Visiting Committees should do their work or make their 
reports. The endeavor has been to devise a visiting system 
which would bring the University into direct and active sym¬ 
pathy and communication with the outside world through 
the greatest possible number of connecting 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, how¬ 
ever, 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 would tend more directly towards holding the 
several departments of instruction up to a high standard 
of activity and efficiency than a consciousness among those 
in charge of them that their work was sure of intelligent 
appreciation if good, and of equally intelligent criticism if 
poor. 
It is largely through these committees that the University 
can keep in touch with the outer world; and it is through 
them that the legitimate interest of the public in the con¬ 
duct of the University can be most effectively expressed for 
purposes of criticism, suggestion, cooperation, 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. 
Respectfully yours, 
WINTHROP H. WADE, Secretary, 
321 Shawmut Bank Building, 
Boston, Mass. 
