New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-17
Higher Tuition
Fees Forecast
For Harvard
President Lowell Reports
Deficit of Sl6l,OOO for
Year; Predicts Next II
Months Will Double 1t
Salaries Take Endowment
Calls on Alumni and Pub
lie TO Stimulate Disci.
pine and Scholarship


dowment fund. has been reported to
the Overseers OF Harvard University
by President a. Lawrence Lowell. who
said the deficit would be more than
doubled for the current year. He asks
for the support of Harvard Alumni an
the public in stimulating the ambition
of students for high scholarship and
in maintaining standards OF discipline
in the college. forecasts the probable
necessity of an increase in tuition
fees, and discusses at length the re-
lations which should exist between the
governing board of university and
its faculty.
President Lowell praises the en-
dowment fund committee and the
graduates for their zeal and persis-
tence" in raising the fund "Without
this generous assistance from the
Sunni" he says, 1.-The condition of
the university would be lam entable."
President Lowell reports that an in
crease in the salaries of the teaching
staff. of roughly 50 per cent was made
possible by the fund.
This addition to the teaching SAL
aries ne nevertheless points out,
"would alone exceed the immediate
gain in the income of the university
but there has been also large in
crease in the wages of labor, in the
cost of services CT all kinds, and N
the price of fuel and other materials.
The result was deficit which. includ-
ing all items that should properly be
charged therein, comes to. S161 900,
and this will be more than doubled
for the current year. Nor is there
any reason to hope that without more
income it can be much reduced for
some time to come Since it is no.
possible to increase the endowm an :
further at present, the only resource
lett for meeting the deficiency is an in
crease in tuition fees.
New Conditions Alter Plans
"At the time when the endowment
fund was planned we believed change
in the tuition fees out of the question
but the continued hioh prices, the stag
gering deficit, and the action of other
Institutions have brought new condi-
tons -
President Lowell reports that during
recent years there has been a constant
effort to raise the standard of scholar
ship" He finds that so far as the
minimum work required for a degree
is concerned. the Improvement has
been Marked Harvard students, al
though they are not Obliged to work
too hard nevertheless have to work
harder than their fathers did"
Raising. however, the minimum
standard, or even the average scholar
ship of undergraduates, is not enough
continues President Lowell at is not
less perhaps more. important to in
crease the ambition for excellence on
h art Of those capable of achiev-
ing it.
The real desire for high scholarship
depends upon the attitude of the alum
nj and the public. If the object of col
lege is preparation for life educa-
ter than mediocrity; but this the pub
lie fails TO understand In England a
mans career at the bar or in public
lie is greatly. assisted by taking a
high class OF honors at Oxford or
at Cambridge. In France the gateway
to success in many careers is opened
only by series OF rigorous competi-
tive examinations. Here the great law
firms select eagerly the graduates Of
our Law School who stand highest in
RANK; but the world does not value in
the s9hse way the highest scholars in
college
College Discipline Discussed
On The subject of college discipline
President Lowell writes as follows:
Parents Of students not infrequent-
y complain Of the rigidity of college
discipline in certain respects-that
their sons are not allowed, for example,
70 leave early or come back late at the
christmas or spring recess. They also
worry The college officers by entreating
mat dclinquents may be relieved Of
penalties fer the infraction of rules,
ana still more insiStently that they
may not suffer the consequences of
grave neglect Of their work, or even OF
Serious moral misconduct, On the
otner hand, we hear from business
men that graduates fresh from college,
"Ahe possessing excellent qualities,
are deficient in steady habits Of dill
gence and industry"
large part OF the report is given
oyer to an extended discussion Of the
relations which should exist between
vac governing board of university
ana the faculty. President Lowell rea-
.phs from the experience of Harvard
VIC 'HStfuctlnC SLdn should not
% represented upon the governing
Inc report also speaks Of the sue
ss va, OF the new requirement of COM
pa'sory exercise for freshmen, the
.la1ked increase in the number Of men
.,aa,hs'erring TO Harvard from other
~eges' the working out OF the new
,eqnifement If comprehensive cxa!ni-
.,~uons In the senior year Of college.
s's increase in the size Of the profes.
t;.'hai schools, and the necessity dur
tss she immediate future of pcrfecting
80. s e1isting departments of the univer-
~. y rather than branching out into
lew fields of work.
luton rates al Yale arc TO be raised
s.sm szso to $500 next fall Until ris-
.as costs, which came with the war.
<ssmpeiied the s240 charge. the tuition
.es were $3.50. Even with the new in
''ssse there will be a deficit.
uuon rates at the University of
.,snhsyiyania have been reaged twice
nee 1911, and the university has an
g. aas aeScit now. but ~ new increase
:" rates Is contemplated.
100. II - from $50 20 $500 at
,'sh tnsversity last fall and It's f.
4'eeS ere sald 70 be on a normal basis.
Sure :.