Part Three 



Scientific Research in American Universities and Colleges 



A. The University as a Research 

 Environment 



Historical development has given 

 the sanction of tradition to the promi- 

 nent role plaved by the universities 

 in the progress of pure science. The 

 advent of the agricultural and engi- 

 neering schools has also increased 

 university interest and responsibilitv 

 in the field of applied research and 

 development. 



Several factors combine to empha- 

 size the appropriateness of universi- 

 ties for research. The university as 

 a whole is charged with the responsi- 

 bilitv not onh- of maintaining the 

 knowledge of the past and imparting 

 it to students but of contributing to 

 new knowledge of all kinds. The 

 scientific worker is thus pro\'ided 

 with colleagues who, though they 

 may represent widely differing fields, 

 all have an understanding and appre- 

 ciation of the value of new knowl- 

 edge. 



The long struggle for academic 

 freedom has provided our universities 

 with the means of protecting the sci- 

 entist from many of the immediate 

 pressures of convention or prejudice. 

 The university at its best proxides its 

 workers with a strong sense of group 

 solidarity and security, plus a sub- 

 stantial degree of personal and intel- 

 lectual freedom. Both are essential 

 in the development of new knowl- 

 edge, much of which can arouse 

 opposition because of its tendency to 

 challenge current beliefs and prac- 

 tices. 



1. Present Status of Pure Re- 

 search in American Universities 



The rapid expansion of university 

 education in this country during the 

 present century is encouraging, but 

 it is wise to remember that a large 

 part of this increase has been devoted 

 to undergraduate departments and 

 was especially designed to meet 

 increased teaching responsibilities. 

 More than any other country in the 

 world, the United States has under- 

 taken to provide higher education on 

 a broad base. There has been an even 

 more remarkable percentage rate of 

 growth in the number of students 

 taking postgraduate courses in Ameri- 

 can uni\'ersities. Development of re- 

 search has not, however, paralleled 

 this rapid expansion in teaching. 



2. Backgrounds and Trends of 

 Financial Support to Universities 



The support of our large private 

 universities and colleges has come 

 mainly from endowment gifts and 

 foundation grants. The prodigious 

 growth of our public institutions has 

 been supported by appropriations 

 from the various legislatures. Since 

 1929 fundamental changes in the 

 American tax and income structure 

 and decline in interest rates have 

 slowed down the rate of new private 

 gifts and endowment earnings. Stu- 

 dents' fees constitute an increasing 

 proportion of the total support of 

 private institutions, and capital out- 

 lays in those universities are definitely 



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