women students are required to live. These houses are practically self sustaining and this arrangement is satisfactory at present, but with greater numbers to be cared for, it is quite likely that this plan will presently reach its limitations.

A. DEPARTMENTS OF INSTRUCTION

The Corps of Instruction.-During the year the teaching staff has numbered 214, of whom 201 were men and 13 women, classified as follows:

Professors, Associate and Assistant Professors..

Instructors

Assistants

90

74

50

In addition to these the Library staff numbered 7, the staff of the Department of Physical Education 7, the scientific staff of the Experiment Station 40, and the Extension Department 28.

Mr. Glenn James, instructor in Mathematics, and Miss Mary Edith Gamble, instructor in Home Economics, were granted leave of absence during the year to pursue studies elsewhere. For the coming year 1916-1917 leave of absence has been granted to Professor Jacob Westlund of the department of Mathematics on account of ill health. Professor Michael J. Golden, head of the Department of Practical Mechanics, whose continuous service to the University dates from 1884, has been given leave of absence for well deserved rest.

Professor A. H. Dewey of the School of Pharmacy resigned at the close of the year and to the vacancy thus caused was appointed Professor Charles Oren Lee, B. S., a graduate of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Kansas.

A series of exchange lectures with neighboring universities was arranged as follows: Professor W. K. Hatt, head of the School of Civil Engineering, delivered a series of five lectures at Ohio State University on the subject of reinforced concrete and in return Professor F. C. Caldwell of that institution gave five lectures before our students on modern electrical engineering. Professor D. D. Ewing, of the School of Electrical Engineering, gave five lectures before the University of Michigan on the electrification of steam railways and in return Professor H. E. Riggs of that university gave a course of five lectures before our students on the valuation of

public utilities. In addition to these formal exchanges, several members of the faculty gave single lectures in other universities upon technical subjects.

Mr. C. C. Brown, consulting engineer of Indianapolis, served as non-resident lecturer in municipal engineering, appearing before the students of the School of Civil Engineering for lectures and drawing room instruction, a total of 37 days.

A series of six meetings was organized by the members of the instructional staff for discussion of teaching methods and class administration. At these meetings formal addresses were given as follows: Professor A. M. Kenyon, Methods of Study; Professor M. L. Fisher, Class Administration; Professor C. M. Smith, Laboratory Administration; Professor G. L. Roberts, Ideals and the Student; Dean Stanley Coulter, Professional Advancement; Professor C. F. Harding, Correlation and Teaching. There was an average attendance of 67 members of the instructional staff upon these meetings.

The University Curriculum.-The optional study of French alternative with German, introduced in the School of Civil Engineering two years ago, has now been extended to the Schools of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. The School of Chemical Engineering alone retains the requirement of German without option.

The mathematical requirements in the engineering schools have been increased from three to five hours per week during the second semester of the sophomore year and from two to three hours per week during the first semester of the junior year. The required mathematics courses are now completed at the middle instead of at the end of the junior year.

English courses have been added to the first year's work in the two year plan of study in Pharmacy, and physiological chemistry, to the four year plan in Pharmacy.

An additional option in concrete engineering has been provided for senior civil engineers. The civil engineering surveying camp has been extended from five to six weeks. This camp was held for the second year at Pentwater, Michigan.

The English department has classified its freshman students according to the degree of their previous preparation into "advanced" and "regular" sections, this classification being based upon

formal examinations administered to all freshman students soon after their enrollment. Debating as a part of the training in English comes more and more into favor and has found expression in the arrangement of an annual triangular debate between our students. and those of Michigan Agricultural College and Iowa State College. Students of the English Department have from time to time during the year given with marked success a series of one-act plays.

In the School of Agriculture a considerable number of students are enrolled who have no practical experience in the manual operations of the farm. Obviously without such experience, a graduate in agriculture is deficient in an important phase of his training. It is not the province of the University to administer instruction along such lines but it will soon become necessary to establish some requirement of this kind as a prerequisite to graduation.

