Visiting  Committees  should  do  their  work  or  make  their 
reports.  The  endeavor  has  been  to  devise  a  visiting  sys¬ 
tem  which  would  bring  the  University  into  direct  and 
active  sympathy  and  communication  with  the  outside 
world  through  the  greatest  possible  number  of  connect¬ 
ing  links.  If  persons  who  have  an  interest  in  the  success 
and  usefulness  of  the  University  are  selected  for  service 
upon  committees,  that  interest  may  safely  be  left  to 
work  out  results  in  the  way  most  natural  to  it  without 
the  aid  of  hard  and  fast  rules  laid  down  by  this  Board. 
The  following  observations  may,  however,  be  made:  — 
The  Visiting  Committees  are  the  instrumentality 
through  which  the  Overseers  keep  themselves  informed 
of  what  work  the  University  is  doing  and  the  way  in 
which  it  is  done.  Nothing  tends  more  directly  towards 
holding  the  several  departments  up  to  a  high  standard 
of  activity  and  efficiency  than  a  consciousness  among 
those  in  charge  of  them  that  their  work  is  sure  of 
intelligent  appreciation  if  good,  and  of  equally  intel¬ 
ligent  criticism  if  poor. 
It  is  largely  through  these  committees  that  the  Uni¬ 
versity  can  keep  in  touch  with  the  outer  world;  and  it  is 
through  them  that  the  legitimate  interest  of  the  public 
in  the  conduct  of  the  University  can  be  most  effectively 
expressed  for  purposes  of  criticism,  suggestion,  coopera¬ 
tion,  and  support. 
I  am  further  directed  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
following  Sections  of  the  Rules  and  By-Laws  of  the 
Board  of  Overseers: — 
Sect.  28.  —  The  several  Visiting  Committees  of  the 
Departments  of  the  University  and  those  appointed  to  visit 
and  examine  into  the  Courses  of  Instruction  may  employ 
paid  experts  or  specialists  to  aid  them  in  the  performance 
of  their  duties  when  authorized  so  to  do  by  a  vote  of  the 
Board  of  Overseers.  Any  Committee  desiring  such  expert 
assistance  shall  first  submit  for  approval  a  written  applica¬ 
tion  to  the  Board,  setting  forth  the  nature  and  estimated 
cost  thereof. 
Sect.  29.  —  The  several  Visiting  Committees  shall  report 
at  least  once  in  three  years.  Their  reports  may  be  in  writing 
or  made  orally  to  the  Board  of  Overseers  through  some 
member  of  the  Board.  Their  written  reports  and  any  oral 
reports  or  recommendations  subsequently  reduced  to  writing 
shall  in  the  absence  of  discussion  or  after  it,  unless  otherwise 
disposed  of,  be  referred  to  the  Executive  Committee. 
Each  Committee  shall  hold,  as  early  as  may  be  in  the 
academic  year,  at  least  one  meeting  with  members  of  the 
teaching  staff  in  the  Department  or  Course  of  Instruction 
such  Committee  is  appointed  to  visit,  in  order  to  receive 
suggestions,  inquire  into  defects  and  needs,  hear  complaints, 
and  give  encouragement  and  counsel. 
The  names  of  the  members  of  your  Committee  will 
be  found  upon  the  accompanying  list.  The  first  named 
is  Chairman. 
Respectfully  yours, 
WINTHROP  H.  WADE,  Secretary, 
909  Atlantic  National  Bank  Building, 
100  Milk  Street, 
Boston,  Mass. 
September  25,  1928. 
