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 of instruction up to a 
high standard of activity and efficiency than a con¬ 
sciousness among those in charge of them that their 
work is sure of intelligent appreciation if good, and of 
equally intelligent 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. 27, Par. 5. No one, other than an overseer still in 
office, shall serve on the same Visiting Committee more than 
five years consecutively, and at least one year must elapse 
before such member can be reappointed to such Committee. 
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, 
321 Shawmut Bank Building, 
Boston, Mass. 
September 24 , 1923 . 
