DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT. 



State Agricultural College, 

 Lansing, Michigan, August 31, 1878. 



1 have o^iveu instruction to the Seniors during the year ending August 31, 

 1878, in Psychology, the Constitution of the United States, and in Inductive 

 Logic. 



The changes iu the working force of the College, indicated in my last report 

 as likely to be made, have been carried out, — Mr. Charles W. Gartield leaving 

 the fornianship of the Gardens October 1, 1877, and Professor A. 13. Gulley, the 

 Superintendency of the Farm and Gardens November 20th. Mr. L. S. Hudson 

 vacated the Stewardship which he had held for one term, November 30, 1877. 



Mr. Ransom H. McDowell, graduate of tlie class of 1874, was selected by 

 Professor Ingcrsoll as Assistant Foreman of the Farm, and entered on duty 

 December 1, 1877. Mr. Frank A. Gulley was made Foreman of the Horticul- 

 tural Department March 1, 1878, and Mr. Emery C. Fox was appointed 

 Steward of the Boarding Hall, January 30. 



MORE ROOM FOR STUDENTS. 



The Spring term brought an accession of sixty-six new students into the 

 Freshman class. The applicants for admission are likely soon to exceed our 

 accommodations, and the question arises. What shall be done? 



We might raise the standard of admission. We now examine in Arithmetic, 

 Geography,Gi*ammar, Reading, Spelling and Penmanship. The examinations are 

 very thorougli, as these brandies are not taught here, and a knowledge of them 

 is requisite to the studies that are entered upon. In Arithmetic, a knowledge 

 of rules and definitions, and the doing of easy problems throughout tlie science 

 will not be accepted as sufficient. The applicant must show ability to think. 

 Seventeen applicants for admission were rejected when we took in the last 

 Freshman class. 



The objections to raising the standard of admission are — that we are, in the 

 words of the law of the State — to take "the graduate of the common school." 

 Although many of the common schools teach Algebra, Rhetoric, and History, 

 yet they cannot be depended upon to do so. The students who come to us arc 

 for the most part dependent on their own earnings for their sui)})ort, they are 

 the sons of farmers, living at a distance from the graded and higher sciiools, 

 and have received all the education they have iu the home schools. We desire 



