UNIVERSITY CONTROL 395 



minimum of expenditure. As far as true educational work is con- 

 cerned, it is not too much too say that a very large part of the gifts 

 might as well as not have been withheld. 



Suggestions Looking to Reform 



As has been said many times respecting other matters, things have 

 reached such a pass that a change for the better must come soon. But 

 the change will not come of itself, it must be brought about. Some 

 have suggested that there be frequent consultations of college presi- 

 dents; others, that the presidents and representatives of boards should 

 meet for conference. But there is no promise of relief in such sugges- 

 tions ; whatever of promise there is looks rather toward making matters 

 worse. There is no possibility of change for the better until there is 

 full recognition in practise of the academically undisputed fact that the 

 university in its essence is educational, all else about it being purely 

 incidental. With this will come recognition of another fact, that no 

 one should be entrusted with the executive duties of a university or 

 college unless he have had as thorough training for the post as that 

 required of bank presidents. It will be recognized also that choice of 

 this executive officer should be made by those whose special training has 

 fitted them to judge respecting the qualifications of a candidate. A 

 board of clergymen and college professors, no matter how eminent they 

 might be, would not be thought competent to select a president for one 

 of our great banks. Even before recognition of these facts, men should 

 see that no return to a proper ideal is possible so long as the whole 

 policy of a university is dictated by one man. Becent explosions in the 

 business world have proved this true for commercial corporations; it is 

 equally true for educational corporations, more important than the 

 others, in that their influence is not local and temporary. 



The teaching staff must be recognized as the all-important part of 

 the institution, for whose support and encouragement all other parts 

 exist. The presidential wedge, now constantly widening the gap be- 

 tween the business and the educational interests, must be removed and 

 the gap closed. The business man and the teacher must be brought 

 into contact, the inevitable result being, as Mr. Monroe has said, great 

 profit to both. 



The organization of many universities is so complex that genuine 

 re-adjustment can not be effected rapidly and a modus vivendi is neces- 

 sary during the interval. This is possible with merely statutory 

 changes. Faculties should elect their own officers. No change in the 

 curriculum or assignments, no subdivision of chairs or creation of new 

 ones should be made except ^^pon recommendation of a committee for 

 each faculty, consisting of trustees appointed by the board and of pro- 

 fessors elected by the faculty concerned. Equally, no appointment to 



