1890-92 - University Archives and Records Center - University of ...

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fidently expected, however, that-, under the gentleman wisely selected
by the Board as the head of the department, and by the introduction
of the new four year course, it will increase as rapidly and strongly
as the other technical departments. Indeed, most excellent progress
has already been made, since, notwithstanding the uncertainty which
necessarily existed during the period of reorganization, the number
of students has increased twenty-five per cent. It has been thought
best to divide the work in Mining Engineering between the departments
of Civil Engineering and Chemistry until such time as there
can be established a strong School of Mines. The Courses in Mining
are still given to the few students who have selected this branch of
professional preparation.
One of the most important actions taken by the Faculty during
the past two years was the change introduced into the system of marking
for scholarship. The difference between the work of the students,
owing to the elective system, and the increase of. separate distinct
courses of study rendered the method of ranking in classes very
difficult and in some cases unjust. It was decided, therefore, that
the grades received in the different courses should not be combined
to give the student a numerical rank in the class, but that, at the
end of the Sophomore and Senior years, students who had received
the highest grade attainable in two-thirds of all the marks given
during that period, both for term and examination work, should be
awarded Sophomore and Senior honors respectively, and that Special
Mention at the end of any year might be given students for excellence
in one or more subjects. In certain departments, candidates for this
" Special Mention " are required to take additional courses.
The Wharton School of Finance and Economy has been successfully
conducted during the three years past. The increase in the
number of students has called for additions to the corps of instructors,
and experience has dictated some minor changes in the course. Last
year some rearrangement of the work was rendered necessary by the
illness of Prof. James and the absence of Prof. Falkner.
So great is the demand for the instruction in subjects taught in
this school that it becomes a serious question for consideration
whether it would not be desirable to extend the course in Finance
and Economy from a two year course, open only to Juniors and
Seniors, to an independent course of four years, beginning with the
Freshman year. It will be seen from the tables already given that
there are on the rolls a large number of special students, students