc Investigation are taught ms was oo"cu Ds
the Latin scientific course which in turn was succeeded
by the courses in civil and mining engineering. Ibese
several additions were all made when the demands OF
the times seemed to require them. and simply Ioo"eo
ont most OF the subjects taught in the public schools
rendering them OF practical value In the aftere OF the
student.
Tn 1870 the faculty adopted the plan Of sending com
mtttee TO examine any OF the schools In the state tha
applied and If they found to be doing the requisite
work, OF admitting their graduates without preliminary
examination This was great step toward the attain
ment Of what had been 80 long desired namely closer
connection with the graded schools Of the State In the
beginning of the current year the present system was
established. The weLknOwn custom Win coheBes lii
this country has ALWAYS been to divide the WORK neee
sary for degree four years, and to place In each
year certain amount OF work to be done therein CIV
aOAn
course I'm less than the usual time, or TO do more than
the required work. To show how these evils are rene
died brief citation from the "announcemenp made by
the faculty is given
A certain amount Of work to be done, rather than
Area time In which certain work shall be DONE VIII De
named ns the condition OF graduation. The completion
OF certain number of studies will be required Tor at
expected may complete the requisite number OF studies
III tnan the less gifted or the less deen
student ma enrich and broaden his culture by
completing studies than are needed for graduaoh
Moreover limited selection given in the choice OF
work Certain OF the number OF studies necessary to be
taken in order TO obtain degree are specified the re-
mainder may be chosen from any OF the subjects taught
In the university As illustration, take the case OF
the applicant for the degree OF Bachelor OF Arts Upon
entering he finds he has twenty-four full conNes Of
study 10 complete each consisting OF five eIcr-
cises a week during one semester. of these amour
twelve are specified the remainder he may choose at
WILL As will be seen, these courses altogether make an
of three exercises DAY
college years the time usually taken 10 gain degree In
our universities The gifted and diligent student may,
by the new method obtain his diploma IN less than this
time or he may do more work than necessary 70 be
graduated. To quote again from the announcement:
We believe that the pan proposed furnishes the stu
dent great stimulus 10 make rapid progress and as
large aainments he instead OF cOnentng him
self with doing the work Of men In class IL
VIII relieve the more capable scholar from the necessity
OF regulating his progress by that Of clissmaes whom
lie might easily Outstrip Every nducemen Is offered to
student TO broaden his work, or TO complete his
the earliest day practicable for him The aim
s to impress each one with the idea tha ne is DONG IN
dlvidual work, not class work
At the tune the new system was adopted the de-
gree OF Bachelor OF Letters added This Is con-
tnuatlOn OF the Dgsh course, generally taught In
our public schools, and thus every given In the
best high schools finds n sequel In the university
1t is to be hoped that the time may come when the
studies specified shall all be taught in the preparatory
schools and that thus the work in the university may
be wholly elective, as IL Is III European Institutions
Already the advantages of the method have been per
The number OF applicants Tor admission 70 the
Literary Department this year was over 200, ana 100
matTicated making the largest class that has yet
entered This Il is claimed the result OF the new
system Besides the students seem to enter upon their
work with and 10 perfOrmlm0re perfectly their
duties, Altogether the new departure may be eonsid
cred "A success, aud, has been said, tins place OF
learning has become less the college and more truly the
university.
All the departments Of the university are In very
nouTishing condition. the number III each being as fol-
Iows: Literary, 437; Law, 40l Medical, 322 ;
Pharmacy, 80 Dental College, 81 Homeopathic Med
zeal College, 50; total, 1893.