St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-19
STATE UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
Prof. Northrop's Exhaustive Annual
Report.
ABOLITION OF A CLASS.
Necessity For Several New College
Buildings---Honor to Gen. Sibley
Suitably Acknowledged.

The regents of the state university held
a meeting yesterday at the capitol,
and were presided over by Gen. II. 81.
Sibley. Prof. Cyrus Northrop presented
his biennial report, which was of an
exhaustive character, covering the whole
of the departments operated by the
university, and presenting suggestions
for the furtherance of its work.
The years 1SS6-s7 and 1SS7-Ss, Prof.
Northrop reported, were years of gem
eral prosperity in the university, and the
latter scholastic year was one of notable
progress and development. Not only
was the work of instruction carried for
ward satisfactorily in all the depart
ments which existed at the beginning
of that period, but in some of these de-
partments it was enlarged. New de-
partments were organized, and in its
scope of instruction the institution was
made in reality what it has hitherto
been in theory only, a university.
Thirty degrees were conferred in 1887,
and thirty-eight for the year
of persons graduated was 321.
examined for admission into the
university ninety-nine were rejected.
The time has come" said Prof.
Northrop. ''fOr the abolition of the pre-
paratOry class. It's removal will be help
full to the preparatory schools by max
ing higher standard of work neces-
Sary in order to prepare students for
entrance, and will be helpful to the
university, not only by relieving it of
l0wer-grade work, but by promoting
the uniformity of progress among mem
berS of the same class. The preparatory
class
GROWS SMALLER EACH YEAR,
and the number of students who enter
the freshman class without passing
through the preparatory department
grows larger.
Students in the college of agriculture
continue few in number. and the change
in the terms of admission has pro-
duced little, if any, effect in increasing
them.
The only legitimate conclusion is
that the need of full four years
course of study in agriculture has not
yet been very generally felt. The agri-
cultural school, however, is likely to be
attended with better results, as twenty
five students have decided to enter the
school in October"
The organization of the state expert
mental farm has been perfected, and re-
ceived the hearty commentator of
Prof. NOrthrOp, who proceeded to urge
the completion of the new science hall
and museum buildings. But when
these buildings have been completed,
there would be a necessity for a larger
chemical and physical laboratory, for
library building, agricultural llege
building, law college building and AMI
observatory. A ladies' hall. for the ac-l
cOmmOdatiOn of ladies desiring to attend
the university, would be very great
benefit, and would tend to increase thel
number of female students.
The report of Prof. NOrthrOp wasi
1ittingly acknowledged by the regents,
who subsequently adopted the follow
ing:
Whereas, the honorable title of doctor of
laws has been conferred by the college of
New Jersey upon this president of this
board, Hon. II. II. Sibley, it is hereby I
Resolved, That this board approves, with
special satisfaction, the recognition of our
fellow citizen, who has eminenGy served our
state hom its earliest organization, with his
sword in defense of our homes on the
frontier, his counsel rs our representative
III the halls of congress, and as our chief
executive; and who now consents TO give his
last years to build up university which
emulates the merits and renown of the insti-
tuition which honored him.