442 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. Xo. 70.5 



Because, in an experience of twenty-four years, 

 1 have seen 95 per cent, of all administrative 

 reforms advocated and accomplished by men under 

 thirty-five, I heartly endorse President Eliot's 

 principles of juniority as the distinguishing mark 

 of a progressive as distinct from a stagnant 

 institution. 



The three university presidents, of those 

 not now in service, who have exerted the 

 greatest formative influence upon the mod- 

 ern American university, are Presidents 

 Eliot, Gilman and White. The first took 

 up his presidential duties at Harvard at 

 the age of 35 ; the second at California at 

 the age of 41 and at Johns Hopkins at 46 ; 

 the third at Cornell at 35. 



In view of the foregoing facts, the ex- 

 tent of participation by men of 37 in the 

 direction and control of educational poli- 

 cies of the several universities, disclosed by 

 the following typical answers, is enlight- 

 ening. The replies were formulated from 

 a few more than a hundred received from 

 twenty institutions. Unless otherwise 

 stated, three or more answers were received 

 from the institution. A composite reply is 

 arranged, to give the range of replies from 

 each individual institution, as representing 

 the point of view of the assistant pro- 

 fessor. 



Query 18a was: "What are your opin- 

 ions concerning the status of the assistant 

 professorship in sharing in the determina- 

 tion of general policies of your institu- 

 tion 1" 



The replies: 



1. " The policies of the university are really 

 shaped by the president." " Assistant professors 

 have a vote in the council, just as the full and 

 associate professors have. They do not often 

 initiate movements or policies, but have the full 

 right of discussion, voting, etc." " Nothing more 

 to be desired." 



2. " Assistant professor has status a little above 

 janitor." (Less than three replies.) 



3. " Fairly satisfactory here." " They should 

 have a full share in administrative and depart- 



mental policy, because unless they have such a 

 share, with its responsibilities and the recognition 

 resulting from it, the better part of their experi- 

 ence, idealism and progressiveness is wasted." 



4. " Fairly satisfactory." (Less than three re- 

 plies.) 



5. " Satisfactory." " They have as much influ- 

 ence, nearly, as full professors." " They have 

 little share in the determination of general poli- 

 cies." 



6. " There are no differences [between assistant 

 and full professors] in these matters." (Less 

 than three replies.) 



7. " Very little direct influence at present." 

 " He has a seat and voice in his college faculty, 

 but not in the general university senate." " Not 

 much share." 



8. " Have a vote in faculty meetings." " Share 

 but slightly in the determination of general poli- 

 cies." " Only through suggestions to the head of 

 the department." " General policies are deter- 

 mined largely in meetings of the faculty heads of 

 departments." 



9. " No voice whatever in determining institu- 

 tional policies." " At present assistant professors 

 have no share." " None." 



10. " Very little." " Mostly in hands of the 

 deans." " Think assistant professors little less 

 powerful than full professor. Believe a sugges- 

 tion from either would be considered by the ad- 

 ministration with equal care." (Note inference to 

 be drawn from this last sentence. A side-light is 

 thrown by the volunteered statement of one who 

 left this institution for a larger one: " Conditions 

 in this respect were highly unsatisfactory at 

 .") 



11. "Not being member of council, can not 

 answer." " Believe most assistant professors to 

 be of ripe enough age and sober-minded enough 

 to give some good ideas." " No discrimination 

 save in excluding new assistant professors from 

 council for three years." " It is all it should be." 



12. "Almost no share." "Has little influence; 

 mostly done by older men." " Mostly in hands 

 of heads of departments. Here the elder states- 

 men are in control." 



13. "As a rule, given altogether too little say." 

 " Is given no say in policy of institution." 

 ■" Should be heard in regard to such questions." 

 " Has a vote in all faculty actions." " When a 

 division is called for in faculty meeting, professors 

 have two votes, assistant professors one vote and 

 instructors no vote." 



