 | Board of Visitors minutes April 19, 1917 |  |
THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA AND THE WAR
I. THE UNIVERSITY'S ATTITUDE.
In view of the fact that our Country is now at
war, the authorities and the students of the University
of Virginia desire that its resources, both in men and
equipment, shall be devoted to the service of the nation.
To that end, the University assures the President of the
United States and the Governor of Virginia of its readiness
to support and to cooperate with them in ways that may
seem feasible and effective for the successful prosecution
of the war.
II. REGULAR WORK TO BE MAINTAINED.
It seems evidently the part of wisdom for the
University to perform during the continuance of the war its
regular functions and activities, subject only to imperative
modifications. However, the present session will end May
the thirty-first.
III. ADVICE TO STUDENTS.
The Federal War Department has detailed Lt. Col.
James A. Cole of the U. S. Army to have charge of the military
instruction and training in the University. More than three-fourths
of the student body have already enrolled as members
of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Students under
twenty-one years of age are not eligible for commissions in any
branch of the Federal Military or Naval service. In the
light of these facts, the University officially advises
students under twenty, (except for those who are members
of the organized militia or other branches of service, who,
therefore, are subject to immediate call) to continue their
prepare themselves for the service of the Country by means
of the military training here offered. The call of duty to
the country is the primary obligation at this time in our
national life. We do not wish, however, to make the mistake
made in England at the outset of the great war and deplete
the Universities of their immature youth for immediate
field service. Looking at the problem in the large, the
wisest possible thing that parents can do for their sons,
between the ages of seventeen and twenty, is to see that
they get to the colleges and universities for such instruction
— scientific and military — as will fit them for
positions of necessary leadership in the service of the
Country. There is no more vital post of duty for high
school graduates than college training looking towards
larger usefulness to the nation. The military instruction
under Col. Cole is optional for every student, but those
students who return next session, having once elected the
course will be required to complete it, provided they stay
at the University.
IV. PLANS FOT FURTHER PREPAREDNESS.
Steps are now being taken for the effective organization
of the Departments of Engineering, Medicine, and
the large University Hospital for national service. Instruction
in Wireless Telegraphy is provided, and will continue
subject to the control of Col. Cole and the approval of
the War Department. Advanced students in Chemistry have
volunteered their services to the Government of the United
States in the cause of industrial preparedness. Readjustment
in the courses in Chemistry and other subjects will
be made for the purpose of more adequately equipping the
students.
V. SCHOLASTIC CREDITS AND DEGREES.
No exact rules covering all cases of scholastic
credits and degrees can be stated at this time. In general,
however, it may be said that applicants for the degrees of
B. A. and B. S. this session whose work at the University
has been satisfactory, and who are or who become members of
of the various military or naval organizations, called out
by the Government, will be excused from courses which they
have not time to complete, and will have their respective
degrees conferred on them, upon the written certification of
their military or naval commanders that their work has been
satisfactory.
The same principle for scholastic credits in the
College applies, mutatis mutandis, for the work of the present
term. to those undergraduate students who are not applicants
for degrees this session.
The students of the Graduate Department and of
the Departments of Law, Engineering and Medicine, are
referred to their respective Deans for detailed information.
Except in the Department of Medicine, all students
who remain members of the University will receive appropriate
credits towards their various degrees upon the successful
completion of the course in military instruction and training.
VI. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS.
By the unanimous vote of the Executive Committee
of the General Athletic Association, intercollegiate athletics
are suspended and the schedule for this session has been
cancelled.
VII. FACULTY VOLUNTEERS.
Those officers of Administration and Instruction
in the University whose war services are accepted by the
National Government, will be granted necessary leaves of
absence.
VIII. THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL SERVICE.
This Council has been appointed by the President
of the University of Virginia, with power to make rules,
issue statements and decide doubtful cases, subject to the
general jurisdiction of the Rector and Visitors of the University
of Virginia, in relation to University service and the
national need.