Hours of Teaching Staff.-What constitutes a reasonable requirement of working hours for those engaged in teaching is a question often asked by those responsible for the administration of educational institutions. A moment's consideration will show that there are many reasons why there can be no absolute standard in this respect. The measure of a teacher's success is found in the results attained by the pupil. One teacher accomplishes this in one way; another by a quite different method. The nature of the subject taught, the responsibilities of the teacher to the organization of which he is a member, the size of his classes, are also important factors. In a large faculty, teaching all of the subjects of a university curriculum, there will be necessarily considerable variation in the actual time spent before classes and yet all members may be giving the proper service to the institution. Allowance must be made also for the time spent by the teacher in preparation and in correcting themes, test papers and reports. If he be the head of a department, he has administrative duties to fulfill. As a member of the faculty, committee work makes a demand upon his time. Lastly, he must if his teaching is virile, ensure his own growth by study, reading, research, and reasonable recreation.

We have made during the past two years an exhaustive study of this subject, taking a census of all instructors in each semester. As was to be expected, the data show variations in the hours of work, most of which were entirely legitimate, but in a few instances

reveal a situation for correction. The averages of various departments, classified according to the nature of the teaching, are as follows. "Hours per week" are the sum of hours before classes and hours employed in doing the work connected with teaching. “Student hours" are class room hours multiplied by the number of students taught. This time is a measure of the number of students' themes, tests, and reports to be examined.

Several members of the agricultural faculty give a portion of their time to the Experiment Station.

Twenty heads of schools and departments with administrative duties, have on the average 17 hours given to instruction with 199 student hours.

On the basis of this information, the following general direction was issued to the faculty indicating what might be regarded as a satisfactory standard of hours of duty.

For heads of schools and departments with minimum administrative duties, 10 class hours per week, equivalent to 250 student hours.

For professors and instructors without administrative work,

a.

Giving only class room instruction, 15 class hours and 375 student hours.

b. Purely laboratory instruction, 30 class hours and 600-700 student hours.

C.

Mixed class room and laboratory instruction, 20 class hours and 500 student hours.

For assistants without responsibility for class instruction, 30 to 35 hours per week for departmental work.

These figures may be properly increased or decreased in individual cases according to collateral circumstances. The most that can be said is that they form a reasonable basis of requirement under the circumstances stated.

Short Courses and Conferences.-The second annual Road School under the auspices of the Highway Engineering Department of the School of Civil Engineering was held from January 24th to 26th. One hundred and thirty-three persons interested in roads were registered, representing 47 counties of the state and including highway superintendents, county surveyors and engineers, township trustees, county commissioners. The United States Office of Public Roads and Rural Engineering furnished an exhibit which attracted much attention. Members of the School of Civil Engineering and others identified with road improvement gave lectures and demonstrations. The State Association of County Highway Superintendents, meeting in connection with the Road School, voted to hold their annual meetings at the University. This Road School now seems to be permanently established and will undoubtedly prove of great value as a means of popular education concerning the proper construction, maintenance and administration of public roads.

Under the auspices of the Department of Highway Engineering, one district and four county road schools were held at various points in the state. Fourteen road meetings in different localities. were organized. Professor Martin of the department has spoken before many public meetings on the subject of good roads. Four field demonstrations in road building have been carried out in cooperation with the United States Office of Public Roads. Road inspections have been made at the invitation of public officials, road maps have been prepared and a bulletin on road maintenance has been published.

The annual Farmers' Week at the University was held January 10th to 15th with an enrollment of 2,138 persons. Of this number 341 boys and 116 girls, who had won prizes in local contests or in work of Boys' and Girls' Clubs, were rewarded by having their expenses paid to this meeting. A special program of lectures and demonstrations was arranged for their benefit. In connection with this Farmers' Week, many of the state agricultural associations held their annual meetings at the University.