UNIVERSITIES, AMERICAN 129 UNIVERSITIES, AMERICAN tunities for study in the broadest fields, They have thousands of students, im- mense resources, provided either by taxa- tion or endowment, many buildings and extensive grounds. Even the college course in such an institution represents the extreme movement for widening the curriculum. Admission is on liberal terms, and the widest possible choice of subjects is afterward allowed. In the same spirit professional schools are a part of the university and share its care and its fortunes. The tendency in recent years has been to bring schools of medicine and law into close affiliation with great universities. This result has come about in part from increased re- quirements in these schools. Universi- ties have likewise developed schools of applied science or technology parallel with the college course or supplementary thereto. Year by year vocational work is elevated and elaborated into degree courses. Thus we find not only new courses in engineering, but also in archi- tecture, industrial art, forestry, com- merce, journalism etc. In connection with this expansion of the curriculum might be mentioned the strong tendency of American universi- ties to extend their facilities to the larger public outside their walls. (See article on University Extension.) Types of Amei'iean Universities. — The name "university" was originally pre- ferred to that of college by institutions founded directly by the States, and to- day the State universities form the most distinctive type of higher educational in- stitutions. The territory of the Middle West afforded the best field for this de- velopment. Some of the strongest of these institutions owe their origin or their rapid growth to the Morrill Act passed by Congress in 1862 for the pro- motion of agriculture and the mechanical arts. These great State universities of the Middle West and California answer in every way the tests laid down above. They are liberally supported by the States, a number of them having an annual appropriation of more than one million dollars for expenses. They have .a large and rapidly growing student body and are doing an increasing pro- portion of the educational work of the country. While they do not at present surpass several of the strongest uni- versities on private foundation in num- ber of higher degi*ees given, they show unusual eminence in public service, in contributions to the material welfare of the States, in the utilization of knowl- edge, especially scientific knowledge, for the improvement of social and economic conditions. These words of praise do not apply to all State universities. Many of them fall short of the standards laid down, but they are improving as rapidly as funds are provided and in general more rapidly than endov/ed institutions. The oldest American universities had the support at various times of public taxation, of denominational patronage and of private endowment. Gradually they have been left to the last named source of help. Nowhere else in the world has private philanthropy accom- plished so much as in the United States for educational development. The num- ber and strength of these institutions in the Eastern States has prevented the upbuilding of State universities in that section. In other sections, too, private institutions are growing in resources and power, and occasionally new ones are founded. The University of Chicago and Leland Stanford Junior University were at their very birth dedicated to great careers. Strictly denominational universities are less strong relatively than in the past, but are loyally supported and de- fended by their adherents. As a rule they approach in manner of organiza- tion and in temper of work the endowed universities above described. A new type of institution has recently come into notice known as "The Urban University." Some of this type are merely endowed universities which, being located in large cities, assume certam duties of local leadership, natural and proper. Others, however, are real "municipal universities" supported by city taxes and forming the culmination of the city school system. The conclusion reached from this study is that the American University has a real existence but is still somewhat nebulous. No register of names can yet be made. No legislation. State or na- tional, guards the title. The U. S. Bureau of Education does not help us, for it publishes a list of approximately 600 higher institutions, including col- leges, universities, and technological schools. Voluntary organizations do not solve the problem. Universities and in- stitutions of less rank are found in the various associations whish are organ- ized according to type, not standard, as for example. The National Association of State Universities, The Association of American Universities, The Associa- tion of Urban Universities, or The As- sociation of American Colleges. And yet through the cloud the American Uni- versity is emerging, mighty in its achievements, the hope and the prophecy of national greatness. See Universities, American ; Technical Education; Uni- versity EXTEN'^ION. etc.
