The Denver star., 1916-10-21
COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE TO
BEGIN FALL TERM SEPT. 20
Notable Work Of Byrd PsiIlsrman At
West Virginia institution.

The large number of applicants for
admission to the West Virginia Col
legiate institute for the coming term
indicates that there will be a notable
increase in the number of new stu
dents when the fall session opens on
"Wednesday. Sept. 20. President Byrd
Policeman has thoroughly demon
StrAted his ability and capacity as an
educa tional leader of the first order by
his splendid management of the af-
fairs Of the institution. The fact that
the school has been raised to college
rank has created great interest. Many
Of the new applicants will enter the
college department.
1t IS said there is no other institu-
ton in the United States especially for
the training of colored youth that
gives a college course in vocational
training OF that places the same en-
phasis on vocational training as is
placed on the academic studies at the
West Virginia Collegiate institute. For
this reason students who have wanted
college course in home economics,
agriculture or any other vocational
subject were compelled to attend some
college or university in the north or
west.
This places the young colored men
and women seeking an education to a
great disadvantage, for the reason that
they cannot usually secure dormitory
accommodations at these institutions,
their expenses are extremely heavy,
and they are in a great measure de-
prived Of the advantages Of social life.
There are several graduates of the
collegiate institute pursuing vocational
courses in northern colleges that would
have taken the course at their own
state school had such provision been
made at the time of their -graduatio
There is no other Negro college closer
/ than 500 miles Of the West Virginia
Collegiate institute.
| President Prillerman says: The
| earning power of the Negro laborer o.
West Virginia is greater than that OF
any other state In the Union \ large
! number Of the Negro population OF
West Virginia is in the coal fields.
7 Since they do not find much oppor-
/ tuuity for Investment OF their earnings
/ In real estate. they are willing To In
vest in the education of their children
The governor. the state board of
| control, the state regents and other
state authorities have shown such in
tercst I'm the education of our Negro
youth that the administration of the
West Virginia Collegiate institute and
Negro citizens generally feel that the
Institution has greater opportunity for
usefulness than most other similar
institutions In the country"
When President Prillerman took
charge of this institution seven years
go its largest enrolment to that time
had been 30 students. with faculty
Of twenty two teachers. This year.
1916, 1t enrolled $50 students and had
faculty of twenty-five teachers. For
the year 1869 the state appropriation
Cor salary and wages was $1I.4JO; for
l915-16 1t was S21.ooO.
In these seven years the student
body has increased 62l. per cent. while
the faculty has increased in number
only 1-6 rer cent, and the state ap-
preparation for salary and wages has
increased only % Is per cent. All the
departments of the school have been
strengthened, one year has been added
to the academic course, the name Of
the school changed. the college depart
ment added and summer school for
teachers maintained each yesr.