The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-19
HOW YALE IS GOVERNED.
THE TALK OF n REORGANIzATION
OF THE CORPORATLON.
An Interesting Resume on the Subject
HiitOrical and Up to Date Facts-The
Iirent Grnwth of the IIniversitv

HiitOrical and Up to Date Facts-The
Great Growth of the University.
The recent letters of "Yale's Greatest
Need" advocating reorganization of
the corporation, have given rise to the
inquiry-"How is Yale governed|'. In
answer to this question the Yale News
has prepared the following article:
The government of Yale college is the
outcome Of the charter granted by the
acts of the general assembly of the Eng
lish colony of Connecticut, on the 9th
of May, 1745 The original grant gave
to the president and fellows, (the latter
to be ministers living in Connecticut
the government, care and management
of the entire affairs of the college, with
power to appoint their successors. In
return for certain grant of money
from the state in 1892, the governor,
acknowledgement and his six senior
assistants of the council were made adj
ditlonal fellows of the college. later
law provided that six senior assis-
tants should be succeeded by the six
senior senator's" and these in turn were
replaced in 1872 by an equal number
of the alumni.
The term of office of one of these
alumni expires each year, and the va
cancy is filed by an election in which
each Yale graduate of five or more
years standing has a vote.
Professors of the university cannot be
members of the corporation. vacancies
among the ministers are filled by the
oIa ha .aei1 lie
elected by the whole corporation.
1t is not required that the president
be a minister. but, hitherto, the new
president, if not previously an ordained
minister, has always received ordina
ton Immediately after election.
The corporation meets in October or
November, in February or March, in
May, and at Commencement, and may
be called together by the president at
other times. This body, as it now ex-
lists, consists of the president the gov
ernor and acknowledgements, ten con-
gregational ministers of the state of
Connecticut who have been elected for
life, and six alumni. The power of this
body is supreme. Annually, at the Com
mencement, there is appointed a presi-
Dental committee, consisting of the
president, three lay and three clerical
members This committee, in a great
measure. represents the official power
of the corporation, being authorized to
conduct all the necessary affairs of the
university, such as auditing the ac
counts of the treasurer filing certain
vacancies, and caring for all legal
matters.
The presidential committee annually
appoints subcommittee of finance,
two of whom, at leasts, shall be resi-
dents of New Haven. This sub-commit |
tee advises the treasurer in regard to |
the advantageous investment of the |
funds of the university, and shares with |
him the initial responsibility of making |
such investments. In case of the death |
of the president, the immediate govern |
ment of the university devolves upon |
the prudential committee.
In the academical department the fac
ulty have, for the last seventy years, |
largely determined it's policy, proposed |
changes in the subjects and methods of
instruction, nominated officers, and to a
large extent, actively and effectively |
exerted itself toward increasing the en-
dowments. The same has been emin-
emily true of the medical and theological |
departments, and of the Sheffield scien-
tific school, all of which may be said
to be creations of their respective facul-
ties. 1t is also the instrument for car
rying out the orders and decisions of the
corporation in regard to matters relat-
ing to the college. 1t mas, however,
come to exercise control in all matters
of instruction and government, subject,
however, to the action of the corpora
ton. Financial matters are managed
by the latter body entirely.
The academic faculty consists of the
professors and tutors, in which is vest
ed, by the corporation, the government
of the undergraduates. The professors
meeting by themselves nominate to the
corporation persons to fill vacant or new
professorships, while the whole faculty
intimate tutors This privilege has been
accorded to them by the corporation by
an unbroken custom, not by formal en-
actment. In this respect Yale differs
from most American universities and
colleges This unwritten law is an all
important element in the government of
Yale university.
With the growth of the college the
work Of the faculty has so increased
that a. great deal is done by other COM
mittees than the prudential. For in
stance, all power of government of the
senior and junior classes is held by the
dean; of the sophomore and freshman
classes by their respective faculties,
composed Of four members each from
the faculty of the college. There is also
a discipline committee which takes act
ion in regard to special college matters
The Sheffield scientific school is direct
ed by a governing board, with presi-
dent at it's head, The faculty is under r
this. The governing board consists of ,
professors permanently attached to the
institution. 1t controls the internal s
and the greater part of
the instruction. T
The school of fine arts is governed by 7
a council, consisting of the president, n
the permanent officers of the school, n
and four members by election. {
The Yale divinity school is governed n
by a faculty with the president in au- Il
as are also the medical and
the law schools. Each of these three
in the several schools have a