Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-12
"WATCHFUL WAITING"
FOR U. OF P. JOBS ENDS;
RECALLS NEARING CASE
Members of Faculty, for First
Time in 35 Years, Get
Early Notice of
Appointment
TEACHING STAFF HAPPY

For the first time in So years holders
of yearly appointments on the faculty o.
the University of Pennsylvania know tha
their services are desired for the next
year and that the period of "watchful
waiting" which heretofore extended into
the summer and provoked protests during
the strife over the dismissal of Scott Near
ing last June has been eliminated by the
trustees
This is the first spring in the memory
of the oldest faculty members that they
have been informed of the action the trus-
tees had taken on their incumbency. The
new method of giving ample notice of the
disposition of appointments is one of the
advantages gained by the teaching staff
out of the trouble which followed the
Nearing dismissal.
Nearing was not notified he was dis
missed until June II, a time. as it was
then asserted, when most of the universi-
ties and colleges throughout the country
had already filled vacancies for the next
year, and the chance of getting engage
ments was slight.
This year, however. the appointments
of assistant professors and instructors
were affirmed, and on April l the 43O
members OF the faculty whose tenure was
one year were notified of the action and
the size of the salary at which they would
be retained,
The University faculty has expressed
satisfaction with the early notifications
sent them from the office of Provost
Smith. Harrison S, Morris. administrator
of the estate of Joseph Wharton founder
OF the Wharton School, and one of the
supporters of Scott Nearing, declared to-
day, however. that the assistant professors
and instructors were getting only their
rights" in being informed about their po-
sitions at this time
III the notifications were not sent"
said Mr. Morris, the University would
not be living up to its word. This is an
outcome of the Nearing case. Early noti-
ficatlon of appointments was one of the
objects of the fight that followed Scott
Nearing's dismissal 1t is just and right
that the University faculty should know
what is in store for the next year in time
to make other provision IL necessary"
The resolution specifying April l as the
date for informing the teaching staff OF
the trustees action was part of the gem
eral amendment rearranging the tenure
and method of appointing the STAFF made
at a meeting OF the trustees on December
20, and the outcome, according TO Nearing
adherents, Of the agitation that followed
his dismissal.
Dean Roswell c. MeCrea, OF the Whar-
ton School. said he believed the Nearing
case had been one Of the contributing
causes OF the trustees action.
The Nearing matter did focus attention
on some of the rather easy-going methods
of the University" he said. This is a
great Improvement IL has happened that
man did not know whether he was 70
be retained until just before the opening
OF the fall semester. and some times later.
Engagements at other colleges are usually
filed in March and April The field Is
virtually closed after June
Provost Edgar F. Smith OF the Uni
versity said the spring notification vas 4
plan he favored = several years. He did
hot sss any CONNECTION between the new
method and the Nearing casa