The Council consists of President Alderman
(Chairman ex officio), Prof. Echols (Vice-Chairman),
Prof. Dobie (Secretary), Dean Page, Dean Thornton, Dean
Hough, Prof. Marshall, Prof. Maphis, Prof. Newcomb and Col.
Cole.
RESOLVED:- That a fee of $3. be charged for the remainder
of the session for such persons not now entered in the University,
who may enter for Military Training only.
An appropriation of $109. was made to purchase the necessary
apparatus for teaching Wireless Telegraphy under the direction
of the Department of Physics.
Report of Special Committee, appointed at the meeting
of March 23rd to consider and pass upon certain items of
the docket for said meeting, submitted the following report,
which was received and ordered spread:
University of Virginia:
Your special Committee consisting of the Rector, Mr.
Michie and the President, appointed at the March 23rd meeting
of the Board to consider and pass upon certain items
on the docket for said meeting which were not considered,
owing to lack of time, met on this date to consider such
items, and beg to report to you thereon, as follows:
The attached communication from Mr. Walter D. Blair,
advising that he wished to contribute to the University his
fee for designing the gateway on the Fry's Spring Road, was
received and the President was requested to extend to him the
thanks of the Board for his very generous contribution.
In the matter of entering into a formal agreement with
the C. & O. Railway Company for the up-keep of the sidetrack
and trestle located on the University's property, the
Committee is of the opinion that we should not enter into such
an agreement, but express the willingness of the Board to
bear one-half of the necessary cost of such repairs, with
the request that the Superintendent of Grounds & Buildings
be notified of any proposed repairs together with the estimated
cost of same, if possible to make such estimate in
advance.
A letter to the President from the Bursar, setting forth
the facts as to insurance carried on the University property,
was read; and your committee being advised that at the last
meeting of the State Legislature a committee was appointed
to look into the matter of having the State take over the
insurance on all property begs to report the following resolution
to be adopted and forwarded to the State Insurance
Commissioner, Hon. Joseph Button:
RESOLVED, That in the opinion of the Board it
would be an economical and much more satisfactory method
of insuring the property belonging to the State of Virginia
than that now existing, for the State, by legislative
enactment, to become its own insurer. This is a
by other states with approved results; and the Board
recommends it to the favorable consideration of the
General Assembly.
Applications of the General Alumni Association, the
Beta Chapter of the Zeta Psi, and the Sigma Nu Fratenities
for sites on which to erect a residence for the Alumni
Secretary and chapter houses for the fraternities, respectively,
were referred to a committee consisting of President
Alderman, G. R. B. Michie and Dr. Lambeth.
Application of Lindsay Rogers for the Monroe Hill
Office, now occupied by C. H. H. Thomas, together with the
adjacent rooms, now occupied by Dr. L. S. Pratt, was granted,
with the understanding that he pay the usual rental.
We recommend that a committee be appointed from the
Board to serve with similar committees from the Faculty
and General Alumni Association to make arrangements for the
Centennial Celebration of the University.
The changes suggested by the Faculty for the entrance
requirements and also for academic degrees, as follows, were
approved.
1. Changing entrance requirements from 14 to 15 units.
2. Certain changes in requirements for academic degrees.
(a) Preliminary requirements of C courses to be
counted on an academic degree.(b) Degree credit for courses in Physical Training:
involving 63 hours for the degrees.(c) An ancient language to be counted toward
a cultural B. S. degree.
(Extract from the Academic Faculty
Minutes for Nov. 8, 1916.)
Resolved: That every candidate for the baccalaureate
degree shall be required to offer one "C"
course in his major group. The "C" course
shall count for only 3-hours, unless it is in
the natural science group. The "C" course
shall be preceded by one or more "B" courses,
presented by the Professor in charge of the
The prerequisite "B" courses shall be announced
in the catalogue in connection with each "C"
course.
