University of Vermont - Ariel Yearbook (Burlington, VT)

Page 20 text:

structor in Military Science was secured in 1867. This Department has grown with the University, and in 1915, largely as a result of the interest and ability of Captain Ira L. Reeves, the University of Vermont was listed among the ten colleges of the United States in the Dis- tinguished Class. This Distinguished Class is compiledfrom the re- ports of General Inspecting Officers sent over the country by the XVar College at Wlashington. The University of Vermont was again listed in the Distinguished Class in 1916, Captain S. A. Howard being Cap- tain Reeves' successor, and the prospects are bright for the same dis- tinction in 1917. This, then, was the situation in 1910: there existed in the University, five distinct Departments, with one or more courses or sub-departments contained in each. These were: The Arts Department, with Classical, Literary-Scientific, and Commerce and Economics courses, The Depart- ment of Science, with Agriculture, Chemistry and the Engineering courses, The Department of Medicine, The Department of Education, and the Department of Home Economics. It was in this year that occurred the death of Matthew Henry Buckham, who had been connected with the University for more than half a century and its President for forty years. In those four decades under the hand of President Buclzham, the University achieved marked development and growth, not only as to its sphere of influence and educational worth, but more noticeably in its material resources. Over eight hundred thousand dollars were expended during this time for buildings and equipment. For this progress no little credit is due Doc- tor Buckham, who, by his unassuming, per- sistent mastering of the situation and winning ot' his men, marked himself an administrator as well as a scholar. The man selectedlto fill the place so long oc- cupied by President Buckliam was Doctor Guy Potter Benton of Miami University, Oxford, President Mauhew H. Buckham Ohio, a man of great dynamic power and far ' reaching influence. One prominent weakness in the existing system of organization especially was perceived by President Benton. The office of Dean was attached to each of the Departments, but the men filling the -office had no real purpose or power. Doctor Benton put into effect a compre- 22

Page 19 text:

the newly organized Department soon became manifest, and a material enlargement of the old medical college at the head of Main Street was accomplished in 1854, and again in 1-870, through the generosity of the citizens of Burlington. In 1884, John P. Howard gave a commod- ious building at the head of Pearl , Street which was iirst occupied in f 1885. 5 In 1895, the course of lectures was increased from twenty weeks to six months. Two years later, a four-year course of study under a graded system was ma.de a requis- ite for graduation. Until 1889 the relation of the college to the Uni- versity was chiefly nominal. It was then re-organized and made a co- ordinate Department of the Univer- sity, under the control of the Board of Trustees, and its facilities both for teaching and study were mater- Dr- Samuel W- Thayer ially increased. In 1903 the course was lengthened to seven months and in 1907 to seven and one-half months, giving thirty weeks of actual instruction. In December, 1903, the building which had been occupied by the Department for twenty years was destroyed by fire. A new building was begun in 1904 and completed in January, 1906. Each year has witnessed large accessories to the equipment and teaching facilities of this Department. , In 1909, the University established the Department of Education, Hin continuance of measures taken in several. past years and in the line of its policy to maintain its position the head of the educational system of the state. ' ' In 1910 was formulated the Department of Home Economics, in recognition of the increasing importance of a policy of co-education. Military Tactics was one -of the subjects that were included in the Morrill Act of 1862 regarding the appropriation of public lands to the various states encouraging instruction in the subjects specified. Military Science has, therefore, been one of the requirements imposed upon every male student of the University since 1866. The first in- a! 4 I I 21

Page 21 text:

hensive and effectual change that removedthis short-coming. This new system also classified the courses in the University according to a more natural, understandable and satisfying scheme. This new arrangement provided for four Colleges, each distinctive in its nature, and, together, providing for all instruction given in a State University. These four Colleges are:---The College of Arts and Science, the College of Agriculture, the College of Engineering, and the College of Medicine. The College of Arts and Science contains essentially the original and typical college course. The curricula contained in it are seven, viz: Classical, Literary-Scientific, General Science, Chem- istry, Commerce and Economics, Education, and Home Economics. The first two lead to the degrees A..l3. and Ph.B. respectively, the others to the degree of BS. The General Science Course is the only new one established by Doctor Benton, the others formerly comprising the Arts Department, Department of Education, Department of Home Econ- omics, and one from the Science Department. The Science Department, established in 1865, was disintegrated, and the two different lines of study now form the two Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering. The College of Medicine has developed into one of distinction and note. Vfith the opening of the year 1912-13, the entrance requirements were raised to one year -of collegiate work and the college year was made equal in length to that of the Academic colleges. The Medical College of the University of Vermont is now rated as a Class A institution by the American Medical Association. A perusal of the original memoir of Gen. Ira Allen will show that the University of Vermont was founded in answer to a real and tangible need of the State of Vermont, and from the facts given above it is seen that the University has enjoyed a constant growth and de- velopment to keep pace with this same need, growing with the enlarge- ment and development of the State. 23