Apeil 1, 1910] 



SCIENCE 



489 



this rank has diminished to about one half 

 what it was twenty years ago, and the pro- 

 portion of the lower ranks has correspond- 

 ingly increased. The assistant professor 

 of to-day, in other words, must win his 

 way out of a larger group and into a much 

 smaller group, relatively, than did the as- 

 sistant professor of twenty years ago. 

 This means that the competition is severer 

 both for the position and for promotion 

 out of it. 



The replies to query 2c were unanimous 

 that the present requirements for the posi- 

 tion are more exacting than they were 

 twenty years ago. These facts explain the 

 high age of the men (36.8 average) shown 

 in Part I. 



When we compare our incomplete results 

 with those shown in Bulletin No. 2 of the 

 Carnegie Foundation (pp. 29-32), we find 

 our average reported salary of $1,790 for 

 twenty of the strongest institutions as com- 

 pared to an average of $1,600 for about 

 one hundred institutions. It is there 

 found that the age of entrance to a grade 

 allotted an average salary of $l,500-$2,000 

 is thirty years. We find from our replies 

 31.25. This checks remarkably well, the 

 difference being such as we should expect 

 to find, owing to the difference represented 

 by the smaller and the larger group of in- 

 stitutions. 



The returns for the age of entrance into 

 full professorship, there stated to be 34 

 years, based on those now holding the rank, 

 would show a considerable change, I feel 

 sure, if we had the average of those now 

 ieing appointed to that rank. This is ob- 

 vious, since a large proportion of those ma- 

 king up the entrance age of 34 were ap- 

 pointed under the conditions prevailing 

 15 to 20 years ago. The conclusions drawn 

 on page 32 of the bulletin : " A man accept- 

 able to these institutions for a position 

 worth $1,250 will be on the average 25 years 



old; a man appointed to a position worth 

 $1,750 will be on an average 31 years old 

 when appointed to it; one appointed to a 

 position worth $2,500 or over wiU be on 

 the average 34 years old" necessarily refer 

 to what has been rather than to what is. 



It would probably be nearer present-day 

 facts in the average of these institutions 

 to state that from 27 to 31 a man receives 

 an average salary of $1,100 ; from 31 to 41 

 an average of $1,800, and from 41 on 

 $2,500 or more. It would be interesting to 

 get the actual facts in any institution as to 

 this trend in change of age of promotion, 

 by taking the average age of those pro- 

 moted to full professorship in each year 

 for the past twenty-five years ; thus show- 

 ing the tendency as affecting the most 

 highly successful members of the profes- 

 sion. 



Table VIII. has been compiled partly 

 from the replies, partly from data already 

 in the hands of the writer, and partly 

 from Bulletin No. 2 of the Carnegie Foun- 

 dation. Owing to its incomplete nature, 

 we are not justified in drawing from it the 

 general conclusions which it was hoped to 

 obtain. It is, however, introduced on ac- 

 count of its value for purposes of compari- 

 son. 



The replies to the queries in general are 

 grouped alphabetically by institutions, and 

 are, by permission, credited to their au- 

 thors. 



Queries 2a, h asked : 



(a) Whether any basis of requirements 

 for eligibility to promotion from instruct- 

 orship to assistant professorship had been 

 formulated, and (&) what would be con- 

 sidered suitable qualifications. 



The replies: 



(a) No. (5) It would be difficult to be pre- 

 cise. An instructor's term is three years. One 

 or two such terms should indicate whether one is 

 qualified for promotion. — President Judson. 