This is a substitute for paragraph in the
catalogue for 1915-'16, page 172, which reads
as follows:
"No C course may be counted for a Master's
degree unless preceded by a B course or courses
in the same subject aggregating at least six
session-hours; or, in case only one three-session-hour
course if offered in that subject, by one
B course in that subject and a second B course
in the same Group (see pp. 166-167), chosen with
the approval of the professor in charge of the
C course inquestion."
In the matter of granting sites to fraternities on which to
erect chapter houses, it is the sense of your committee that
any option for such sites not exercised within six months
shall revert to the Board.
Bills for repairs to President's house, $58.83, and to the
Dean's house, $20.25, were approved and ordered paid out of
University Funds.
Changes recommended by the Law Faculty for admission to
the Law School were approved and adopted, as follows:
For admission to the Law Department, beginning with
the session 1919-20, in addition to the 15 units now required,
the candidate must present evidence of having had one year
of work in a standard college.
The residence now occupied by Prof. C. Alphonso Smith
on East Lawn, was granted to Prof. Heck, upon its becoming
vacant, at the usual rental of $300.
We beg to recommend the adoption by the Board of a resolution
appointing a committee to take into consideration and report
Professors and officials.
We approve the payment of the salary of Prof, C.
Alphonso Smith, who has resigned to take effect at the close
of this session, to September 15, 1917, which will round
out an even number of annual salary payments.
We recommend that in accordance with the suggestion
of President Alderman, a resolution be adopted providing
that $1,500, of the Senff fund for improvement of Roads
and Grounds be used towards the construction of a macadam
road to the Observatory.
Committee.
RESOLVED: That in the opinion of the Board it would bean
economical and much more satisfactory method of insuring the
property belonging to the State of Virginia than that now
existing, for the State, by legislative enactment, to become
its own insurer. This is a method which the Board
is informed has been adopted by other states with approved
results, and the Board recommends it to the favorable consideration
of the General Assembly.
RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be transmitted
by the Secretary to the Honorable Joseph Button, Superintendent
of Insurance.
RESOLVED: That a committee consisting of five members of the
Board be appointed on the Centennial Celebration of the
already been appointed by the Faculty of the University
and the General Alumni Association.
The Rector appointed on this committee Messrs. Michie,
Craddock, White, Hutton and the Rector.
RESOLVED: That a Committee of three be appointed to take
into consideration, and make report to this Board, the
matter of adjustment of the rents of the University buildings
occupied by professors and officials of the University,
and of the commutation of rents with reference to the
salaries of such professors and officials.
The Rector appointed on this committee, President
Alderman, Mr. Michie, the Superintendent of Grounds and
Buildings, and the Bursar.
The Bursar having stated to the Board that the notes
aggregating $30,000, executed by J. W. Hough and Abner
S. Pope, of Norfolk, Va., and secured by deed of trust to
Walter H. Taylor, Trustee, on the Stump-Haul Fishery in Princess
Anne County, Va., bearing date of the 7th day of February,
1911, have been fully paid off and discharged, and the said
Hough and Pope being now entitled to a release of the lien
securing said debt, and they having made application for the
same.
RESOLVED: That the Rector and Secretary of the Board be and
they are hereby authorized and directed to make and deliver
to the said J. W. Hough and Abner S. Pope a proper deed releasing
Taylor, Trustee, as aforesaid.
RESOLVED: That the sum of $1,500 of the Senff Fund for
the Improvement of Roads and Grounds, be used towards the
construction of a macadam road to the Observatory.
The following resolution was adopted:
RESOLVED: That Armistead C. Gordon, Rector of the University
of Virginia, ba and he is hereby authorized to execute for
and in the name of the University of Virginia, a bond in
the penal amount of $5,420.00, in the form required by the
War Department to insure the safe-keeping and return, when
required by the Secretary of War, of certain military
equipment.
RESOLVED: That the tentative "War" Budget for the next
session, submitted by President Alderman be adopted, subject
to such changes as the conditions during the war may necessi-
tate.
[for "War" budget see page 151]
| Board of Visitors minutes April 19, 1917 | |