The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-15
REFORMS 1t UNIVERSITY
CHANGES NE6EssITATEDB BY ADoP-
TION OF SEMESTER SYSTEM
ARE Discussed
NEW METHOD OF MARKING
Lessons to Begin Week Later
I'm Fall and End Week
Earlier in the
Spring.

The faculty Of the College of Science
and Literature and Art ait the university
have decided on some Of the less import
ant changes which win arise in connec-
ton with the adoption Of the semester
system next year. Various matters
Which are in the jurisdiction of the board
of regents, but in which recommends
tons of the faculty have. considerable
weight. have been taken up, and it will
be unanimously recommended that the
university begin one week later in the
fall and close one week earlier in the
spring. This will make the first semester
include four weeks work after the Christ
mas vacation, and the second semester
will open Feb. g. 1t was also recon-
mended that the incidental fees be
equally divided between the two terms.
and that requirements for entrance to
the civic and scientific courses remain
the same as at present.
The faculty also decided to do away
with 'incompletes In the future all
work not completed will be marked
either condition" or future" and can
be removed only by the rules regulating
the removal Of these works. No student.
who is unable to carry successfully the
regular work of the freshman and soph-
omere years, will be allowed to carry
extra work In the junior and senior
SV<tLoJ O4lICSS SACCpblOIS are mace IN
special cases after an,tnve est tgation by the
condition committee. Students wish
1Eg to take extra work must give two
weeks notice. Freshmen and sopho-
lnores who receive condition or fail
ure in the work of the first semester 50
as to make 1t impossible for them to con-
Time the samesline of work witt not be
allowed to elect junior or senior
subject in place Of the subject omitted,
INJ1t mill 4
time to the remaining subjects of the
course This rule is not operative with
those students who obtain a grade Of IS
per cent
In order to give conditional students
every opportunity to make up their work
before entering under the new system
next fall, examinations in freshman and
sophomore subjects will be given May
L. and MAY 90
The question of changing the whole
system Of marking was considered. but
nc action was taken and the matter
was left over until the meeting of the
faculty next Saturday. Three plans were
suggested: one. to make 80 the passing
mark and retain the figure marking as
at present. Prof Sigerfoos recon-
mended that the whole system of marks
be done away with and a. student be
given either pass condition" or fail
ure. me third plan Sugge Sted was to
make the marks A, 3, C, D, E; A, B and
to be different grades above passing.
D. a condition" and E, Failure
The pass condition" or failure
system will probably be the one to meet
with approval
The change would be an excellent one
from many standpoints Under the pres
ent way of grading there are q great
many students who work for marks DUR
ing the whole four years, and are kept
out Of the honorary fraternities by frac-
ton of a per cent. The system of grad
ing is generally regarded as unfair. 1t
is also the general sentiment among
students. aside from any element of I'M
fairness, that the honorary societies, on
the whole, do not represent the broadcast
culture Of the university