The Washington times., 1919-08-26

Imagine a university conducted on
basis enabling every student to earn
his own way, to start his course
when he feels like IL, to attend
classes when It viii best suit his
l convenience, to take as many years
as he pleases in. earning his degree
and yet a university which for
| thoroughness of instruction and high
scholastic standing ranks with the
foremost educational institutions in
the United States.
1t sounds like an impossibiltty,
wild dream, and yet such an institu-
tion Is George Washington University,
located in the National Capital
George washington Is run to suit the
convenience of-students who are COM
PEELED to work their way through col
lege. OF the 3,456 students who at
tended the university during the last
academic year, ], ,T69 earned their own
way, working to pay not only for
their tuition, but also for their board
and room.
Most of the students who work are
Government employees, and many OF
them are public school teachers.
They can enter courses whenever they
choose--in the fall in mid-winter,
or in the summer. They can attend
classes whenever IL will be most con-
venient for them. IL they are en-
ployed In the daytime. they can at
tend classes in the early morning or
in the late afternoon, outside Of work
ing hours. II they work at night
they can attend the day classes.
student Sets Own Pace.
Every student can set his own pace.
spreading his course over as many
years as he chooses. The regular col
iege course Is four years. but most Of
the students who work spread the
work over six or even eight years.
There is a record Uf one student who
attended classes for sixteen years be-
fore getting a degree. Whatever
work is taken at the university Is
credited, and as soon as a student has
the required number OF credits he
can be graduated.
The student can even choose the
season of the year in which he wishes
to be graduated. A fall convocation
Is held soon after the opening Of
the academic year; a winter convo-
catioi Is held on George Washington's s
birthday; and the main commence
ment exercises are held in June.
II a student has not had sufficient
preliminary preparation to admit him
to a course leading to a degree, he
is permitted to take such special
studies as, in the opinion Of the
faculty, he is qualified to take to
advantage. Many such special stu
dents are enrolled each year.
OF the 1856 students enrolled last
year, 494 were in the Student Army
Training Corps and 500 in the sum
mer school. This record surpassed
that of any previous year by more
than 400.
City of Opportunity.
Washington has been to me city
of opportunity" a war worker re-
Gently told DR.. william Miller Col
lier, president OF the university.
AT home l taught school Try as
| might, / could not save enough
to take even a summer course at
university. 1t had always been my
desire to get a degree. tried the
civil service examination and came
to Washington. Here 1 learned that
| might attend George Washington
University outside Of my working
hours.
II was able to take a fifteen-hour
course, attending from 1915 until
1915 o'clock every day, and from
3:45 until 4:45 three afternoons a
week Then / went to work from >
until IL D. m. In my spare time, be-
tween school and work, / prepared
my lessons, and l usually had them
II Sounds hard, but it wasn't. and /
hope TO do it again next year"
Work Must BE Thorough.
Although the university is conduct
ed to suit the convenience of students,
the faculty always insists upon the
utmost 'thoroughness In the work
done. Both quantity and quality OF
work are required.
Quantity is determined by an abb
solute count of the hours of classroom
work upon which examinations are
passed, and not until an aggregate
number of hours has been completed
equal to that required in the four
year courses of the best colleges OF
the country Is a degree awarded.
Quality is assured partly by in-
struction by-a stan Of 259 professors
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