The adult education activities of the University are administered under
the Division of Extension. At the time of its inauguration, a little over a
decade ago, only a few American universities had made any extended and
organized effort to meet the educational needs of mature men and women
beyond the campus limits. Following the lead of English universities, where
this phase of education had its conception in the latter half of the nineteenth
century, nearly all of the larger institutions of our country are today devoting
a considerable portion of their thought and energy to the more widespread
diffusion of learning into everyday life of the state. The University of Virginia
has sought to realize the vision of its founder by participating intelligently
in this as well as other attempts to reach every description of our
citizens.
There were few precedents to follow when Extension work was first
organized at the University of Virginia. During the short period of its
growth, the Division has changed its methods of off-campus instruction to
correspond with the newer demands and to conform more nearly with its
developing ideas of the University's responsibilities in the field of adult
education. As a result, much of its attention today is directed to the purpose
of interpreting adult education and of keeping the ideal of continuing education
before the people of the State; and of encouraging local communities
and appropriate organizations to establish adult education institutions especially
for those unprepared to undertake education on a university level.
Probably the most clearly defined and objective phase of the Division's work
consists in bringing education on the university level to college graduates
and other mature adults throughout the state who are qualified to pursue
such courses with pleasure and profit.
Especial effort is made by the Division to coöperate both with individuals
and professional groups in this state. Many features of its program
prophetic of the most far-reaching results are coöperative undertakings.
Through lectures, publications, press reports, conferences and direct correspondence
the Division discusses and defines the adult education movement
and encourages a general consideration of the problems involved. The more
specific contributions of the Division are organized under three principal
Bureaus as follows: Extension Teaching, School Relations and Educational
Aids.
I. Extension Teaching
The work of the Bureau of Extension Teaching is divided into formal
and informal 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 student class fee is $12.00.
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
single exception, are not offered for credit in Extension.
Geographical Limitations: In so far as possible the Division will organize
and conduct an Extension class whenever and wherever in this state the
requirements are met by students. The handicap of remoteness from the
University can in many respects be overcome as explained below.
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.
The hearty coöperation of the administrations and faculties of these
institutions is recognized and is sincerely appreciated by the University of
Virginia. The ultimate purposes of the Extension program can, it appears, be
more effectively and generally realized by this coöperative plan than by any
other possible at this time.
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.
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 outstanding teachers and
mature men and women who are interested in discussing and studying together,
usually formally, some subject or problem. The Division's 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 youth and designed to give the student academic
credit.
Conferences or lectures in such courses are usually from six to fifteen in
number and at weekly intervals. Organizational requirements as to numbers,
number 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 is introduced in an
effort to discover some satisfactory plan for offering educational guidance of
a high order 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 three 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 education
and social sciences are also included. 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.
II. School Relations
The work of this Bureau is concerned primarily in assisting the high
school officials of the state in the conduct for educational purposes of interscholastic
literary and athletic contests. Certain contests culminate annually
in a final state meet at the University held usually in May. Theoretically
at least those exhibiting the highest literary and athletic talents come together
to match wits and skills.
The school relations work also includes a coöperative program with the
Virginia Classical Association for conducting state contests in Latin, and
with the F. F. A.'s, an organization of boys and girls in the state interested
in agriculture, in conducting a state-wide oratorical contest; and the loan of
educational slides and motion pictures and art prints to schools and interested
organizations or individuals throughout the state.
Complete announcements of the work of the Bureau of School Relations
will be sent upon request.
III. Educational Aids
The educational aid services include the following:
Extension Library.—The Division lends by mail under prescribed regulations,
and with certain limitations, books from the University, Extension and
departmental libraries for nominal costs of postage and packing. Emphasis
is on the loan of the best current books, although provision is made for a
wide range of interest. Alphabetical lists of books available for loan are
sent free upon request.
Assistance is also furnished in assembling information and reference material
on subjects of current interest for use by individuals or organizations
requesting such data.
The University Library renders valuable assistance to the Division in
its effort to increase the usefulness of the Extension Library.
Radio and Newspaper Book Reviews.—Closely associated with the library
extension work is that of the weekly reviews of current books, selected on the
basis of merit, by members of the University and associated faculties over
the WRVA broadcasting station in Richmond, Virginia. (The facilities of
WRVA are offered without charge by the Larus Brothers Tobacco Company,
owners and operators of the station.) The Division conducts the
reviews in coöperation with the Virginia Quarterly Review. The reviews
are fifteen minutes in length and are broadcast every Tuesday evening usually
between seven and eight. Only five omissions have occurred since the
weekly talks were begun on November 13, 1928; both in duration and continuity
the reviews are unique in radio broadcasting. The purpose of the
reviews is to give a critical opinion of a selected number of the best current
books.
Special reviews in two forms, a long article dealing with one book and
a brief discussion of several books, are furnished to the newspapers of the
state which request them for publication in their book or feature sections.
A single review in the longer form has been known to have been printed in
seventeen papers; the usual number is ten or twelve. All books reviewed
are loaned upon request by the Extension Library.
Publications.—For the purpose of disseminating and carrying the results
of study, research, and investigation of its faculty to as many people as possible,
the Extension Division publishes twelve bulletins on various subjects
each year. Most of the bulletins are issued free of charge, but for some a
nominal price is set which covers only the cost of printing. The Extension
Division also issues regularly a leaflet, "Extension Topics," which is chiefly
a letter to Extension students serving as a bond between them and the
University; and "University of Virginia Extension," which is circulated
widely as a medium of information about the classes, publications and activities
of the Division. Special care is given to the task of placing the printed materials
in the hands of those who most appreciate and profit by them. A leaflet
published annually describes available Extension publications.
Bureau of School and Community Drama.—The Bureau of School and
Community Drama has as its immediate purpose assistance in the selection
of suitable plays for schools and community organizations. It also offers
help in the actual production or staging of plays. In a few communities of
the state personal assistance in play production will be offered.
Printed announcements giving more fully the services that can be
rendered by this Bureau are sent upon request.
Aid to Teachers of Illiterates.—During the year a limited amount of help
has been given by the Division to those agencies in the state organized for
the eradication of adult illiteracy. At the suggestion of the State Department
of Public Instruction, package libraries containing a few books for
illiterates and materials outlining a method of teaching adult illiterates to
read and write have been assembled. Upon request, these libraries are
loaned teachers of illiterates, and others interested in methods of adult
elementary education. While the Division does not attempt to teach illiterates
or near-illiterates nor to carry forward elementary adult education
in any form, it will continue to assist upon request teachers in these fields.
