The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-27
EXTRACTS FROM REPORT OF
 PRESIDENT ABERCROMBIE


 work refreshed in body and mind, and prepared to render abler services. In nc other way can they keep fully abreast oi educational advancement
 l suggest the adoption of a resolution authorizing such absences when, in the opinion of the president, the best interests of the university would be subserved provided satisfactory arrangement can be made, without expense to the university, for filling temporary vacancies New Equipment.
 | Conner hall, in which will be accommo- fdated the department of engineering. the school of physics and the power plant, is nearing completion, and it is expected that Smith hall, in which will be located the Alabama geological survey, the geo. | logical museum and the schools of geol- ogy and biology, will be ready for use at the opening of next session. The for l mer, when finished, will be unexcelled in completeness by any other similar build- ing in the country; the latter will be equally well equipped and even more beautiful.
 Plans are being prepared for the pro- 1 posed Acadamic hall, and when it is ! erected AiI add greatly to the instruction l facilities of the university. It is urged 1 that the contract for the building of this hall be awarded at the earliest possible
 
 ] occupancy next year
 1 The sewerage system Is now in use, and the new waller works system is nearing completion. The contract for remodeling | Woods hall, the main dormitory for men. has been awarded. and the work is to be completed by September.
 When all of the contemplated improve l ments have been made the material equip- ment of the university here and at Mo- bile will represent an investment of ap- | proximately $S00000.
 Admission Requirements.
 Under the authority given by the board of trustees, the faculty has announced a l gradual raise in the entrance require ments. For the next session F high | school units, with a maximum of four l condition units, will be required for ad- mission to the freshman class. For the session of 1910-1911, IA units will be re- quired. This will place the university upon plane with the leading institu- ! tions of the country
 Hereafter students entering the law and medical departments will be re- quired to meet the requirements for 1 admission to the freshman class of tn e academic department.
 This raising of the admission reuuire- | ments has been made possible by the establishment of county high schools and by the extension of course in other high schools. It would be useless and fnexcusable expenditure of funds un- necessarily to duplicate at the Univer- sity work of instruction which is of fered in the high schools
 The graduation requirements have 1 been raised in the proportion that ad- mission requirements have been in- 1 creased. and the result will be a gen. eral elevation of scholastic standards s I-I intention on the part of the University has resulted already in strength ening of courses of study in many high | schools.
 Of course, both the thoughtless clamor for large enrolment and the l same demand for high standards cannot | be met without great and unnecessary cost. The one or the other must be stressed. The former could be satis- fled by a lowering of admission and 1 graduation requirements, but such a policy would place the University in | direct competition with other state sup ported institutions, and render it nec- l essary for our young men and women to go without the best of university training, or seek 1t in other and more l progressive oommonwealths. It is be- lieved that the intelligence of the state would not indorse palpable failure | states chief institution of learning.
 Changes In Courses.
 Besides the changes suggested in the l expansion of the department of educa . tion, 1t has been decided hereafter to make the study of Greek optional in the course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In its stead a mod ern language may be taken in addi- tion to those already required. This action Is in keeping with the develop ment in modern education.
 Physics has been placed in the fresh man year, and an additional course has been added in both French and German.
 Needs of the University.
 comparison with similar institu- tions in other states reveals the fact that the University has been and still is inadequately equipped and supported. The present state administration has performed its whole duty in the mat ter of educational advancement. Let us hope that future administrations will meet the standard set by the present
 To repeat what has been said above aside from income and maintenance, the University's greatest material needs (after the erection of buildings already planned or in course of construction will be as follows: Buildings for the BY for women, the law department, the de- partment of education, and the Y. M c. A., also an enlargement of the build ings now occupied by the schools of chemistry and physics
 University Y. M. c. A.
 The University Y. M. c. A. continues to make progress under the direction of the general secretary, MT. T. IT Beverly. who for the past two years has devoted his entire time to the work One of the chief features of the association work during the past two years has been that of systems tic Bible study During the past session more than 25O young men have enrolled and attended regular classes in the Bible study department The classes in this department-2O in number-ars taught by students selected for that 1 purpose. The students thus selected are orga nized into d normal class which is taught by certain of the University professors The Bible classes recite each Sunday afternoon from to 1 o'clock.
 The total membership in the associa- ton this year Is in advance of that in the Bible study department. In fact the room set aside for the use of the association is wholly inadequate, and one of the greatest needs of the Uni versity Is that special building for the Y. M. c. A. In proportion as this work has advanced. the moral and re- ligious tone of the student body has been developed. I recommend that an appropria ton for the employment of Q | |