A CIVIC INVESTMENT 253 



spectors at no cost, while the students have received credit at the uni- 

 versity for "laboratory" work. 



When the city of Akron established its municipal university, it was 

 found that the university laboratory offered better facilities than that 

 of the city chemist. In order to avoid expensive duplication, the uni- 

 versity thereupon undertook to carry on in its laboratories the entire 

 testing work of the city and established as one of its departments a bu- 

 reau of city tests. Again the practical value of cooperation became 

 apparent. Advanced university students in chemistry, instead of work- 

 ing at mere theoretical problems, were given actual city chemical test- 

 ing work. The difference became at once apparent. A student who 

 plodded through a " book problem " as drudgery, became an active, in- 

 terested worker in the solution of a real food problem affecting the 

 health of his community. The value of chemistry as an actual factor 

 in life became apparent. At the same time, certain students were re- 

 ceiving experience which would later enable them to enter, well equipped, 

 into a life calling. 



When the city council, feeling the need for information, asked the 

 engineering department of the university to undertake a survey of 

 paving conditions in the city, cooperative students were called in to 

 help in the work of inspection. When the need arose for a supervisor 

 of city playgrounds, the physical director at the university was called 

 upon to assume the position. Several of his sub-directors are city uni- 

 versity students. Thus the city is beginning to regard the university 

 as a laboratory to which it may, at any time, turn for technical advice 

 and help. Through experience with problems thus offered, students are 

 given the opportunity for training in the service of their community. 

 They are taught to study and know city activities and interests — they 

 become better citizens. 



The state university offers free tuition to all who can take advantage 

 of the opportunity. The city university also offers free tuition to its 

 communitj'', a practical training for life, and the advantage of a higher 

 education at home. This latter fact opens up possibilities to hundreds 

 of students who could never attend even a state university. A coopera- 

 tive engineering student, who earns apprentice wages during his alter- 

 nate two week shop periods and who has the privilege of living at home 

 can secure an education and support himself at the same time. 



From all parts of the country come inquiries from cities regarding 

 the operation of a tax supported municipal university. Cleveland has 

 considered a plan by which her students may receive free higher edu- 

 cation at a municipal university formed by a coalition of her great 

 privately endowed colleges. The day of the municipal university will 

 come as inevitably as has that of the state university. Municipalities 

 are already beginning to realize the possibilities of practical higher edu- 

 cation as a civic investment. 



