The establishment and management of State universities form an interesting. subject for study and investigation. As early as 1787 the General Government passed an ordinance setting aside two townships of land in what is now Ohio for the support of a "university," and this precedent has been followed in the case of nearly every State since admitted into the Union. The funds derived from the sale of these lands have in almost every instance been devoted to the support of State universities, and if properly managed would have yielded handsome en dowment funds for such institutions. But in many cases the persons to whom the management of the lands was intrusted were in too great a hurry to dispose of them, often sacrificing them at a ridiculously low figure; in some cases they served as a means of booming" a particular State, the lands being advertised and sold at very low rates, thus inducing settlers to locate; in a few cases, where the States disposed of the land and assumed the indebtedness therefor, the funds have been mismanaged and sometimes very much impaired. The mismanagement of these lands and the funds derived therefrom has served one good purpose. The newer States, profiting by the experience of the older, are disposing of their lands advantageously, and by the time all of them are sold their universities will have endowments far exceeding those of the older institutions. In a number of cases the funds derived from the sale of university lands have been considerably augmented by the land grant of 1862, which was given by some of the States to the State universities, while in other cases the fund was used for the establishment of separate and distinct institutions. The State universities have also as a rule been generously treated by the legislatures of their respective States in the matter of annual and special appropriations. Very recently the legislature of Missouri granted to the State University at Columbia the direct tax refunded to the State by the General Government, amounting to $647,900. This amount is to be added to the permanent endowment fund, increasing the latter to $1,180,946. The statistics of State universities for the year under consideration are given in the table on the following page. The following shows the present organization of the State universities and the manner in which the controlling power is chosen: Board of Trustees.. State superintendent of education. Ex oficio. (9 trustees appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. Superintendent of public instruction. President of Mechanics' Institute of San Francisco. Ex officio. 16 regents appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. President of board of technological school. ( Ex officio. Board of Trustees..{ One from each Congressional district of the State, four from the State at large, and two from the city of Athens, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. Course in English and science. IV. College of Literature and Science.. Course in Latin and science. Course in ancient languages. Course in philosophy and pedagogy. Course in military science. Course in art and design. Course in rhetoric and oratory. President of State Agricultural Society. Ex oficio. 9 trustees appointed by governor and confirmed by senate. Superintendent of public instruction. Ex oficio. Board of Regents. One member from each Congressional district who are elected by the general assembly. The University of Kansas comprises I. Department of Literatures, Sciences, and the Arts.. General scientific course. Modern literature course. II. School of Law. III. School of Music. IV. School of Pharmacy. It is controlled by Board of Regents. Chancellor-elected by the regents. The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College comprises- II. Collegiate Department.. III. Commercial course. Literary course-A. B. Governor of State. Board of Supervisors.. Sup't of public education.Ex officio. President of university. 12 members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. The University of Michigan comprises Bachelor of arts. I. Department of Literature, Science, and the Arts, comprising Electrical engineer. courses leading to Master of arts. Master of letters. Doctor of philosophy. Doctor of science. II. Department of Medicine and Surgery. III. Department of Law. IV. School of Pharmacy. V. Homeopathic Medical College. VI. College of Dental Surgery. It is controlled by Board of Regents. President of university. 18 regents elected by popular vote for terms of 8 years. The University of Minnesota comprises Classical. I. College of Science, Literature, and Arts.. Scientific-School of Mining and Metallurgy. II. College of Mechanic Arts. V. Department of Medicine.. (College of Medicine and Surgery. College of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery. |