The Bozeman courier., 1927-12-30
BILLINGS POLY
GAINS STUDENTS
TOTAL ENROLMENT IN ALL DEPART.
MENTS NOW SS5, SETTING
NEW HIGH MARK

81 Acres of Irrigated Land Added to
Farm, Making Total of 800 Acres and
New Apiary Department Includes 100
Stands of Bees Cared for BY Students
Enrolment at the Billings POIytech-
mic institute, according to a recent
announcement by Ernest T. Eaton, a
director of the school, has reached a
new high mark. There are now en-
rolled in the various departments of
the school a total of 335 students,
which is an increase of more than 40
per cent over any previous fall term.
With the beginning of the winter term
and the special vocational short
courses, a still further increase is anti
cipated, bringing the total well above
400.
It was frequently predicted when the
Eastern Montana Normal school was or
ganized at Billings last fall, that the in
stitute would lose in attendance Of young
ladies. While the new state institution
has enrolled more than $50 students, the
attendance Of girls at the Polytechnic
has more than doubled. No other in
stitution in the state has shown SINH
lar increase and, in fact, some Of them
have shown an actual decrease. This
leads the directors Of the Polytechnic to
believe that the more practical courses
in education are increasing in favor.
Million Dollar Campaign
The popularity OF the vocational
courses and the demand for positions in
the self-help industries Of the school
have caused the managers Of the insti-
tute to begin active efforts for a large
expansion. A million-dollar campaign
for endowment and enlargement is being
mapped out, and will be launched early
in 1928.
October saw the completion Of the
$3.50, 900 campaign, which was announced
as preliminary to the larger develop
ments at the school. The money de-
pended largely for permanent improve.
ments and additions to the plant. C1as
room space was increased considerably
when the engineering department wa
| given six new rooms on the third foo
Of the shop building, thus releasing thl
space 1t formerly occupied for the en-
largement of theeprinting shop, and TO
the school Of journalism and publicity
ALI the dormitories, the administration
building, and Losekamp conservatory un
derwent repairs during the summer, anC
many Of the dormitory rooms were re
furnished. Ninety-seven acres Of irri
gated farm land adjoining the campu
have been added to the farm, making
total Of nearly 800 acres in the Pol
was the apiary. More than 100 colonie
Of bees were secured during the sum
mer and by next season there will b
over 2Oo colonies. Students care for tn
bees, and all the equipment is made il
the school shops.
Supplies Great Need
The Polytechnic supplies a great nee
in Montana for a practical university
Industrial and trade courses are empha
sized, in conjunction with the academi
courses. According to many leading ed
ucators who have visited the school i
recent years and studied it's plans an
methods, 1t has anticipated the ne
trend Of education, and has pioneere
! the course which q great many othe
schools are following today.
For 10 years the Polytechnic hs
opened wide it's doors to hundreds
young people who would never hay
: otherwise continued with their educs
, ton. It has taken boys and girls VII
were misfts in the public school system
and young men and women who ha
s1r0v4rfsA rsvTf Of tavsH