SR_DPI_DNE_Special_Subject_File_B5F1_Durham_NC_College_Negroes

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aim of the institution. The first concern of the college should be to do standard college work. Accrediting agencies have very definite, objective requirements that must be met for an institution to be recognized as standard. In this State, that agency is the North Carolina College Conference. However, so that the institutions would be recognized as standard by this State might not be discredited in other states, the standards which this Conference maintains approximate those of regional agencies, such as the Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges or the North Central Association. The State Department of Public Instruction is the administrative agency for the North Carolina College Conference.

What are the essential requirements for a standard college, according to the principles set up by the North Carolina College Conference? To what extent does the North Carolina College for Negroes meet those standards? A brief digest of the standard, with the actual conditions at the North Carolina College for Negroes in parallel column, appears below.

[column one] Requirements for Standard College

1. For approximately 100 students there should be at least eight department heads devoting full time to college work.

2. Each Department head should have at least an A. M. Degree or the equivalent.

3. Operating income of at least $40,000 with at least $15,000 from stable sources.

[column two] Conditions at the North Carolina College for Negroes

1. Has nine instructors devoting full time to college work. These include three instructors in one department, namely Commerce. Instructores who do not devote full time to teaching are not included.

2. Has three with A. M. Degrees and three with the equivalent. Total of six.

3. Legislative appropriation for 1927-28 was $35,000. This would be interpreted as stable income.

[column one (continued from last page)]

4. Library of 8,000 volumes.

5. Approximately 100 college students.

6. No definite amount specified for laboratory equipment, but for a junior college $2,000 for each science taught are required. It would be reasonable to assume that for a senior college it should be not less than $3,000.

7. Teaching schedule for full time instructor that exceeds 16 hours per week interpreted as endagering educational efficiency.

8. Classes with more than 30 students interpreted as endangering educational efficiency.

[column two (continued from last page)]

4. Has approximately 3,000 volumes.

5. Has 196 or 207, depending upon interpretation of the 11 students in Music Department.

6. Has for - Chemistry ........ $2,350. Physics .......... 580. Biology .......... 625.

7. Has four that exceed that amount.

8. Has nine classes, ranging from 35 to 79, that exceed that number.

It will be observed that in only two particulars, the income from stable sources, and the number of college students, does the North Carolina college for Negroes most fully the requirements for a standard college. In some cases, such as: (1) departments of instruction, (2) the teaching schedule for instructors, (3) the size of classes, etc., the differences are only slight, and, in our judgment, could be remedied by slight changes in administration and organization. That you may see what is involved her, we are putting in tabular form (a) the name of the instructor, (b) the department or departments of instruction in which he works, (c) the actual subjects taught, (d) the number or recitations per week and (e) the number of students enrolled in each class.

Instructor Department Recita- Number of tions of Instruction Subjects now Teaching per week. Students

A. Elder Mathematics Math.122 a Plane Trig. 3 40 end Math.122 b Plane Trig. 3 16 Dean Math.314 Analytical Geom. 3 11 Math.356 Astronomy 3 5

C. Latin and Latin 101 Cicero 3 7 English *English, Fublie Speaking 3 8 and Director of Buildings and Grounds

David M.Waters Commerce Accounting III 3 3 and Orgnaization II 2 10 Director Finanee I 3 40 of Atheletics

Carter C. Smith Commerce Stenography I 5 11 Stenography II 5 9 Accounting I 4 38 Accounting II 3 9

Jas. T. Taylor History Hist.304 Econ. & Social Hist.U. S. 3 10 and Hist.202 Polit.& Social Hist.U. S. 3 9 Eduction Hist.303 Ancient and Medieval 3 8 Discipli- ED. 311 Princip. of Secordary ED. 5 7

Attention is called to three items in the organization and teaching program just outlined.

(1) Ordinarily, one would not expect a teacher of history to teach psychology, nor an instructor in history to teach education; but one finds that combination at the North Carolina College for Negroes. It would be more logical, as well as psychological, to have Psychology taught by the instructor in Education, and thus give all the history to one teacher.

(2) If one observes the size of classes it will be noted that, for the most part, the classes whose enrollment exceeds 30 students are those subjects which are required of freshmen. In our opinion, of all students that should be in classes not to exceed 30, it ought to be the freshmen; for they need the maximum individual attention. This would be especially true in such subjects as English and French in which opportunity for frequent self expression is quite essential to learning.

(3) While there are a number of classes whose enrollment exceeds 30 students, there is a considerable number of very small classes. Out of a total of 47 classes there are eight whose enrollment ranges from 1 to 5 students. In such classes the cost of instruction is prohibitive. One half of the total time of the teacher of French is given to the instruction of eight students. In our judgment, only under most unusual circumstances does it seem that an institution would be warranted in teaching a class with fewer than 5 students; there are six classes with fewer than that number now.

Since, in our judgment, some slight changes in the organization of the departments of instruction and in the administration of the curricula would help toward meeting the requirements for a standard college, we are making, at the proper place, recommendation on these matters.