The Twin City star., 1916-09-16
COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE TO
BEGIN FALL TERM SEPT. 20
Notable Work Of Byrd Prillsrman 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
Prillerman has thoroughly demon
strated his ability and capacity as an
educational 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-
tion In the United States especially for
the training Of colOred youth that
gives a college course In vocational
training or 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. ----.-'- .. --..., e. -.-.--.~,.s. .. .....
This places the young colored men
and women seeking an education to q
great disadvantage. for the reason that
they cannot usually secure dOrmitory
accommodate tiOns at these institutions,
their expenses are extremely heavy.
and they are in 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 graduation.
There Is no other Negro college closer
than 800 miles of the West Virginia
Collegiate institute.
President Prillerman says: 1.-THE
earning power Of the Negro laborer Of
West Virginia is greater than that of
any other state in the Union. A large
number Of the Negro population Of
West Virginia is in the coal fields.
Since they do not find much oppOr-
tunity for investment of their earnings
in real estate. they are willing to in
vest I'm the education Of their children.
'The governor, the state board Of
control, the state regents and other
state authorities have shown such in
terest 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
ago its largest enrolment to that time
had been go students, with faculty
Of twenty-five teachers. This year,
1915, 1t enrolled $50 students and had
q faculty Of twenty-five teachers. For
the year 19OS-9 the state appropriation
for salary and wages was $17,450: for
1915-16 1t was $21.50O.
In these seven years the student
body has increased 62h per cent, while
the faculty has increased in number
only 41-6 per cent. and the state ap-
for salary and wages has
increased only % Is per cent. All the
Of the school have been
one year has been added
to the academic course, the name Of
the school changed, the college depart
ment added and a summer school for
maintained each year.