Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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isso- R.iymo.ul Wilkr |-,urcliiia, Ph O . 11 O. I ' rcsiJcnt oi tlic- I ' iiivtrsity [H]

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In Retrospection The 1936- 1937 school year may be recorded as one during which several marked changes have occurred in school procedures, hous- ing facilities, and off-campus contacts of significance to Illinois State Normal University. Readers of the 1937 Index will, both now and in the future, relate some of these procedures and achievements to an interesting group of student activities as depicted through the pages of this attractive volume. Although the items mentioned here do not constitute an exhaustive list of significant factors in an in- teresting year of progress, some of them are of such significance as to write unique chapters in the long and eventful history of this University. With the opening of school in September, 1936, Illinois State Normal University found itself for the first time in history with a limited enrollment and consequent selective admission proced- ure. The limited enrollment came as a result of housing facilities being completely exhausted, and the necessity of limiting the number of persons who could be admitted into certain depart- ments as new students. Even with the limited enrollment of 1872 students, Illinois State Normal University continues to be the largest state teachers college in the United States. It is regretted that approximately 200 students who would like to have been ad- mitted could not be taken into the institution this year. In the freshman class of almost 700 persons, it is interesting to note that there were 168 students who had qualified for at- tendance in this teacher training institution on the basis of the new high school scholarship law, which granted an exemption from those fees which are sent to the State Treasurer. Thus many valedictorians, salutatorians, and others in the upper one-fourth of their high school classes made up this interesting group from the freshman class. For a number of years, Illinois State Normal University, in common with many other colleges and universities, has required that entering students submit certain high school units or groups of units before being admitted to the University. The tendency among the more progressive colleges and universities is to place the responsibility for the right type of work in high school upon these secondary institutions and to accept graduates of recognized or accredited high schools. Our University Senate, composed of general administrators, directors of divisions, and heads of de- partments of the faculty, recently passed the regulation that Illi- nois State Normal University admit students who are graduates of recognized or accredited four-year high schools and who meet our other entrance requirements without setting up specific re- quirements in terms of academic credits. This will eliminate the necessity of many students from some of our best high schools having to be admitted on condition. For years Illinois State Normal University has used a numerical marking system, being one of few institutions of higher education in the country still adhering to that form of marking. For the first time, during the 1936-1937 school year, the newly adopted letter marking system has been used, student marks now being in terms of A, B, C, and D, as passing grades, and F as failure, with honor points attached to the three highest letters. Perhaps one of the most noticeable forms of change around the campus is in terms of improvements to the physical plan!-. After some remodeling in the library building, quarters were pro- vided for a Sample Textbook Library where our student group, as well as teachers-in-service, may have the opportunity of exam- ining the best elementary and high school textbooks published in all such fields. New offices were provided for the Viilelte. the student newspaper, and this has made possible decidedly im- proved working conditions in getting out this excellent publica- tion twice each week. In connection with the Federal Works Progre.ss Administration a number of projects have been carried out on the campus which have resulted in resurfacing of the drives, constructing of new walks, considerable grading of athletic fields, the constructing of the outdoor am|-iliitheater and new tennis courts, and a injmber of other improvements. Through State funds. Old Main and the University Library have been rewired [10] and new lighting fixtures installed. Some rewiring has been done in the Metcalf and Industrial Arts buildings and new fixtures in- stalled in all of the corridors and in most of the rooms. New museum cases to house valuable collections have been installed in the Science and Library buildings. The new greenhouse is rapidly nearing completion and will provide an excellent source of ma- terials for the beautification of the campus, which has been some- what neglected in the expansion and utilization of additional areas. While the 1936-1937 school year will not see any marked building program being started upon the campus, the year does mark the period in which certain requests were made of the State Legislature, which it is believed will result in a much needed new university library building, a new auditorium with separate units for music, speech and administration offices, as well as provision for a new home management house for the home economics de- partment and the reconstruction of the old auditorium into much needed classrooms. This building program of over a million dollars should be one of the significant steps in the development of the University along several lines. Perhaps the outstanding accomplishment of this school year in terms of what it will mean to graduates of the past as well as the future, has been the attention given to the organization and development of county alumni units in various parts of Illinois. Prior to the beginning of this school year there were just two such county organizations but at the close of the year fifteen organiza- tions, thoroughly alive in their activity and cognizant of their op- portunities and responsibilities, are to be found stretching from the Cook County group in the northeastern part of the state to St. Clair County to the southwest. Illinois State Normal University is definitely committed to a policy of acquainting its alumni through group or ganizations with the significance of teacher edu- cation and the part that their Alma Mater is playing in the furtherance of this important profession. It is expected that the fifteen county units actively at work this year will be almost doubled within a period of another school year and into these units will go many of the students at present on the campus and who receive the 1937 Index. Recognition has come to Illinois State Normal LIniversity dur- ing this school year in the nature of the selection of our campus for the meeting of nine state organizations. From the middle of March to the middle of May, it has been our pleasure to have the Illinois Chemistry Association, the Illinois Conference on Temperance in the Schools, the Illinois Congress of Parents and Teachers, the Illinois Conference of Supervisors and Directors of Education, the Illinois Vocal and Instrumental High School Music Contest, the Big Brother and Big Sister Association, the Illinois Probation Orticers Association, the Illinois College Press Asso- ciation, and the State Oratorical and Speech Le.igue, with almost 11,000 persons attending these various meetings. Further recog- nition has been evident in the large number of superintendents, principals, and other employers of teachers who have come to the campus this year seeking teachers for rural, elementary and high .schools. Each year brings its atcomplishments hut it is apparent th.it the student body in attendance at Illinois St.ite Normal University during the 1936-1937 school year may look b.ick upon the year as one of unusual significance in many respects, only a limited number oi which lia e here been presented. O?. . ? iZ k

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Herman Henry Schroeder, A.M. Dean of the University Director of Summer Session Olive Lillian Barton, A.M Dean of Women [ ' }