Mercer University - Cauldron Yearbook (Macon, GA)

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The New Road A Ii r i i f outline of len er‘ji ih w probrum and plans for flio future article appea rtl in the Progrc i issue of the Macon Telegrap i and jVfuj. Editor's note—This MERCER UNIVERSITY official reported recently chat tin- school ha made marked progress during its first year under the new plans of organization and extension recommended by the board of trustees. Following the celebration of Mercer’s centennial in 1933 I lie university board of trustees recommended improvement and expansion, later sanctioned hy the Georgia Baptist con vent ion. The plan consists of two major objectives to be completed by 1943, the 110th anniversary of the school. The first objective, now under way is the raising of a sum of $300,000 by January of 1938, W ith this sum school officials plan In install additional modernized equipment, to reclaim deteriorating property and to improve generally the physical set- up of the university- This they say will provide a plant which will ade- quately accommodate at least 600 students. After 2,000,000 Endow- ment The second phase of the plan is the raising of an amount to bring the total endowment of the institu- tion to not less than 82,- 000,060. The present pro- ductive endowment is ap proximalely 8500,000. Theme is in addition a guarantee o f ¥600,000 from the Georgia Baptist convention during t h c period before 1943. Therefore the hoard of trustees has placed the -n- dowment goal at ¥1,500,- 000. This is intended to absorb the convention’s obligation and bring the total of Mercer's endow- ment to the required amount. Flans call for the completion of the latter half of the project between 1938 and 1943. Reclaiming Pen field Chief among plans included in the project is the rais- ing of 825,000 to reclaim Pcnfit-ld hall, the first building erected on the present Mercer campus. The amount will he spent in rebuilding the old dormitory into a recrea- tion renter. Also included in the project arc the remodel- ing of cottagrs occupied by married student arid the en- largement of Sherwood hall, men’s dormitory. Since the first of the contemplated improvements were begun much progress has been made Inward the comple- tion of the first division of the plans, officials say, The most important phase of this advancement was the raising of funds for the improvement of the physical plant, includ- ing Sherwood hall, the library, the administration build- ing and the chapel. Some of these buildings have already been remodeled and money is bring raised to proceed with the work. Important among the remodeling work was the replacing of old heating system by modern gas heaters. Improved Campus The campus has been improved by additional land- scaping, Already tlie number of students has shown a substantial increase and the faculty has been strength- ened by the additum of new professors- The Federal bureau of public roads and the state highway department have recently paved Adams street and South College street, which surround the greater part of the cam- pus. Other expenditures will soon be made for addi- tional dormitory space for both men and women students. Statistics compiled by the administration show two outstanding fact» about students now- en- rolled in the school. There is an increase in the number of upperclass- men and a substantial in- crease in the number of freshmen who are honor graduates of accredited high schools. The statis- tics show also that the number of students who lake their junior college work in the Macon insti- tution is large in compari- son with the number of junior colleges in the state. Employment and Recovery In a recent interview lb. Spright Dowell, presi- dent of Mercer, indicated that he believed the major divi- sions of the plan are progressing well and that they will he completed by the date set. He also expressed gratifica- tion that operation under the scheme has enabled the school to lake part in the nation-wide program for employment and recovery. Idle school has for the last two years re- ceived government allotments of relief money for employ- ing students in part-time work. Dr, Dowell expressed confidence that the completion of the projects ;md the Celebration of the 110th anniversary would find that institution well on her way to another cen- tury of service to the field of Christian education.