496 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXXI. No. 796 



dents than on the part of the assistant pro- 

 fessors. Two replies only were received. 

 Fortunately, they sum up the conclusions 

 most adequately: 



The principle ouglit to be established that 

 " there is always room at the top." Under an 

 autocratic system or even where permanent ap- 

 pointments are made of " heads of departments," 

 there is never room at the top. A more demo- 

 cratic organization of department faculties seems 

 to me to be one of the most important and press- 

 ing reforms demanded in educational institutions. 

 —President Hill. 



Better pay: greater insistence on superior life 

 — which involves zeal, character, interest in stu- 

 dents, interest in knowledge and ability to dis- 

 tinguish scholarship from pedantry. — President 

 Jordan. 



The writer's task is completed. For the 

 opportunity offered him to prepare this 

 paper, and to all those who burdened them- 

 selves with so thoroughly answering his 

 many questions, he wishes to express his 

 grateful thanks. He has made no attempt 

 to trace the historical development of the 

 assistant professorship in the American 

 university system, nor to disentangle the 

 combinations of regular and acting, ad- 

 juncts, assistants, associates and juniors 

 where these exist,^^ nor to show the possi- 

 bilities of university teaching as a career. 

 He has merely tried to present a faithful 

 cross-section of the existing conditions of 

 the assistant professorship in the institu- 

 tions represented in this association. 



Both sides have been heard; their con- 

 clusions are in striking accord. The initia- 

 tive for improved administrative status 

 and adequate salaries lies in the hands of 

 the one ; that for increased zeal, worth and 

 eflSciency in the hands of the other. The 

 outlook is full ai opportunity and promise. 



GuiDO H. Marx 



" One institution has twenty regular titles in 

 its list of staff. 



APPENDIX A 

 QUEEIES FOE ASSISTANT PEOFESS0E3 



Suggestions and comments on points not covered 

 below will be gratefully received. 



1. Age? 



2. Degrees? 



3. Years spent in collegiate and graduate (or 



professional) study? 



4. To what extent did you hold fellowships or 



receive similar assistance? 



5. To what extent did you go into debt for your 



training? 



6. How long did it take to pay this debt? 



7. Length of teaching service below rank of as- 



sistant professor? 



8. Length of teaching service in rank of assistant 



professor? 



9. Married or single? 



10. Number of children? 



11. Present salary? 



12. Average salary during entire teaching service? 



13. Total savings from salary (exclusive of in- 



surance) ? 



14. To what extent have you supplemented your 



salary by income from other sources? 



15. Is your income sufficient to make both ends 



meet or are you running behind? 



16. If willing, will you state your present net 



deficit or indebtedness? 



17. How much insurance do you carry? 



18. What are your opinions concerning the status 



of the assistant professorship (o) in shar- 

 ing in the determination of general policies 

 of your institution; (6) in departmental 

 policy, curriculum and assignment of 

 courses; (c) in conduct (i. e., direction) 

 of individual classes? 



19. What are the conditions of nature and amount 



of work, etc., and do these reasonably favor 

 carrying on advanced work and intellectual 

 growth ? 



20. What are the conditions governing tenure of 



the assistant professorship and are they the 

 best for reasonable independence of thought 

 and action? 



21. Have you any suggestions to make, concerning 



the problem of the assistant professorship, 

 looking toward higher individual or insti- 

 tutional efficiency? 



APPENDIX B 

 QUEEIES FOE PBESIDENTS 



Suggestions and comments on points not covered 

 below will be gratefully received. 



