Evening star., 1941-07-31
Co-eds May Make Up
Draft Reduction in
College Enrolment
Registration Forecast
For Foll Optimistic,
Educators Told

de1tnSe conference Ol SuuCEtOIS
was informed today that the new
crop of co-eds may help soften the
blow of the drop in enrolment in
American colleges and universities
expected this fall as result of
the selective service program.
Anticipated increases in women
students were cited by DR.. Raymond
Walters, nationally known for his
surveys of college registration, as
one factor in Surprisingly OPP
tinistic" forecast of college at
tendance for the 194l-42 school
year.
DR.. Walters, president Of the Uni
versity of Cincinnati, spoke before
a meeting of college presidents and
representatives of educational as
sociations held at the Mayflower
Hotel under the auspices of the
National Committee on Education
and Defense. The committee is
sponsored by the American Council
on Educatio nan dthe American As
sociation of Education.
At a closed meeting this morning
the educational leaders heard off,
the-record talks by Mayor La
Guardia of New York director of
civilian defense; Charles P. Taft Of
the Federal Security Agency, Lowell
Mellett of the Office of Government
Reports. and DR.. James B. Conant,
president of Harvard University.
The meeting will end today.
Picture Considerably Improved.
DR.. Walters told the conference
that mid-July reports from 469 ap-
proved institutions showed 178 ex-
pecting about the same enrolment
as last year and SIS anticipating a
somewhat larger number"
The remainder, including most of
the large institutions, look for de-
creases which will drop the national
total. he said, but the whole picture
is considerably improved since last
winter.
Of 81 colleges for women, he re-
ported, only anticipate decreases,
while 81 expect the same number
OF students as last year, and % ex-
pect more. educational institu-
tions also foresee larger attendance
by women.
Other factors cited for the re-
duced cut in expected enrolment
were the continuance of the lower
age limit for selective service at 81
years and the modification of regu-
lations which now defer students in
chronological, medical and certain
science courses as essential men"
Larger Freshman Glasses.
DR.. Walters also reported that
numerous institutions, including
prominent Eastern colleges for
men," were conducting promotional
campaigns and waving limitations
on the size of the freshman classes
to offset upper class losses.
At one of yesterdays sessions, DR..
A. A. Potter dean of the engineer
ing school of Purdue University and
chairman of the advisory commit
tee on engineering, science and
management defense training for
the United States Office of Educa-
ton, declared that the shortage of
trained engineers is one of the bot
tlenecks of the defense program, and
that this situation promises to be-
come more acute
He pointed out that engineering
colleges graduated some 10000 this
summer, barely enough to meet
the normal demands of industry
and defense. A third of these went
Into the armed forces, while many
engineers in industry, who are Re-
serve officers, have been called to
active duty.
More than 100000 men EMPLOYED
In industries are being given addi-
tional training in night schools and
thus are becoming more proficient
In their own fields of work through
this added training, which Is being
conducted by engineering colleges
and universities in cooperation with
the Office of Education, DR.. Potter
said.