University of Virginia Library

The Association of American Universities.

In February, 1900, pursuant to a call
issued by the presidents of Harvard, Columbia,
Johns Hopkins, Chicago, and the
University of California, representatives
of the leading American universities met
at Chicago; and after careful discussion
a permanent organization was formed
under the name of "The Association of
American Universities." The purpose of
the association was defined in the constitution
to be the considering of the
matters of common interest relating to
graduate study. Accordingly, only institutions
of high rank, such as are engaged
extensively in giving advanced or
graduate instruction, were considered
eligible to membership in the organization.
The fourteen institutions composing
the initial or charter membership of
the association are the following: University
of California, Catholic University of
America, University of Chicago, Clark
University, Columbia University, Cornell
University, Harvard University,
Johns Hopkins University, Leland Stanford,
Jr., University, University of Michigan,
University of Pennsylvania, Princeton
University, University of Wisconsin,
and Yale University.

It was provided that other institutions
might be admitted at the annual conference,
on the invitation of the executive
committee, indorsed by a three-fourths
vote of the members of the association.
In 1904 the University of Virginia was
admitted to membership; and within the
last year or so three other institutions,
namely, the universities of Illinois, Minnesota,
and Missouri, have been received.
The total membership at present, therefore,
consists of the eighteen institutions
named. At the annual meetings such
questions as the following are discussed:
"Migration among Graduate Students;"
"The Type of Examination for the Doctor's
Degree;" "Fellowships;" "To
What Extent should a Candidate for the
Doctor's Degree be Required to Show a
Knowledge of Subjects Not Immediately
Connected with his Major Subject?"