I. Extension Teaching
Formal Instruction.—Formal instruction includes Extension courses offered
for credit towards a University degree. Only the equivalent of
courses offered in residence are given for credit in Extension. Prerequisites
and general requirements are the same for Extension credit courses as for
courses in residence. In every way possible, the work is made the equal
of that offered at the University.
Students and Fees.—Fifteen or more qualified students are usually required
for a credit class, although under certain circumstances a class may
be organized for a smaller number, as, for example, when a very advanced
course is desired. The usual fee is $12.00 per course.
Subjects Offered in Extension Credit Courses.—Cultural courses are emphasized
by the Division but at the same time student participation in the
choice of subject is encouraged. Courses requiring laboratory work, with a
few exceptions, are not offered .
Coöperation With Other Virginia Colleges.—The University with its
resident faculty cannot alone meet all of the requests for University Extension
credit courses. Rather than attempt to employ a special Extension
faculty of its own, it has asked the coöperation of other higher educational
institutions in Virginia to assist in taking this form of instruction to the
people of the state. The University is responsible for administrative procedure
and general supervision while the several colleges and universities assist in
providing instruction. A more satisfactory geographical distribution of Extension
instructors results.
The universities and colleges now coöperating with the Extension Division,
in the order in which coöperative agreements were made, are as follows:
Roanoke College, Washington and Lee University, Farmville State
Teachers College, Harrisonburg State Teachers College, Fredericksburg
State Teachers College, Randolph-Macon College, Sweet Briar College, Randolph-Macon
Woman's College, Hampden-Sydney College, Lynchburg College,
Emory and Henry College, Radford State Teachers College, William
and Mary College, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Extension Teaching Centers.—The Extension Division maintains, in
addition to offices at the University, local offices in centers in the state from
which the work in the cities or sections represented can best be carried forward.
These centers with addresses are as follows:
Richmond Center, Franklin and Shafer Streets, Richmond.
Roanoke Center, Boxley Building, Roanoke.
Lynchburg Center, E. C. Glass High School, Lynchburg.
Petersburg Center, Chamber of Commerce Building, Petersburg.
An Extension Class Catalogue is published annually, the latest issue of
which will be sent free upon request.
Informal Instruction.—Informal instruction is carried forward principally
by two methods: Conference or lecture courses and home study (correspondence)
courses. Neither method leads to credit towards University
degrees.
Conference or Lecture Courses bring together teachers and mature men
and women who are interested in discussing and studying together, usually
informally, some subject or problem. The Division's chief interest is, as
with credit courses, in cultural subjects although opportunity for student
choice of subject is furnished. These courses are valuable in reaching on a
high level many adults who are not interested in a form of instruction developed
especially for college students and designed to lead to academic
credit.
Conferences or lectures in such cases are usually from six to fifteen in
number and at weekly intervals. Organizational requirements as to enrollment,
numbers of lectures, fees, etc., are adjusted in accordance with
the peculiar demands or conditions under which each course is conducted.
Home Study, or correspondence instruction, represents the Division's
latest venture in adult educational methods. The method was introduced in
an effort to discover some satisfactory plan for offering educational guidance
to many isolated men and women—on the farm, in the small town or in cities
where needs are not otherwise met. Work by the method is frankly experimental.
It was begun in 1929. If after several years the method proves
to be ineffective or inadequate, an effort will be made to find a satisfactory
substitute.
At best home study is intelligently directed study. Student initiative
is at a premium and amply provided for.
Emphasis again is on purely cultural courses although courses in other
subjects are included, but work in the physical sciences and modern languages
is not offered by home study. The tuition fee per course is $15.00. Special
catalogues are issued to give complete information in regard to home study
courses.
