REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY,

Washington, D. C., September 24, 1913.

SIR: I have the honor to submit for Howard University the following report, showing the condition of the institution on the 1st day of July, 1913, "embracing therein the number of pupils received and discharged or leaving the same for any cause during the year and the number remaining; also the branches of knowledge and industry taught and the progress made therein, together with a statement showing the receipts of the institution and from what sources, and its disbursements and for what objects."

REGISTRATION.

There were in attendance during the year 1,453 students from 37 States and 9 foreign countries. This number does not include 37 students who took work in the school of theology by correspondence. The number of students in the different departments was as follows:

Students during year ended June 30, 1913.

Names duplicated because of students taking special courses in different departments

330

Correct total

1,453

It will be seen that this number is an increase over that of 1911-12 by 44. The increase has been greater than that in some departments because, owing to stricter requirements, there has been a falling off in some other departments. The university, however, is likely to grow very largely in all departments during the next few years. The total number graduated was 200, distributed as follows:

We now have 10 well-established departments under 10 different faculties, each faculty under a director or dean. This number of departments permits a greater efficiency in the doing of the work of the university.

THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES.

This department experienced another large increase of students during the year. This has made it necessary to be very careful in the arrangements of schedules and the management of classes which, in many cases, are very large. It is not possible at present to provide a sufficient number of teachers to make the classroom work of the highest order.

As stated last year, the courses in the college are divided into (1) the arts group, and (2) the science group. The arts group contains studies which are ordinarily contained in any college course of the highest character for the purposes of broadening the mind and giving it a true relation to the knowledge of the world. It contains all the studies which are maintained in any first-class college for the purposes of pure culture. The science group is so arranged as to enable a student who wishes to pursue medicine or other professional courses at a later time to take, early in the four years, the scientific studies which are now required on all hands as preliminary to the professional study.

The roll of students for the year was as follows:

Special students with degrees_

Seniors...

Juniors

Sophomores_

Freshmen.

Part-course students..

Total

Of these, 34 received degrees.

THE TEACHERS COLLEGE.

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138

303

The teachers college is beginning to realize in very great measure the aim for which it was established. Up to 1912 it had had 213 graduates. Of those, 85 per cent have been engaged in school work, almost the whole of them having been in the public schools of the West and South. Of the other 15 per cent, some have been sick, a

few have been diverted to business, and others have been delayed in entering their profession by temporary difficulties. This shows that the department is not only graduating young people who desire to carry out the purpose of their training, but it also shows that the ones who are graduated commend themselves in widely different parts of the country to those who are seeking well-trained teachers. This is most gratifying and promises the best things for the future. The courses in this department are gradually being more highly systematized and enlarged so as to cover the field of professional work more fully.

The roll of students for the year was as follows:

The different forms of training which were pursued the previous year in this department have been continued successfully. The students who are taking these courses did not reach this past year the highest classes, because the department has not had its classification long enough for that to be the case. But the teachers have been cfficient and the work has been carried on with a good degree of success. The department has contributed to the work of several other departments in the university. The students of the first two years in the academy and of the first year in the commercial college are required to take training in this department.

The subjects taught are those under civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering, including free-hand and mechanical drawing, woodwork, sheet-metal work, and forging, together with printing, sewing, cooking, weaving, basketry, garment making, and millinery. During the year increased attention was paid to the courses in domestic science which are being developed upon the scientific side so as to embrace the mechanical analysis of foods, the knowledge of the proper proportions of nutriment in different relations, together with the proper methods of cooking and serving.

The enrollment in all classes was 221.

THE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC.

During the past year the music work of the university has been placed upon the regular basis of conservatory work. It is proposed to encourage the students to pursue full courses of study, and during this past year a goodly number of students have signified their intention to carry out the wishes of their teachers in this respect. This will present to those who desire a fine musical training the oppor

tunity to gain it under most advantageous circumstances. The privileges of the other departments will be open to those who need modern language or other school work in order to complete the courses required. Beginners in music are taken, but those who wish to enter the highest conservatory courses must have completed a regular highschool course. The teachers have applied themselves to this new work with great enthusiasm, and the past year shows that it will develop to a high degree. During the year the plans for readjusting the work of the department to the heightened demands for graduation were partially completed. The students who were affected by the new classification will go on for the next two years in the higher musical studies. This will prevent any graduation in 1914, but will make much more effective the work of training those who have gifts of any kind in this branch of culture. There still remains much to do in the classification of studies, but the work has been well begun during the past year and can be successively carried out.

The number of students was 88; of these, 2 received diplomas.

THE LIBRARY SCHOOL.

In accordance with a vote of the trustees, instruction in library work was begun September, 1912. Two students enrolled for the year, but one of them was for a part of the year taken away from her studies by a demand for teaching in public-school work. The other finished the year creditably, but since it was not possible in one year to cover the whole program necessary for graduation and the student could not return for further study, a certificate showing amount of work done was given at the close of the year.

The requirement for this school is a regular high-school course. It is thought that work of this kind will provide opportunities for service for quite a number of young people who may be fitted for this peculiar form of usefulness.

THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY.

Howard University originated in the plan to train the candidates for the colored ministry. It was seen at once, however, that if any school was to be started it would properly be for the giving of all forms of training. Therefore, the other departments came into existence very quickly. The school of theology requires no doctrinal tests, is interdenominational, and welcomes all who are preparing for the best service in moral and religious work. It has never had at any time any part of the appropriation given by Congress annually to the university. It is supported through a small endowment and special gifts. The work of it has become more and more important. The branches taught are those which are usually found in a school of theology. In connection with the regular work which is done in residence, a correspondence course is conducted for those who can not attend the university. Some of these by doing this correspondence work are fitted to come at a later time into the regular courses in the institution. The work of this correspondence course is very useful.

The roll of students for the year was as follows:

Of these, 7 received degrees, 9 received diplomas, and 5 received certificates.

THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

During the last year the number of students in the school of medicine has been lessened by the increased requirements for entrance. The school is in affiliation with the American Medical Association. It tries to carry out not only in the letter but in the spirit the demands of the association. It therefore insists that every student who enters shall have had the required science training now demanded by all reputable schools. While the number of students has been affected by this, the work of the department has gone forward with great success. The commendation which the school has had from the very highest professional students is such as to leave no doubt that this part of the university work is on a very high level. The welfare of millions of people of the colored race depends upon the maintenance of medical work at a high level. Indeed, the welfare of both white and colored races, wherever the people of the two races are associated in communities, depends upon this medical training.

The department has found itself able, during the past year, to provide some new facilities for class and laboratory work. Greater convenience has been sought in these matters and the year has had a good record.

The roll of students for the year was as follows:

Of these, 51 received degrees-21 in medicine, 21 in dentistry, 9 in pharmacy.