I. Extension Teaching
Formal Instruction.—Formal instruction includes extension courses offered
for credit towards a University degree. In general, only the equivalent
of courses offered in residence are given for credit in Extension. The exceptions
are courses in education offered by teacher-training institutions of the
State in fields not dealt with in the Department of Education at the University
of Virginia and in a limited number of other instances. Prerequisites and
general requirements are the same for extension credit courses as for courses
in residence.
Students and Fees.—Fifteen or more qualified students are required for
a credit class, although under certain circumstances a class may be organized
for a smaller number, as, for example, when an advanced course is desired.
The fee is $10.00 per session-hour course.
Subjects Offered in Extension Credit Courses.—Cultural courses are emphasized
by the Division but 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 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-Sidney College, Lynchburg College,
Emory and Henry 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.
Danville Center, Averett College, Danville.
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. Often conferences meet daily for shorter
periods. 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, was introduced in 1929 in
an effort to discover a satisfactory method for offering educational assistance
to many isolated men and women—on the farm, in the small town or in
cities where opportunities for study are not otherwise provided. The work
has been of an experimental character. It will be continued provided the
administration has reason to believe that the method is sound and that the
home study courses reach citizens of the State otherwise denied educational
opportunities.
At best correspondence instruction is intelligently directed study. Student
initiative is at a premium and amply provided for. Emphasis is on cultural
courses although courses in other subjects are included. Work in the
physical sciences and modern languages is not offered. The tuition fee per
course is $10. Books are rented at nominal rates.
Directed Reading Courses are less formal in character than home study
courses. The outlines are prepared by recognized authorities in the several
fields and are simply guides to systematic reading. Courses are offered to
extend educational opportunities to men and women in all walks of life
denied the advantages of or uninterested in formal instruction. Courses are
in a variety of subjects in cultural, scientific, professional and vocational
fields. Courses are $4.00 each for those who desire to submit papers for
criticisms. They are $2.00 each for those who desire the outlines only as
guides.
