Tulane University - Jambalaya Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

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♦♦ Albert Bledsoe Din widdie, President of Tulane University since 1918, died at his home in New Orleans on November 21st, 1935, at the age of sixty-four years. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on April 3rd, 1871, of a distinguished Virginia family. His education was obtained at the University of Virginia, from which institution he received his doctorate in 1892; later studying abroad at the University of Goettingen. His early teaching was spent in several university pre- paratory schools in Virginia; becoming professor of mathematics at Southwestern Presbyterian University in 1896, he remained there for ten years prior to his com- ing to Tulane. Dr. Dinwiddie became Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics and As- tronomy at Tulane University in 1906, and, after several promotions in rank, be- came Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1911, and in 1918 was elected President of the University at a very critical time in its history. As a result of his constructive leadership, the University took on new life and becam.e the fine in- stitution which it is to-day chiefly through his efforts and careful planning. As director of war training at Tulane in 1917 and in 1918, he made a nota- ble record, and in conducting the 1920 endowment campaign, he accomplished an almost impossible task. During his administration important donations were received from various sources, many new buildings were erected, and several new and important depart- ments were inaugurated. Dr. Dinwiddie loved every form of outdoor sports, and was especially interested in all phases of athletics at the University. His constant interest in, and fatherly solicitude for, the welfare of the faculty, staff, and students of the University endeared him to them to a marked degree. His eminent leadership in all educational movements and his sound judgment in civic matters, despite his modesty and simplicity, made him a valued citizen to this city and community. In his death the cause of higher education in general, and in Tulane University in particular, has lost a devoted friend. In full recognition of his achievements, the 1936 Jambalaya hereby records its sincere appreciation of his life.

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ALBERT BLEDSOE BIllWIBBIE PKE§inEllY. ¥Ul lWf IJWI1 ER I¥V 1918-1955

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HIRAM WATKINS KOSTMAYER A.B., M.D., F.A.C.S. Detin — Graduiite School of Medicine JAMES ADAIR LYON A.M., D.SC. Chairman — Courses for Teachers The 102nd Academic Year at Tulane University has been marked by de- cided advancement in all departments of the University despite the serious blow dealt to the school by the untimely death of Dr. Albert Bledsoe Din- widdie, an able and beloved figure in modern education. Dr. Douglas S. Anderson, dean of the College of Engineering, as acting president has con- tinued the excellent work of Dr. Dinwiddle. A notable sign of improvement was the addition of forty-nine new faculty members to the various departments of the University. The Schools of Medi- cine, both graduate and undergraduate, were the chief beneficiaries of this addition. The staff of the undergraduate School of Medicine led the list with twenty-two new members, while the Graduate School of Medicine added eleven. Designed to give aid to the bewildered freshman, a system of faculty ad- visers was inaugurated during the past year in the College of Arts and Sciences. This plan was adopted after much thought and consideration on the part of the faculty, as there had long been a feeling that there should be more opportunity for individual advice. Hitherto the student and the faculty met only at the time of registration and in the classroom. A group of twenty professors volunteered their services and students were assigned to men who taught subjects in which they were most interested. The advice given was primarily of a scholastic nature, but, if so desired, the in- structors gave advice on personal matters. Dr. Frederick Hard of the department of English was appointed Chair- man of the Committee. He was assisted by Dr. Marten ten Hoor, Dr. Daniel S. Elliott, Professor Robert L. Menuet, Dr. Herbert E. Buchanan, and Dr. Williams M. Mitchell. Another innovation was the compulsory intelligence test taken by fresh- men in the College of Arts and Sciences. The purpose of such tests is to determine why so large a percentage of students drop out of school in their first or second year due to their inability to meet scholastic requirements. By such examination it is hoped that it will be discovered whether lack of native ability or poor preparation cause the majority of these failures, the idea being to weed out those unable to obtain the full benefit of a college education be- fore they have wasted both their own and the University ' s time. However, there is no ruling which provides that the student failing this test shall be compelled to leave school. The tests have been installed to last for a period of four years, during which time their findings will be correlated with the percentile average of the student and their validity as a source of prediction will be checked. Dr. John M. Fletcher, head of the Psychology Department, was put in charge of these intelligence tests, aided by his assistant. Dr. George T. Kalif. The intelligence tests were supplemented by placement tests to determine the student ' s ability in certain fields, and the extent of knowledge acquired by him in his chosen field. At the beginning of the school term, a series of radio broadcasts were be- gun following the suggestion of a committee of the Alumni Association and the Athletic Council. The original plan was for weekly broadcasts, but the first programs were so successful that as many as two or three were broadcast Page 22