^xvi Report of the Dean 



this legislation a total of 794 students left the College in April and May, 

 1917. Of these 567 went into agriculture, 184 into army, naxy, or ambu- 

 lance corps, and 43 into munition factories and other industries. While 

 there was practically no evidence of abuse of the privileges offered by this 

 legislation, it was generally agreed that no such liberal arrangement need 

 again be made. In March, 19 18, it was determined that credit should 

 be given only to seniors directly entering the army or nai-y not more than 

 six weeks before their graduation. Only six students have needed to make 

 use of the privilege. In a few cases the faculty of the College has relieved 

 seniors from further residence if all scholastic requirements had previously 

 been wholly met. 



It was regarded as both unnecessary and inadvisable to release students 

 ^from any part of their regular work after the spring of 191 7, but at the 

 same time it was thought that some advantage could be gained by con- 

 solidating the work of the year. Accordingly, in the first term of 191 7-18, 

 it was decided to shorten the Christmas holidays by two days and to omit 

 all other vacations, bringing Commencement forward to May 22. This 

 program has worked satisfactorily. 



The efforts of trustees and faculty to put the University on a war basis 



have met with whole-hearted support from the student body. No objec- 



vtion has been made to the abolishment of vacation periods or to the decrease 



of athletic and social privileges. The several courses preparatory for 



war service given in the engineering schools have been well attended. 



The record of the ntunber of present and former students entering the 

 army and navy is necessarily very incomplete, as doubtless there were 

 many of both groups who enlisted or were drafted and sent no notice of 

 the fact. At the close of the college year 191 7-1 8, we have record of 506 

 present and former students in the land forces, while 130 have enlisted in 

 the navy. Of the latter, 13 were in the naval reserve and were allowed 

 to complete the year. 



In addition to the various organized emergency plans of the College, 

 many members of the staff have engaged in personal work as opportunity 

 and time presented. Some of this work has been done at Ithaca in addi- 

 tion to college duties, although the greater part has been performed during 

 vacations and official leaves of absence granted for the purpose. 



When Governor WTiitman appointed the New York State Food Supply 

 Commission for patriotic agricultural service on April 13, 191 7, he named 

 the Dean of the College and Professor Maurice C. Burritt, the Vice-Director 

 of Extension, as members. The Dean was made secretary- of the Commis- 

 sion and Commissioner in Charge of Food Conser\'ation including insect 

 and plant-disease control work. Professor Burritt had charge of the 

 Division of Coimty Organization and relations with the Farm Bureaus. 



