Home › U › Universities (AMERICAN of them fall short)

Universities (AMERICAN of them fall short)

AMERICAN 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 endowed 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 accomplished so much as in the United States for educational development. The number and strength of these institutions in the Eastern States has prevented 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 defended by their adherents. As a rule they approach in manner of organization and in temper of work the endowed universities above described .

A new type of institution has recently come into notice known as "The Urban Some of this type are University." merely endowed universities which, being located in large cities, assume certain 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 national, guards the title. The U. S. Bureau of Education does not help us , for it publishes a list of approximately 600 higher institutions, including colleges, universities, and technological schools. Voluntary organizations do not solve the problem. Universities and institutions of less rank are found in the various associations which are organized according to type, not standard, as for example, The National Association of State Universities, The Association of American Universities, The Association of Urban Universities, or The Association of American Colleges. And yet through the cloud the American University is emerging, mighty in its achievements, the hope and the prophecy of national greatness. See UNIVERSITIES , AMERICAN; TECHNICAL EDUCATION; UNI- VERSITY EXTENSION, etc.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE