New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-05
EDUCATIoN AT COLUMBIA.
SUGGESTIONS BY PRESIDENT BARNARD

EDUCATION AL COLUMBlA-
SUGGESTIONS BY PRESIDENT BARNARD.
HE ApvrsABIL1TY OF CLOSING THE UNDER
GrIpUArF, DEPARTMENT : OTHER
POINTS IN THE REPORT
The annual report Of President Barnard, which
- 6 lust been made public, contains much Oh IN
terest not only to the trustees OF the college, to
whom IL was addressed, but also to the many
friends and graduates of Columbia, as well as all
t,;snas Of college education. Among the sub
. ,acsx discussed are elective studies athletics,
900 nubljc lectures the library, the attendance,
,osiderccs Of students the associated schools. in
oIud,pg the Departments Of Arts, Law, Mines,
Msaicine. Political Economy and Library Econ
. orv the Graduate Department, and the appoint
,,on,s made in the course OF the year. Under the
hoaa ~ 81 The Graduate Department" President
p.rpard discusses the ACCESSIBILITY of discontinue
inc the Undergraduate Department of the School
Of Arts. saying:
~ the governing board 1t would not be becoming to the
undersigned to pronounce opinion upon It here IL
NAV be permitted to in this place that IL the
,estion we're merely the sueency and importance
q, the work proposed there could be no doubt that our
faculties could find ample and adequate occupation n they
we're confined giving instruction exclusively to graduate
Students On other hand, such has been the exces
ve multiplication of undergraduate colleges in ccun-
~ IN reant years that the business 0 nose colleges is
errsy overdone would certainly material bene
at large proportion of the existing colleges could DO
suppressed
New. York has ABOUT a million and half inhabitants
II should capable furnishing therefore the ratio
Al enc 70 500 six hundred undergraduate students IN
ar,s This Is number greater than could be COM
,ortab,y provided single college Nevertheless
e have three counting the minor colleges under the
cars O. the fathers OF the Roman Catholic Church 1t
vauld NJ be- therefore ed,eatonay misfortune If Co
lumba College should exist school for under
graduate students
Speaking of the number OF students IN the col
lece. the report says
The general attendance upon the entire university mas
been larger during the present year than before but
the increase numbers has been greatly owing TO the ex
mansion Of the medical school in consequence Of its greatly
nroved accommodations The grand total Of attendance
IN all the departments amounted 20 1914 From that
number IL we deduct 81 for repetitons the remainder
will be 1853 against I602 for the last preceding year.
which is the largest heretofore recorded During the
year ending June 1887, 443 degrees were conferred
This unusually large number is owing TO the occurrence
Of the centennial celebration in April 1857 al Wch 'o
sxty-one honorary degrees were conferred
A CHANGE IN THE SCHOLARSHIP SYSTEM.
According to the report, the average age OF
students is as follows: Seniors, 20 7-24; Juniors,
10 1914; sophomores, s $3.50; freshmen'
17s13 Under the head of scholarships is said:
In mast wears IL has customary TO present state
ment Of the relative scholarship OF the students III o
School Of Arts close OF each year ms mas oee
founded on the results OF system OF marking lOf thc
values OF scholastic performances Of the students IN the
several departments As dissatisfaction has been
EXPRESSED by both students and faculty with THIS aHd'
method Of estimating merits IL has been resolved 10 Try
the experiment of disseminating the numerical marking
system and place OF 1t to require semanhuai repor
from each instructor the only OF those VINO are
proficient each study, and OF those Who are oecen
and in order To provide honorable distinction to the most
srjtorous each head department. is required TO re-
mort az the close OF the final examination IN eaeh year INC
names OF those students exceeding three in NUMBER
who in each class have displayed the greatest excellence
in the studies Of department and any student VINO Is
so reported proficient in all departments Is 10 De re-
norted as an honorman This plan having been intro
dpced in the course of the results will
not he repored until close OF the final examination,
and will be given succeeding reports hereafter Thus
far the plan seems to regarded likely TO prove sue
cessful -
A mart of the discussion Of athletics is as fol-
lows:
1ne absence of regular gymnasium has been great
,scouraqemen to the general practice athletic sports
IN this institution Two years there an effort
made on the part alumni OF the college TO secure fhd
for the erection OF a wellappoined gymnasium In the
vicinity Of the college grounds Plans and estimates
made for tho necessary building ana ground ana te
probability then that the object would soon De
realized but the scheme have fallen through
or only seems likely DO accomplished when the trustees
shall be able that shall ever happen TO carry OUT the
design their expense
In spealxing of the free public lectures that have
been delivered on Saturday mornings during Jhe
wear President Barnard says
There has been step Of progress taken atendea
nv more satisfactory results system Of free
nubc lectures ana nothing desirable than that
the system should receive large expansion and &C.
yeiopment